Wakefield, New Hampshire: Mysterious Hole in Frozen Pond

Discovery William McCarthy, a horse farmer in Wakefield, New Hampshire, observed an unusual circular opening in his frozen pond on January 10, 1977 around noon. The pond, measuring 105 by 75 feet, had been completely frozen the previous day. The hole was perfectly round, cutting cleanly through approximately 14 inches of ice, with 8 inches of slush surrounding it. Inside the hole, McCarthy spotted what appeared to be a one-foot-square metallic object submerged three feet in the pond's bottom mud.

Official Response After attempting unsuccessfully to retrieve the object, McCarthy contacted his friend Bob Palmer, who alerted authorities due to concerns about radioactive debris. Police and Civil Defense representatives arrived and measured radiation levels at approximately 3 roentgens per hour—significantly above normal background radiation of 0.001 roentgen. The family was instructed to avoid the water. By evening, the slush circle had expanded to 10 feet in diameter. A second hole appeared approximately 50 feet away the following morning. State officials warned McCarthy against discussing the incident publicly and instructed him to prevent livestock from accessing the pond.

Unresolved Questions The pond refroze overnight, and subsequent radiation readings showed no abnormal levels. The mysterious object disappeared, and the incident remains unexplained despite investigations involving Civil Defense, National Guard, and Pentagon personnel.