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Ogopogo
Ogopogo statue in Kelowna, British Columbia
Sub groupingLake monster
CountryCanada
RegionWestern and Central Canada
HabitatWater

Ogopogo is a word used in Canadian English for unidentified aquatic creatures, especially lake monsters and in folklore. Stories of ogopogos have been reported across Western and Central Canada, with Lake Okanagan having the most famous example. The word comes from a English music hall song, Ogo-Pogo, The Funny Fox-Trot. The name was given to the Lake Okanagan sea serpent, but quickly spread to any unidentified aquatic creatures. The use of the word ranges from misidentifications for rocks and fish to hoaxes and tall tales of fire breathing monsters and 300 foot long, flying sea serpents.

Name

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Sheet music cover

The name "ogopogo" originates from a 1924 English music hall song called "The Ogo-Pogo: The Funny Fox-Trot", by Cumberland Clark and Mark Strong.[1]

Frank Buckland[2] speculates on the origin of the name:

"or might it have been a harking back to the Boer War days, to a time when a Zulu chieftain came into Johannesburg to discuss the war situation with British officers? The black man's name was Ogopog."

Can't confirm Ogopog existed

On August 23, 1926, The Kalamaka Players of Vernon performed a parody of the Ogo-Pogo song at a civil luncheon. H.F. Beattie wrote lyrics that added characteristics of the Lake Okanagan monster. W.H. Brimblecombe sang the following lyrics:

I'm looking for the Ogopogo

The bunny-hugging Ogopogo.
His mother was a mutton, his father was a whale.
I'm going to put a little bit of salt on his tail.
I'm looking for the Ogopogo.


The next day, Ronald Kenvyn[2] of the Vancouver Daily Province wrote an article titled "Ogopogo Now Official Name of the Famous Okanagan Sea Serpent" [3]

In 1931, Bill Brimblecombe wrote in a report to the Okanagan Historical Society[4]:

Recently some of the coast newspapers have been using the word Ogopogo as a common noun to designate any unidentified creature in any of the lakes in the interior of B.C. so that now we are in a fair way to having a new word added to the English language.

Imitations and Variations

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  • Otterpogo, The Medicine-Hat Chamber of Commerce offered a $100 reward for a genuine egg of "an Ogopogo, an Otterpogo or a Crocowhale."[8]
  • Saskipogo, a goldfish-wombat cross that has never been seen in Lake Saskatchewan[9] made up for article? - but shows up on google search

British Columbia

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A partial skeleton, washed up near Vancouver,thought to be an ogopogo, was identified as a Basking Shark.[10]

A 300 foot ogopogo was seen in Harrison River in 1936. According to old timers, "who claim to know a little (?) about the habits of the Ogopogo", said it splits into three parts when exploring new territory.[11]

In 1932, a 7 to 9 foot ogopogo in Trout Lake, near Anyox.[12]

Ogopogo's twin was caught, but escaped in Williams Lake.[13] The fish was later identified as a 20 foot sturgeon. [14]

Lake Okanagan

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See main article on Ogopogo

Alberta

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in 1938[15] and 1945[16], ogopogos were seen in Waterton Lakes. The sightings were thought to be a log[15], sturgeon[16] or ducks[17].

An ogopogo with a foot wide mouth [18] was reported in the South Saskatchewan River in 1947. Then in 1949, a five to eight foot Ogopogo covered in dark, brown fur[19] resembling an alligator[20]

Several witnesses claimed to see a 12 to 14 foot monster swimming in Lake MacGregor, near Milo, Alberta.[21]

Oswald, the Battle River Ogopogo was identified as a sturgeon.[22]

Ben Coxworth[23] and Chris Zdeb[24] call the creature seen in Saddle Lake[25] an ogopogo.

