Every town has a history and culture unto itself. And part of that history is legends. What are the local legends around your town or state? Are there mysterious creatures lurking in the dark or haunted locations best avoided? In northern Wisconsin, there are two legends known by most everyone. One is of the [url=https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hodag]Hodag[/url]. A fearsome creature with "the head of a frog, the grinning face of a giant elephant, thick short legs set off by huge claws, the back of a dinosaur, and a long tail with spears at the end". It's diet consisted solely of white bulldogs. This, however, was a hoax perpetuated by prankster Eugene Shepard in Rhinelander, WI. In 1893, Shepard created a fake creature in a cage which he charged people to see. Occasionally, he would move the "Hodag" with hidden strings, terrifying the viewers. When a team of scientists heard about the rumors and decided to investigate the creature, Shepard was forced to unveil his hoax. The second myth revolves around not a creature, but a location. [url=https://www.prairieghosts.com/summer.html]The[/url] [url=https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Summerwind]Summerwind[/url] [url=http://coolinterestingstuff.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/20140127-003206.jpg]Mansion[/url]. Built in the early 1900's by Robert Lamont, it was situated on the shore of West Bay Lake. Early on, the maids working for the Lamont family claimed the mansion was cursed, but were not believed. Later, it is said that Lamont himself saw an apparition and fired his pistol at it. Despite the hauntings, Lamont owned the house until his death. After that, that house was bought and sold many times. One of the more well known owners were the Hinshaws, who would own the building for only six months. During this sort period of time Arnold Hinshaw suffered a nervous breakdown and his wife, Ginny, attempted suicide. After a time, the house would stay abandoned and become a meeting place for young delinquents, In 1985, the house was struck by lightning and burned to the ground, but people still go there to this day. The current legend is that anyone who takes a brick from the building will be cursed and followed by misfortune until it is returned.