Urban Legends: Pan of Cherokee Park

Photo by Alan Canon

Cherokee Park is located in Louisville, Kentucky. It's a good place to see some natural scenery and maybe be able to see the mischievous Pan come to life.

In 1903 Mr. and Mrs. W.J. Hogan from Anchorage, Kentucky submitted a letter to the Board of Park Commissioners. They suggested building a water fountain for dogs and horses and offered $7,000 in order to help erect one. The Commission would ask park designers, and Louisville park architects Olmstead and Associates to find a site for the fountain. The highest part of Cherokee Park was chosen.

To Mrs. Hogan's suggestion, they decided to the Greek God Pan to be the subject of the fountain. Lousiville sculptor, Enid Yandell, designed the fountain. The statue of Pan was sculpted and cast in bronze to appear lively. Pan who has a human body, horns on his head, and goat legs and feet appeared to be dancing holding his musical pipe. He is flocked by turtles that are used as water spouts into the 14 ft wide basin. The basin was decorated with four dog heads from which water also flows into a trough.

The fountain would be erected and dedicated on August 31, 1905.

According to urban legend during the full moon or maybe even every night at midnight Pan comes to life. It's said that Pan gets up to mischief sometimes even damaging vehicles nearby. 

SOURCES:

Wikipedia (Pan)

Louisville Ghost Hunters Society

Lousiville Halloween

Only In Your State

August 30, 2013 La Paz County, Arizona Doe

On August 30, 2013, on the banks of a river near Ehrenberg, Arizona a mandible was found. Gender could not be determined, but it's believed that they were between 18 to 55-years-old, and died between 1905 to 2005.


SOURCES:
NamUs

Murder of Carle McConnell

At 10 p.m. on August 29, 1997, 17-year-old Carle McConnell was found in a wooded area off of Devine Road in Vancouver, Washington. He had been shot to death. 

Carle's death may have been drug related and it's believed that he was killed by someone he knew. He was going through a rough patch as for the last two years he had gotten into drugs such as meth and marijuana. At the time he was not going to school and was living with friends.

SOURCES:

City of Vancouver

Uncovered

The Columbian September 2, 1997

The Columbian February 12,1998

The Columbian February 12,1998

KPTV May 30, 2023

August 28, 1963 Indio, California Baby Boy Doe

On August 28, 1963, the burned remains of a newborn were found in Indio, California. The infant had evidence of charing, but the infant died from a head injury. The placenta and gas can were found at the scene. They likely died the day before.

John Doe was a white or Hispanic male. 

SOURCES:

NamUs

August 27, 1863 Philadelphia, Pennsylvania Jane Doe

 On August 27, 1863, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania an unknown woman would die. She would be buried at the Philadelphia Almshouse Cemetery.

Jane Doe is a white female around 30-year-old.

SOURCES:

Find a Grave

Murder of William Henry Hill III

At 6:54 pm on August 27, 2019, police responded to the area of Mt. Vernon Ave and N 17th Ave in Columbus, Ohio. When they arrived they found 27-year-old William Hill III suffering from a gunshot wound inside a vehicle. William would be taken to the hospital, but would, unfortunately, pass over an hour later.

SOURCES:
Ohio Attorney General

Murder of Mildred Beamer

At 5:35 pm on August 26, 1993, 31-year-old Mildred Beamer was found dead at 757 A Pearcy St. in Greensboro, North Carolina. She had died from blunt force trauma.


SOURCES:
Greensboro North Carolina

Uncovered

August 25, 1923 Raleigh, North Carolina John Doe

 On August 25, 1923, the body of a man was found in a wooded area in Raleigh, North Carolina. It was believed that he had been dead for around a month before he was found. His cause of death is either unknown or unstated. 

John Doe was a black male about 45-years-old. 

SOURCES:

Find a Grave

Unidentified Wiki

Disappearance of Antwon Bernito Williams

On August 24, 1998, 20-year-old Antwon Williams was last seen leaving the 3800 block of North Dame Court in Charleston, South Carolina in his father's car. The next day the car was found abandoned on Cosgrove Bridge. It was still running with the hazard light on, but no sight of Antwon around.

Antwon is a black male and was 20-years-old at the time. He's 5'9" and 140 lbs. He has black hair and brown hair. He has the tattoo "Tony" on his arm. He was wearing a Jersey with a blue and yellow "Indiana" logo, blue shorts, and white athletic shoes.

SOURCES:

NamUs

National Missing Person Directory

Doe Network

Charley Project

August 1724 Plaxtol, England A Poor Traveling Woman

 On August 24, 1724, a poor unknown traveling woman was buried at the Plaxtol Parish Churchyard in Plaxtol, England. 

SOURCES: 

Find a Grave

Murder of Linda Maxwell

On the evening of August 23,1984, 18-year-old Linda Maxwell was seen leaving Calais, Maine with companions. Her body would be found 3 days later near the shore at the Robbinston Boat landing. She had drowned to death. Reportedly from a newspaper article at the time she was found nude, but there were no visible injuries on her. 

SOURCES:

Maine State Police

The Bangor Daily News August 28, 1984

The Calais Advertiser March 20, 2019