Bowness Lagoon

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On July 24, 1942, a five-foot "Ogopogo" was caught in the big lagoon in Bowness Park, Calgary, by Park Superintendent John McDonald and later killed whenby Commissionaire R. McDonald (no relation). Commissionaire R. McDonald identified the animal as a ling, skinned it and cooked it for his supper. He said it tasted "grand"[26][27]

V. A. "Van" Newhall, chairman of the angling section of the Alberta Fish and Game League, stated that freshwater ling are not uncommon in rivers and lakes in the Calgary area.[28]

North Saskatchewan River

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In March of 1934, a man reported to police "Something big" struggling in the water near Dawson Bridge in Edmonton, Alberta. Constable James McMurray investigated and concluded that the large volume of water coming from the sewer outlet created a pattern appearing like something was there.[29]

In August of 1934, Ruby Samson and Olive Haw thought they saw Ogopogo during a canoe trip on the North Saskatchewan River. Haw stated, " but It turned out to be Just a rock".[30]

Blue Rapids Ogopogo
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Between 1936 and 1943, several sighting of an ogopogo occurred by Blue Rapids, near Drayton Valley.

In 1936, gold panners Jack Smith and Fred Olson spotted a 12 foot long ogopogo with a huge head and body and covered in dark brown, serrated skin.[31] [32]

A year later, James Hunt and Carl Lunberg saw something break the water three times two miles downstream of Blue Rapids. [33].

Gold washers, James Redpath and Bert Snell, reported seeing on Ogopogo about six miles up stream of Drayton Valley in 1940[34].

While duck hunting in September of 1942, William Patterson and Geoffrey Smith saw Ogopogo swim up a backwater, then swimmimg downstream towards Edmonton.[35][36]

In 1943, hunters saw ogopogo swanning towards Edmonton.[37]


Rocky Mountain Terror

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Between 1939 and 1943, the Edmonton Journal[38] and the Calgary Herald[39] [40] printed several articles on a river monster near Rocky Mountain House, Alberta.

The creature was described as "long and grey"[41], "as big as a boxcar"[42], horns[41], red eyes[41] as big as plates and fire-breathing[41][42] a mouth big enough to swallow a small boy[43]

Henry Stelfox Letters

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Henry Stelfox, Regional Representative Alberta Fish and Game Association, responded to articles published in the Edmonton Journal[44] and Calgary Herald[41] "it is regrettable that such nonsensical piffle is sent for publication to one of our leading newspapers. Stelfox read the article to some Natives in his office. The reply was, "Big liar". "[45]

In a letter responding to the article Rocky Mountain Terror, Stelfox give a recipe for "a very potent mixture" that would allow the drinker "to see every conceivable animal ...that a distorted imagination is capable of visualizing."[46]

Ben Coxworth Investigation

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An investigation by Ben Coxworth[23] found that the articles were writen by Grace Schierholtz, a field correspondent for the Edmonton Journal and the Calgary Herald.

Brian Mazza, editor of the Rocky Mountain House paper The Mountaineer informed Ben Coxworth that

The ogopogo sightings were the invention of Grace Schierholtz. She set out to prove that the upper reaches of the North Saskatchewan River were the spawning ground for the British Columbia monster ... Grace was bound and determined to put Rocky Mountain House on the map. As you see by her clippings, she succeeded.

Ontario

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The body of a thirty foot sea serpent with dark brown skin and copper colored spots was found in the Trent River, two miles East of Hastings, Ontario.[47]

Two men from Sarnia spotted and followed a 9 foot monster in the St. Clair River.[48]

Indigenous people of Miminiska Lake have stories of a large snake-like animal in the lake.[49] [50]. Outdoor columnist Jack Hambleton, reported seeing a 50 foot splashing near shore [50] Ogopogo See River Monsters S07E41

In 1936, two boys spotted an 20 foot green monster with black spots in the marsh behind an old sewer plant in Belleville. They called the creature an Ogopogo. [51]

Manitoba

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An animal resembling a 10 foot log was observed diving and stirring up mud near Chitek Lake between Lake Winnipeg and Lake Winnipegosis[52]

Saskatchewan

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Lake Katepwe Ogopogo caught - fish story 'blurry microfilm[53]

In 1932, a 10 foot tall, frog-like animal was reported near Pine Bluff, Saskatchewan.[54]

In December, 1933, a $5 reward was offered wqs offered for evidence of an ogopogo in Saskatchewan. "Affidavits are good, but will not be accepted if bearing dates of December 24 to January 1 inclusive. Pink elephants will not do."[55]

Outside Canada

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The Windsor Star[56] and The Ottawa Citizen refereed to the Loch Ness Monster as an ogopogo.

