In the quiet town of Oakville, Ontario, a series of unexplained encounters occurred in the 1970s that continue to intrigue paranormal researchers today. Multiple witnesses reported seeing small, humanoid creatures approximately two feet tall with large eyes, observing them from trees and even emerging from the water. These beings, nicknamed "gretels" by local children, were often accompanied by strange noises, moving objects, and disembodied voices within a lakeside home.

These encounters coincide with numerous UFO sightings in the region during the same period, raising questions about possible connections between the phenomena. Meanwhile, other unexplained events have been documented globally, including a poltergeist case in India where invisible forces threw stones and potatoes, and a curious aerial phenomenon captured in a photograph in Derbyshire, England. These incidents challenge conventional understanding of reality and have yet to receive satisfactory explanations.

Key Takeaways

Mysterious humanoid creatures approximately two feet tall were repeatedly observed by multiple witnesses in Oakville during the 1970s.
Unexplained phenomena often manifest in different ways across cultures, from object-throwing poltergeists to unidentified aerial objects.
Physical evidence such as photographs and witness testimony continues to challenge scientific explanations of paranormal encounters.

The Oakville Creature Encounters

Unusual Sightings from the 1970s

In the 1970s, a recurring series of strange creature encounters occurred near Oakville, a lakeside community in southern Ontario with approximately 200,000 residents. A witness reported regularly visiting relatives who owned a waterfront property along Lake Shore Road. During these weekend visits, her six-year-old cousin began describing mysterious beings visible outside their balcony door at night. Initially dismissed as raccoons or childhood imagination, the sightings soon took on a more substantial nature when the witness was awakened one night to observe the creatures firsthand.

The encounter revealed two or three unusual beings peering at them through the door window. Despite the unsettling nature of the observation, the witness reported feeling no immediate threat from these visitors. Over subsequent visits, additional phenomena manifested, including strange voices, unexplained noises, and objects mysteriously relocated within the home.

The 'Gretels': Physical Characteristics

The beings, nicknamed "Gretels" by the children, displayed several distinctive features:

Physical Trait Description Height Approximately 2 to 2.5 feet tall Eyes Notably large, pronounced Appearance Natural rather than cartoonish Movement Agile, capable of emerging from and returning to water

An additional sighting occurred when the witness's 17-year-old cousin and their aunt's 26-year-old sister visited a nearby park at sunset. While sitting on a spit extending into the water, they observed a small humanoid figure, matching the previous descriptions, emerge from the lake before jumping back in. This corroborating account from adult observers lent credibility to the children's earlier reports.

Elemental Nature and Cultural Context

The witness described these entities as "very elemental-ish" in nature, comparing them to various folkloric beings such as goblins, dwarves, trolls, or brownies. Their appearance seemed particularly reminiscent of Nordic or Icelandic woodland beings rather than the cartoon-like depictions common in popular culture.

This characterization suggests possible connections to indigenous folklore across North America. Many Native traditions include accounts of "little people" or "hairy-faced dwarves" known for mischievous behavior and pranks—activities consistent with the object displacement experienced in the Oakville home.

Links to Aerial Phenomena

During this period, Oakville experienced numerous unidentified flying object sightings, raising questions about potential connections between these aerial anomalies and the small beings observed by witnesses. While no direct interaction between the creatures and aircraft was reported, the temporal overlap of these phenomena presents an intriguing correlation.

The large eyes noted in the creatures' description have prompted some researchers to consider potential relationships between the Gretels and reported extraterrestrial entities. However, no evidence directly links the beings to spacecraft or shows them entering or exiting such vehicles during any of the documented encounters.

Unexplained Occurrences in Rural India

Mysterious Incidents in the Untrurab Region

In July 2020, residents of the Untrurab district in India experienced a series of inexplicable events that left the community bewildered. The strange occurrences centered around the home of King Star Thongni, who first noticed unusual activity when he heard knocking at his door despite finding no one there. Upon investigation, Thongni discovered numerous stones scattered across his veranda with no visible source.

Initially suspecting a prank, Thongni attempted to identify the culprit. Friends and neighbors organized patrols around the property to catch the supposed trickster. Despite their vigilance, the mysterious activity continued unabated, with no human perpetrator identified.

The Unseen Stone-Throwing Entity

The phenomenon escalated beyond simple stone-throwing in subsequent days. Various household items began moving seemingly on their own, and peculiarly, potatoes joined the assortment of projectiles being hurled both inside and outside the residence. The invisible force targeted not only the house but occasionally pelted nearby residents as well.

Fortunately, no injuries were reported despite the potentially dangerous nature of the flying objects. What made this case particularly compelling was the presence of credible witnesses, including a local journalist who observed the phenomenon firsthand while covering the story. Even with professional scrutiny, no conventional explanation could be identified.

Community Response and Supernatural Theories

After exhausting rational explanations, community members began attributing the activity to supernatural causes. The persistence of the phenomenon despite increased observation and security measures strengthened beliefs in a paranormal origin.

