GLENNIE – THE GLEN LAKE MONSTER
Updated: Aug 22, 2019
Loch Ness has Nessie. Winnipesaukee has Winnie. Glen Lake has Glennie.
In the little town of Goffstown, legend has it that Glen Lake, which encompasses 137 acres, is home to a large, serpeant-like creature. This dates back to the construction of the Gregg’s Falls Dam, established as a hydroelectric powerhouse. The construction of this dam is said to have trapped Glennie in the confines of the lake instead of allowing him the freedom of exploring the Piscataquog River.
While tales of this friendly beast have run rampant over generations, members of the public are left with more question than answers. The dedicated residents of Goffstown who investigate these stories are members of an elite squad known as the Special Glennie Unit.
These are their stories. *dun dun*
F O L K L O R E
If you’re well versed in your ancient folklore, you know that stories of giant serpeant-like, aquatic creatures are common place. According to Paul W. Pouliot, Sag8mo (Chief) of the Cowasuck Band of the Pennacook-Abenaki, this folklore can be traced back to Paleo Times when his distant ancestors were faced with mastodon, pterodactyl, and saber-tooth tiger. Pouliot states, “The Creater, our God, modified these animals so they weren’t eating us and so we were living in piece with nature.”
Perhaps the stories of ferocious serpeants were created to explain aquatic disappearances. Maybe they were used to discourage children of venturing into the deep water. Or they could have even justified a bad fishing day, with fishermen explaining: Glennie ate my catch. Perhaps even, Glennie ate my homework. We may never know.
S C I E N C E
While Glennie appears to be a dinosaur, he is actually classified as a plesiosaur, according to Dr. Becca James, Crypto-Paleontologist. A plesiosaur is a large, aquatic reptile and has fins, not legs. They spend most of their time in the cool, deep water. But, they do breathe air, so they must surface on occasion, giving the public a rare opportunity at a glimpse of the beasts. Plesiosaurs regularly shed their teeth, which they use to filter-feed their diet of plants, crustaceans, and small fish. Don’t worry—people are not on the menu.
Although rare, modern day plesiosaurs are believed to exist in remote bodies of water. These plesiosaurs are both docile and peaceful. Dr. James reaffirms that Glennie poses no threat to swimmers, boaters, and fishermen alike, but if you were to encounter Glennie—look, don’t touch.
L E G I S L A T U R E
Still don’t believe in Glennie? Goffstown does! Recently, the Select Board passed a resolution which states that historical record and Native American lore indicate the high likelihood that a prehistoric creature inhabits Glen Lake since the construction of the Gregg’s Falls Dam. According to the resolution, with affirmation from the Goffstown Police Department, Glennie has never been known to be a threat to the residents who enjoy Glen Lake (as long as you have a resident parking sticker).
E Y E W I T N E S S E S
Stories of Glennie sightings have been told for generations. Many sightings can be easily explained by the misidentification of common objects—floating logs and debris, animals such as otters and beavers, or even lone swimmers attempting to shed some holiday weight. However, over the years, enough reputable sources have come forward with their accounts for many to believe that Glennie does lurk in the deep.
The Goffstown Historical Society states that their first recorded sighting dates back to 1968, when a passerby was able to get a snapshot of the beast in action. The photo depicts some sort of creature with a long neck and flippers, jumping out of the water perhaps to score an insect or small fish (definitely not a person). In more recent history, swimmers have felt Glennie’s presence—from the brush of his flipper to the gentle nudge of his head. Some claim to have watched Glennie come up for air, before quickly returning to the bottom of the lake. Photos of the beast do exist—albeit grainy and blurry.
Skeptics of Glennie claim that in the age of iPhones, why wouldn’t better photos exist? Why hasn’t anyone found any of Glennie’s teeth? How could he hide in such a small body of water?
To these skeptics, members of Goffstown kindly suggest, move back to Massachusetts.
What about you? Are you brave enough to swim with the beast?
Visit out the Glen Lake Swim on Facebook and also check out their 1&2 mile annual race across Glen Lake this Sunday, 8.11.19. Maybe Glennie will even make an appearance.
DISCLAIMER to Massachusetts folk: I am a Mass transplant, so please don't be offended.