An ogopogo was sighted in Lake Washington, near Seattle[57] that was later identified as a Sea Otter.[58]

Controversy

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Leave Ogopogo alone

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A letter to the editor in Manitoba Free Press[59] and reprinted elsewhere[60] responded to a claim that Ogopogo was found frozen in ice near Norwood, Ontario[47]. The writer states that "Ogopogo lives in Lake Okanagan in British Columbia" and that "Ogopogo has never been east, and does not intend to go."

Battle of Ogopogo

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After appearing in Kalamalka Lake in 1956, Vernon calimed that "Ogopogo had returned home." [61] A group of Vernon businessman, headed by CJIB manager Gill Seabrook[62], copyrighted the name Ogopogo, "much to the chagrin of Kelowna and other Okanagan cities."[63] He gave the rights to the City of Vernon. [61][63] The "Battle of Ogopogo"[62] ended when J. W. T. Mitchell, commissioner of patents in Ottawa, stated the the general term Ogopogo cannot be registered.[64]

Nith River Monster

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In a tongue-in-cheek interview on the front page of Medicine Hat News, Ogopogo said regarding New Hamburg, Ontario's Nith River Monster, “No self-respecting sea-monster would allow his name to be associated with such an inconsequential beast.”[65][66]

Medicine Hat vs. Kelowna

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  • The president of the Kelowna Board of Trade called this move a "straight steal.".[68]
  • Mayor Harry Veiner of Medicine Hat said "If we use Ogopogo, we plan to spell It backwards,".[69]
  • To settle the dispute, Mayor Harry Veiner challenged Mayor J. J. Ladd of Kelowna to a 100-yard. foot race. [70]
  • The left eye of the Ogopogo statue in Kelowna is stolen [71] and turned up on the Mayor of Medicine Hat's desk a week later. [72]
  • It was revealed that the dispute was a light-hearted exchange between the mayors.[73]
  • In April, the ogopogo statue was tared and featured. Mayor Ladd declared "A joke's a joke, but this has gone too far." [74]

