The Kraken – is a legendary sea monster of giant size that is said to dwell off the coasts of Norway and Greenland (just north of Newfoundland on Benny’s map). Authors over the years have postulated that the legend originated from sightings of giant squids that may grow to 12–15 meters (40–50 feet) in length. The sheer size and fearsome appearance attributed to the Kraken have made it a common ocean-dwelling monster in various fictional works. It was first described by the Dane Erik Pontoppidan in 1752.
Ref: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kraken
The Yeti or Nuk-luk ( “Man of the Bush”) – is a cryptozoological hominid reported in the Nahanni National Park Reserve near Nahanni Butte, Northwest Territories, Canada, between April and June 1964, by John Baptist, several men, and a boy named Jerry. Several Dene from Fort Liard who were trapping at a river reportedly came upon the creature in April 1964.
Ref: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nuk-luk
Gaasyendietha – according to Seneca mythology, is a dragon that dwells in the deep areas of rivers and lakes of Canada, especially Lake Ontario. This dragon could fly on a trail of fire, and it could also spew fire.It is also known as the ‘meteor dragon’, in reference to its supposed origin from a meteoroid that had impacted the Earth.It is also capable of crossing the heavens on a trail of fire.
Ref: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gaasyendietha
Boldt Castle -George Boldt, general manager of the Waldorf-Astoria Hotel in New York City and manager of the Bellevue-Stratford Hotel in Philadelphia, and his family enjoyed an earlier frame cottage on Hart Island (the island’s original name) for several summers, which they greatly expanded. In 1900, George Boldt launched an ambitious construction campaign to build a huge masonry structure, one of the largest private homes in the United States. He engaged the architectural firm G. W. & W. D. Hewitt and hundreds of workers for a six-story “castle” as a present to his wife. The construction of Boldt Castle ceased abruptly in early 1904 after the death of Boldt’s wife, Louise Kehrer Boldt. Boldt never returned to Heart Island, leaving this structure as a monument of his love.
Ref: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boldt_Castle
Devil’s Hole Cave – Also known as “The Cave of the Evil Spirit” by early Seneca Indians, is located along the American shoreline of the Niagara River Gorge just north of the Niagara Glen.It occupies a location that was historically an important portage used by Native Americans to transport canoes around Niagara Falls and rapids on the Niagara River. It was so named because subsequent disaster would come to any one who dared enter the cave. LaSalle in 1679, in spite of this warning, entered it and to this trip the Indians attributed his subsequent misfortunes and murder all within the following two years. The gorge was also the site of a bloody massacre on September 14, 1763. On this date, a British supply convoy was heading south from Fort Niagara and was suddenly ambushed by a group of Seneca Indians while traveling over what was then the dome of the cave.
Ref: http://www.waymarking.com/waymarks/WM2Z3T_Devils_Hole_Cave_Lewisn_NY
Ref: http://www.niagarafrontier.com/devilhole.html
Bootleggers on the Niagara River -It was the 18th Amendment in 1919 that banned the manufacture, sale and distribution of alcohol. It was known as Prohibition, but lasted just over a decade because it killed the economy. Niagara was in an interesting position during Prohibition because beer and liquor was legal in Canada, so nearly every day somebody tried to bring it across the border. Usually it was by boat with Customs agents constantly on the lookout for suspicious activity. All along the Niagara River from Buffalo to Youngstown people were taking their chances and many of them were successful.
Ref: http://wyrk.com/buffalo-during-prohibition/
Ref: https://journals.psu.edu/phj/article/viewFile/60278/60218
Ref: https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=2199&dat=19230620&id=RV5eAAAAIBAJ&sjid=EmENAAAAIBAJ&pg=6093,4073951&hl=en
HMS Ontario – was a British warship that sank in a storm in Lake Ontario on 31 October 1780, during the American Revolutionary War.She was a 22-gun snow, and, at 80 feet (24 m) in length, the largest British warship on the Great Lakes at the time. The Ontario sank in a storm on 31 October; Halloween 1780 while underway from Fort Niagara to Oswego. Approximately 130 men perished with ship, comprising an estimated 60 British soldiers of the 34th (Cumberland) Regiment of Foot, (comprising one officer, 34 other ranks, 4 women and 5 children from the regiment) a crew of about 40 Canadians and possibly up to 30 American prisoners of war. News of the sinking of the Ontario was kept quiet for a number of years to hide the military loss.The HMS Ontario is considered to be one of the few “Holy Grail” shipwrecks in the Great Lakes. For years many divers and shipwreck hunters have searched the lake for the Ontario without success. Authors of shipwreck books speculated and then wrote tales of payroll treasure that might be on board the Ontario.
Ref: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HMS_Ontario_(1780)
Ref: http://www.shipwreckworld.com/articles/shipwreck-explorers-discover-1780-british-warship-in-lake-ontario
Ref: http://www.uppercanadahistory.ca/uel/uel8.html
Maid of the Mist (Lelawala) – The traditional Iroquois legend states that Lelawala was immensely saddened by the recent death of her husband. This initial loss started an avalanche of misfortune in Lelawala’s life, and she quickly lost hope of overcoming her current sorrows. Thus, one day, Lelawala boarded her canoe and paddled into the middle of the roaring Niagara River. Singing a time-honored death hymn, the girl allowed the canoe to be caught by the rushing current, and soon Lelawala and her boat were thrown over the edge of the enormous Falls.
However, instead of finding the sweet release of death in the deep waters below, Lelawala was caught mid-descent by Heno, the god of thunder. Heno brought Lelawala to his home behind the Falls, where he and his son nursed Lelawala back to health. Once again happy and confident in her life, Lelawala fell in love with and married Heno’s youngest son, and together the family lived behind the Falls.
Yet, Lelawala had one regret in her magical life behind the thundering water: She wished to see the people of her past once more. Unfortunately, she gained this opportunity all too soon. Heno informed the girl that a great snake was traveling down the river with plans to poison the waters from which Lelawala’s people drank. Her people would die, and the great snake would feast on them. Lelawala was granted permission to warn her people, and she was able to save them from disaster before returning to her watery home.
When the snake finally visited the village, it was enraged to find the people fled to higher country. It sought to find them and carry out its devilish deed, but Heno rose up out of the crashing water and struck the beast dead with a single lightning bolt. However, the great snake’s body obstructed the river’s flow, and water began rushing directly into Heno’s home behind the falls. Heno was able to evacuate his family, Lelawala included, before the damage was complete, and they relocated to a new place in the sky. From their new home, Lelawala could watch her people every day, but she never again could visit with the people of her past.
Ref: https://www.niagarafallscrowneplazahotel.com/blog/2015/01/real-maid-mist-niagaras-famous-legend/