Editing Grant Town, West Virginia (section)

== Folklore ==

=== The Vegetable Man ===
Just north of Fairmont, West Virginia in Grant Town, residents often speak about the little known hoax known as the “Vegetable Man”. Jennings H. Frederick first believed to have seen the “Vegetable Man” in July, 1968. “Frederick recalls walking through the woods during an unsuccessful hunt for woodchuck when he heard a jabbering voice that he said sounded like a sped-up recording (Gorski, 2023).  According to a newsletter written by Gray Baxter, a known hoaxter from the 50s and through the 80s who specialized in UFOs and paranormal events, this is what the creature said: 

“YOU NEED NOT FEAR ME. I WISH TO COMMUNICATE. I COME AS FRIENDS. WE KNOW OF YOU ALL. I COME IN PEACE. I WISH MEDICAL ASSISTANCE. I NEED YOUR HELP!”

“Surprised, Frederick felt his arm catch on a patch of brambles. When he looked down, he realized that what he thought were brambles was actually a three-fingered hand that was “green like a plant.” Frederick said the fingers were seven inches long, with “needle-like tips" and suction cups,” which had attached themselves to his arm. “He heard a suction sound and knew blood was being drawn,” said the newsletter. The creature reminded Frederick of “the stalk of some huge ungainly plant,” but the creature was surprisingly strong. Its eyes turned from yellow to red as they began to spin, hypnotizing Frederick and distracting him from the pain in his arm. Frederick believed the “transfusion” lasted about a minute until it released him and ran up the hill “covering 25 ft. or more in each leap, like a modern ‘Spring healed Jack.'”(Gorski, 2023). Barker has created many renderings of Frederick’s encounter and fans of the cryptid can witness these works of art at the Clarksburg-Harrison Public Library. 

The first annual “Veggie Man Day” was held on July 13, 2024 at the Frank and Jane Gabor West Virginia Folklife Center in [[Fairmont, West Virginia|Fairmont, WV]]. This event aimed to bring this enigmatic figure into the spotlight. The residents of Fairmont and the surrounding areas wanted to celebrate West Virginia’s rich tradition of cryptid lore. This event offered a variety of activities and the chance to immerse themselves in the mysterious world of the “Vegetable Man”. The town of Farimont plan to continue the tradition of celebrating the “Vegetable Man” each year on the annual “visit” from cryptid on July 13th.