Also see

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References

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  1. ^ Shuker, Karl (December 9, 2010). "When Ogopogo was going for a song!". karlshuker.blogspot.ca. Archived from the original on 17 March 2018. Retrieved 17 March 2018.
  2. ^ a b Buckland, Frank (1990). "Story of the Ogopogo". Okanagan History (54): 154–160. doi:10.14288/1.0132224. Retrieved 24 October 2018.
  3. ^ "Ogopogo" Now Official Name Of The Famous Okanagan Sea Serpent". The Province. 24 August 1926. p. 7.
  4. ^ Moon, Mary (1977). Ogopogo. Vancouver: J.D. Douglas Ltd.
  5. ^ a b c d Eberhart, George M. (2002). Mysterious creatures : a guide to cryptozoology. Santa Barbara, California: ABC-CLIO. pp. 399–402. ISBN 978-1-57607-283-7. Retrieved 4 April 2018.
  6. ^ Berwick, Dennison (8 August 1981). "Mile-long Minnewcmka monster still elusive Minnepogo". Calgary Herald. p. E5. Retrieved 20 November 2018.
  7. ^ "The obepokey has again made its appearance". The Greenwood Ledge. 1 November 1928. p. 1. Retrieved 20 November 2018.
  8. ^ "'Hat Chamber Seeks Egg Of Ogopogo". Calgary Herald. 31 December 1951. p. 20.
  9. ^ Tetley, Deborah (23 August 2001). "Ogopogo Monster hunt turns up empty". Calgary Herald. p. 3. Retrieved 18 November 2018.
  10. ^ "Is This the End of British Columbia's Famous Ogopogo?". The Ottawa Citizen. 25 November 1936. p. 4.
  11. ^ "Harrison River Ogopogo Dwarfs All Other Ogopogos". The Chilliwack Progress. 26 Aug 1936. p. 1.
  12. ^ "Pop Eyed Fishermen View Gigantic Ogopogo". The Alice Arm and Anyox Herald. 3 September 1932. p. 1.
  13. ^ "OGOPOGO'S TWIN JUST AS ELUSIVE". The Gazette. 29 March 1929. p. 5.
  14. ^ "LAKE MYSTERY SOLVED". The Gazette. 14 Jun 1929. p. 15.
  15. ^ a b "Ogopogo in Waterton Lakes". Calgary Herald. 27 July 1938. p. 18.
  16. ^ a b "Waterton Lakes' "Monster" Again Sighted by Fishermen". Great Falls Tribune. 25 June 1945. p. 6.
  17. ^ "1938-07-29 Last Word on Ogopogo Crisis; Just Ducks, Claims Iconoclast". Calgary Herald. 29 July 1938. p. 20.
  18. ^ "Ogopogo Seen Near the Hat?". Calgary Herald. 12 May 1947. p. 13.
  19. ^ "Newspaperman sees Agopogo [sic]". Calgary Herald. CP. June 9, 1949. p. 27.
  20. ^ "Ogopogo Appears Near 'Hat". Calgary Herald. 6 June 1949. p. 2.
  21. ^ "'Monster' Seen In Alberta Lake". Calgary Herald. 19 Jun 1945. p. 1.
  22. ^ "Horrors! Oswald May Be Sturgeon Former R.C.M.P. Man Suggests Serpent Just Fish". Edmonton Journal. 19 June 1934. p. 1.
  23. ^ a b Coxworth, Ben (2007). "Rocky Mountain Terror" (PDF). Animals & Men (40): 31–37. Retrieved 12 May 2018.
  24. ^ Zdeb, Chris (25 September 2014). "Sept. 25, 1942: Ogopogo sightings near Edmonton". Edmonton Journal. Archived from the original on 12 May 2018. Retrieved 12 May 2018.
  25. ^ Van Krieken, Chris (August 31, 1984). "Mystery of the Saddle Lake monster haunts residents". Edmonton Journal. p. B5.
  26. ^ "'Ogopogo' captured in Bowness Lagoon". Calgary Herald. July 30, 1942. p. 1&2.
  27. ^ Benedict, W. Ritchie. "The Unknown Lake Monsters of Alberta". Strange Magazine (5): 47–49, 52.
  28. ^ "Ling Not Uncommon In Alberta Waters". Calgary Herald. 31 July 1945. p. 14. Retrieved 26 November 2018.
  29. ^ "Ogopogo Here? 'Something" Threshing in River Excites Citizen". Edmonton Journal. 30 March 1934. p. 11.
  30. ^ "Pretty Paddlers Pooh-Pooh Saskatchewan's Sneakiness". Edmonton Journal. 13 August 1934. p. 12.
  31. ^ "Alberta May Have "Ogopogo" of Own Drayton Valley Gold Washers See Strange Water Creature". Edmonton Journal. 22 June 1936. p. 5.
  32. ^ "Alta. Discovers Rival of Ogopogo". Star-Phoenix. 18 July 1936. p. S3-30.
  33. ^ "1937-08-02 Report Ogopogo Traveling River". Edmonton Journal. 2 August 1937. p. 1.
  34. ^ "CLAIM SEE OGOPOGO". Edmonton Journal. 10 July 1940. p. 5.
  35. ^ "Ogopogo Is Said Headed for City, Creature Seen 70 Miles to West". Edmonton Journal. 29 September 1942. p. 1.