Several characteristics of the case align with classic poltergeist manifestations:

Object movement without visible cause
Progression of activity from minor to more dramatic effects
Multiple credible witnesses observing the same phenomena
Concentrated activity around a specific location

As of the report's publication, investigators had not determined a definitive explanation for the unusual occurrences in Thongni's home. The case remains one of India's more well-documented recent instances of apparent poltergeist activity, distinguished by the unusual choice of potatoes as projectiles among the various objects manipulated by the unseen entity.

Unusual Flying Object Spotted in Derbyshire Sky

Mysterious Photograph Captures Night Anomaly

On February 27, 2021, a 40-year-old Rousley resident named Stephanie Marsden unintentionally captured an intriguing aerial phenomenon while photographing the full moon. The incident occurred along Chesterfield Road near Matlock when Marsden pulled over, impressed by the brightness of the moon that evening. Using her mobile phone, she snapped a picture through her car window.

It wasn't until later, when reviewing the image at home, that Marsden discovered something unexpected. The photograph clearly showed a dark, spherical object hovering above her vehicle—something she hadn't noticed when taking the picture.

Community Response and Theories

The unusual photograph quickly generated interest after being featured in the Derbyshire Times on March 5, 2021. In her interview with journalist Michael Broomhead, Marsden expressed genuine confusion about what she had captured and mentioned that the experience left her feeling unsettled.

"I didn't notice anything strange at the time, but later when I looked at the picture, I couldn't believe what I saw," Marsden told the Times. "I've shown friends and family the picture and they're all completely baffled."

Interestingly, the night following Marsden's photograph, numerous people across the UK reported seeing a meteor. Scientists suggested this was likely a small asteroid fragment entering and burning up in Earth's atmosphere, though no direct connection to Marsden's sighting was established.

The Derbyshire region has a documented history of unexplained aerial phenomena, including the notable Sharon Rowlands encounter from 2000, which was captured on video.

Technical Examination of the Object

Several explanations emerged for the mysterious dark sphere in Marsden's photograph. The most prevalent theory among skeptics suggests the object was simply a reflection from inside the vehicle itself. One analyst specifically proposed it might be the car's tachometer reflected in the window glass, noting, "If you look close enough to the reflection in the pic, you can see the numbers."

Others questioned aspects of the photo composition, pointing out that the moon wasn't perfectly centered in the frame. This criticism, however, overlooks the common reality that casual photographs aren't always perfectly composed.

The object's size and apparent proximity in the image remain striking features. Given its prominence in the photograph, some have questioned how Marsden could have missed seeing it while taking the picture. Two reasonable possibilities exist:

Her attention was focused solely on the moon
The object was indeed a reflection that only became visible in the photograph

While the image remains unexplained, the most plausible explanation aligns with the reflection theory, possibly from vehicle instrumentation that wasn't noticeable to Marsden at the time of photography.

Evidence Analysis

Debating the Derbyshire Photograph

The Derbyshire photograph, captured on February 27, 2021, sparked considerable interest when Stephanie Marsden shared her unexpected discovery. The 40-year-old woman from Rousley had stopped along Chesterfield Road to photograph the bright full moon through her car window. Upon reviewing the image later, she noticed a dark spherical object hovering above her vehicle that wasn't visible when she took the picture.

The photograph gained attention when published in the Derbyshire Times on March 5, 2021. Marsden expressed genuine confusion about the image, stating she was "unsettled" and "didn't sleep well" after discovering the anomaly. The timing of the photograph coincides with regional activity in the skies, as the following night witnesses across the UK reported seeing a meteor, which scientists attributed to asteroid fragments entering Earth's atmosphere.

Derbyshire has a documented history of unusual aerial phenomena, including the well-known Sharon Roland's encounter from 2000, which was captured on video. The clarity of the image and the distinct appearance of the object prompted both curiosity and skepticism from those who viewed it.

Analyzing the Reflection Theory

The most prevalent explanation offered for the Derbyshire photograph involves reflections from inside the vehicle. Several observers suggested the spherical object might be nothing more than the reflection of a dashboard instrument, specifically a tachometer. One commenter noted that upon close examination, numbers could potentially be discerned in the reflection.

Critics of the photo pointed out that the moon doesn't appear to be the central focus of the composition, questioning Marsden's account of stopping specifically to photograph it. This critique, however, fails to acknowledge that not all photographs—especially quick snapshots taken from a vehicle—are perfectly framed.

Given the apparent size and proximity of the object in the photograph, it's noteworthy that Marsden didn't notice it when taking the picture. Two possibilities exist:

Attention focus: She was concentrating exclusively on capturing the moon
Post-capture appearance: The object was not physically present but appeared in the image as a reflection

The reflection theory gains credibility when considering the circumstances—photographing through a car window at night creates ideal conditions for internal reflections to appear in images. A dashboard instrument like a tachometer would be illuminated and potentially positioned to create such a reflection without the photographer noticing it during the moment of capture.

Oakville's Mysterious Humanoid Creatures & Paranormal Encounters: The Potato Throwing Poltergeist