American Hysteria THE BENNINGTON TRIANGLE pt. 1 with Sarah Marshall
Apr 27, 2026
Sarah Marshall, podcast host and writer and former Bennington College student, brings literary and historical perspective to the Bennington Triangle story. They trace Paula Weldon’s last night on the Long Trail and the chaotic search that followed. Conversations touch on college folklore, links to The Secret History, strange sightings, and how isolation and uncertainty shaped the mystery.
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How The Bennington Triangle Mythcoalesced
- The Bennington Triangle label links five mysterious disappearances near Bennington College from 1946–1950 into a single local myth.
- Paranormal explanations (UFOs, monsters, curses) grew around the disappearances as students passed stories across campus.
Bennington College As An Incubator For Legends
- Sarah Marshall describes Bennington College as a small, insulated arts school hidden in the forest with ~700 students and a culture that encouraged risky or eccentric behavior.
- She links the school's isolation and creative student boredom to folklore and extreme campus stories.
Key Facts Of Paula Weldon's Last Known Outing
- Paula Jean Weldon left Dewey Hall Dec 1, 1946 wearing jeans, white sneakers, and a red parka to hike the Long Trail alone.
- Unexpected three inches of snow and cold that night made search and recovery far more difficult.