  36. ^ "Ogopogo Is Nearer, 50 Miles From City". Edmonton Journal. 8 October 1942. p. 11.
  37. ^ "Ogopogo Heads For Edmonton". Edmonton Journal. 25 October 1943. p. 1.
  38. ^ "Ogopogo thought on Loose Again; Dead Sheep Found on River Bank". Edmonton Journal. October 19, 1943. p. 1.
  39. ^ "Rocky Mountain Terror". Calgary Herald. July 27, 1942. p. 7.
  40. ^ "Ogopogo's Return Reported By Airman". Calgary Herald. September 16, 1942. p. 1.
  41. ^ a b c d e Schierholtz, C. A. (April 29, 1939). "Monstrous Ogopogo Scares Indians at Rocky Mountain House". Calgary Herald. p. 25.
  42. ^ a b "He Saw Ogopogo, Says Rocky Visitor". Calgary Herald. July 18, 1941. p. 17.
  43. ^ "River `Monster' Sends Swimmers Scramblng". Calgary Herald. July 24, 1942. p. 1.
  44. ^ "Ogopogo Appears In Hostile Mood". Edmonton Journal. 15 July 1939. p. 19.
  45. ^ Stelfox, Henry (20 July 1939). "Ogopogo Story". Edmonton Journal. p. 4.
  46. ^ Stelfox, Henry (31 August 1942). "Letters To The Editor". Calgary Herald. p. 10.
  47. ^ a b "Sea Monster Found in Trent River Rouses Curiosity of Residents". Toronto Star. February 8, 1929. p. 1.
  48. ^ "Ogopogo of Ontario". The Vancouver Sun. 3 July 1933. p. 14.
  49. ^ "'Like a Big Snake' Indians See Ogopogo in Northern Ontario". Calgary Herald. 13 Aug 1947. p. 18.
  50. ^ a b Hambleton, Jack (10 August 1957). "Ontario Ogopogo? Miminiska Monster Joke Till You See It". The Globe and Mail. p. 29.
  51. ^ "Belleville Gets Itself Ogopogo Boy s Report Seeing Sea ; Serpent in Old Sewer". The Windsor Star. 20 May 1936. p. 18.
  52. ^ Cartwright, B.W. (25 November 1939). "Wild Wings". The Winnipeg Tribune. p. 30.
  53. ^ "Lake Katepwe Ogopogo Falls Victim to Lang Farmer's Rod and Line". The Leader-Post. 9 Feb 1929. p. 14.
  54. ^ "Saskatchewan Now Has Own Ogopogo". The Ottawa Citizen. 18 May 1932. p. 1.
  55. ^ "Bryant Offers $5 for Ogopogo". The Leader-Post. 22 December 1933. p. 3.
  56. ^ Halton, H. M. (3 January 1934). "Canny Scots are Loch Ness Certain Holds Monster". The Windsor Star. p. 12.
  57. ^ "Strange Animal Sighted". The Evening Review. 29 August 1933. p. 6.
  58. ^ "Identify Ogopogo Mire Sea Otter". Medford Mail Tribune. p. 1.
  59. ^ "Leave Ogopogo Alone". Manitoba Free Press. February 11, 1929. p. 15.
  60. ^ "Leave Ogopogo alone". Greenwood Ledge. February 28, 1929. p. 2.
  61. ^ a b "Is Ogopogo a resident of Vernon or Kelowna?". CBC Digital Archives. CBC/Radio-Canada. October 1, 1956. Retrieved March 29, 2018.
  62. ^ a b ""Battle Of Ogopogo" Rages In Okanagan". The Ottawa Citizen. 8 August 1953. p. 10.
  63. ^ a b "Arthur Gilbert (Gill) Seabrook - Vernon Morning Star". Vernon Morning Star. 28 November 2010. Archived from the original on April 4, 2018. Retrieved 4 April 2018.
  64. ^ "Battle Done Over Ogopogo". The Windsor Star. 12 August 1953. p. 10.
  65. ^ "The Nith River Monster - Everything2.com". everything2.com. Archived from the original on 23 May 2018. Retrieved 23 May 2018.
  66. ^ Campbell, Dick (July 14, 1953). "Ogopogo Still Sulking Scoffs at the Skeptics". Medicine Hat News. No. Vol 42, No. 305. p. 1. {{cite news}}: |issue= has extra text (help)
  67. ^ "'Ogopcgo' Bridge". The Lethbridge Herald. 3 February 1955. p. 13.
  68. ^ "Okariagah Battles Alberta On Use Of Ogopogo Name". Nanaimo Daily News. 4 February 1955. p. 2.
  69. ^ "It Still Spells Ogopogo". The Ottawa Citizen. 4 February 1955. p. 23.
  70. ^ "Kelowna Mayor Ogopogo On Line in 100 Yard Race". The Ottawa Journal. 5 February 1955. p. 3.
  71. ^ "Eye Plucked From Ogo; 'Hat Visitor Suspected". The Lethbridge Herald. No. 8 February 1955. p. 3.
  72. ^ "Thief Turns Over Ogg's Eye To Mayor". The Windsor Star. 15 February 1955. p. 16.
  73. ^ "Light-Hearted Breetings Mark Telex Inauguration". Medicine Hat News. 1 April 1955. p. 2.
  74. ^ "Joker Tars, Feathers Ogopogo". Calgary Herald. 26 April 1955. p. 11.

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