Episodes
Today in the Cottage, it's all about MYSTERIES.
First, Nylene talks about the Michigan Triangle! A strange patch of land right here in the continental US of A, comparable to the Bermuda Triangle of the Atlantic.
Then, Nym brings us up to speed on the Bloody Benders! The Benders were a family who had a lot of secrets, not least of which being what they had planted in the orchard.
Lake Michigan Triangle by Nylene
Lake Michigan Triangle
Le Griffon Model - Was one of the first ships to sail the Great Lakes below Niagara Falls.
Rosabelle - 1863 : Found Capsized with crew missing multiple times
The Rosabelle capsized
Similar model of plane to Northwest Orient Flight 2501 who went missing with all onboard over Lake Michigan
Underwater Stonehenge type formation found in Lake Michigan
Carving on the rocks found near the Stonehenge type formation
The Bloody Benders By Nym
"No photographs exist of the Bender family. These sketches appeared in a 1915 book about the case and were based on descriptions from neighbors and travelers in the 1870s. Source: Acquired from Steve Cox, public domain."
Bender Cabin at the time of the murders.
The day of the search at the Bender's home.
Reward poster for the Benders
The Bender Cabin in decay.
Historical Marker for the Bender property
Hammers found on the property.
Artifacts found on the property.
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Artnet News. (2024, February 13). A prehistoric structure under Lake Michigan resembles a Mini-Stonehenge. Artnet.
Colclough, J. (2024, October 8). The Bloody Benders: Homestead of Horrors | Headlines & Heroes. The Library of Congress.
Griffon (1679) - WI Shipwrecks. (n.d.).
Hell’s Half-Acre : The Untold Story of the Benders, Ame. . . (n.d.). Goodreads.
Kuta, S. (2024, October 16). Mysterious craters discovered on the bottom of Lake Michigan could hold lessons about early life on Earth. Smithsonian Magazine.
Syl, & Syl. (2025, February 6). The True Story Of The Real-Life Devil’s Rejects. Wicked Horror.
The Bermuda Triangle of the Great Lakes - Great Lakes Museum. (2024, March 9). Great Lakes Museum.
The Bloody Benders historical marker. (2024, December 16).
The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica. (2025, June 7). Lake Michigan | Depth, freshwater, Size, & Map. Encyclopedia Britannica.
The Wild West Extravaganza. (2024, October 30). The Bloody Benders: Mystery SOLVED [Video]. YouTube.
True Crime in Kansas: The Mystery of the Benders - Kansas Story - Humanities Kansas. (n.d.).
Wikipedia contributors. (2025, February 13). Lake Michigan Triangle. Wikipedia.