Scott County, Tennessee
The Helenwood Devil

This page was updated 06 Sep 2008

The Devil

There was exhibited last week at the Somerset Fair an object that  attracted several thousand people into a small tent.  They each paid 25 cents  admission fee.  Some came out and said the whole thing was a fake, while others  said they would not have missed it for a dollar.  Anyway, it was the biggest  drawing card at the fair.  The object that is attracting so much attention was  found by Crusie Sexton while digging for coal near Helenwood, Tenn.  It has the  appearance of a petrified form, about five feet, ten inches long, large head  with horns, large nose and ears, wings reaching to ankles and teeth showing.   The arms are long and slender and are crossed over the body.  The hands have  extra long fingers and the ankles are enlarged.  Mr. Sexton, who made the find,  was in the city this week and made an affidavit that he found the object in the  ground about five feet below the surface.  He dug it up and removed it to  Helenwood where it created such excitement that he put it in a box and charged  admission.  IT is said that the sum of $25,000.00 has been offered for it.  It  is owned by Mr. J.C. Pemberton of Oneida, Tenn., now.  The form is now reposing  in a box with iron bands around it, four pad locks on the box, nails driven in  the lid and a guard standing watch.  A professor from an eastern university  says it is some ancient idol of an early race.  Anyway, whatever it is, the  owners bid fair to get rich.  (Source:  Somerset Journal; Somerset, Pulaski Co, KY; 9 Sep 1921)

This page was created by Timothy N. West and is copyrighted by him. All rights reserved.