Subject: We Became the Paulding Light 2,765 views

[Soapmonkey]

Last night our college group at church piled in the church van and drove out to the Paulding light. We brought multiple cameras and a desire to get to the bottom of it. Most of us had not been there before, but one person had been there 20 times in the last years.

We saw the light many times. Some of us walked down the valley path. We could not see the light from the path, due to the lower terrain dropping us below the horizon. However, if we walked up a slight rise on the right, we could see the light from there as well (but at one point if I moved my head down six inches, the light would disapear).

Our theory, as indicated by other entries, was that it was headlights and tail lights. It was simply too coincidental for the light to be both white and red, with the red lights always on the RIGHT of the white lights (as in a road).

We decided to find out for sure. We left two people behind, and everyone else got into the van and headed for highway 45 (which is the road people claimed that caused the light). Our plan was to drive with our hazard lights on, and when we found a stretch of highway that looked likely, we would turn our headlights off and on.

We did just that. We stayed on 45 until we passed Paulding yet were not yet so far as Bruce's Crossing. We suddenly came upon the likely stretch of highway. It was a long, straight stretch of high eleveation, with several valleys and dips that accounted for the light disappearing and appearing. The highway also had the same powerline running along it as runs down the rightaway where you see the light. Looking up the powerlines, we could see a blinking cell tower which was behind us as we viewed the light from the "the spot." This showed that we lined up perfectly. Assuming we were in the right spot, we flashed our headlights repeatedly with our hazards running.

When we got back to the site, our friends had seen us, both the flashing hazard lights and our blinking headlights. Mystery solved. What is funnier though was that as soon as we left "the sight" another car pulled up. They saw us blinking our headlights, and were really captivated. They refused to believe our friends initially that it was us. But...in the end apparenly they believed them. The guy was a lawyer, who offered to "represent you in court," whatever that means.

So. The Paulding light is merely headlights. Any really weird light displays are probably from locals who flash their lights strangely when they drive that stretch as we did. Other phenomina probably are from drugs and alcohol combines with expectations to see something really strange.

[josh]

First off, I would like to offer my condolences... for driving all the way to Watersmeet just to see headlights. Your analysis is correct, what you saw were headlights and taillights. But what you failed to realize is that this means you probably did not see the real Paulding Light. I've been there several times, and have seen the real thing, and also the dissappointing headlight/taillight scenario. And just be clear about something, I don't get drunk or high, so that's not a factor in my experiences. I've seen the light do all sorts of stuff that cars can't do... swing around, get very close and very far away (within seconds), and crazy 8's and stuff. Other people have seen all kinds of colors, like greens and blues; colors that aren't found on cars. I know it was probably a nice feeling to believe that you guys had solved it, but I'm afraid you just came on the wrong night. I've said this before on other discussions on this site; when a person sees the real Paulding Light, they'll know. This is why some people say "wow, it was amazing!" and other people say "this is so stupid, it's obviously cars.." I realize that in a lot of cases, people are drunk or high, but not me, I know what I saw. But, like any other post on this site, this is just my experience with the Light. Do what you want with it.

[open minded]

Josh, you are exactly right. If they have any questions then they have not seen the real light. It is always amazing to me how kids think that they are so much smarter than those who are older. Yup they really solved it didnt they! Very sad that they didnt get to see the real thing because it is an experience that has stayed with me very strongly for years.

[Larissa]

I totally 100% agree with Josh.. They probably didnt see the real thing because I saw it get blue and do things that a car couldnt. It got closer and it got one huge white light. I also saw it shoot straight up into the air when it was red. Can car tail-lights shoot straight up into the air??? You answer that question for yourself

[bigtom714]

i've been posting the last couple of days with no response, these people that drive 45 north of paulding to where the stretch of hwy 45 lines up and their freinds are back saying we saw you are in the wrong place to view the light. if you are on old hwy 45 you are in the wrong place. get a map or check mapquest and go further south on 45 to ROBBINS POND ROAD, go down the road a little to the barracade and you will be at right spot to view the paulding light, i believe some people have been going farther up 45 to old hwy 45 for years and reporting that it's nothing but cars coming and going on 45 and they are correct, because they are in the WRONG PLACE. you must be on ROBBINS POND ROAD to see the paulding light. people need to know this. can someone in michigan help me with this so we can get people to the right place, thanks

[r]

i believe the head light theory.

[bigtom714]

oh, the head light thoery, yes if you are on old hwy 45 you are seeing headlights and taillights on 45 between bruce crossing and paulding, no doubt about it, but your in the wrong place to view the paulding light, checkout mapquest, find ROBBINS POND RD, it's a little further south of old hwy 45, that is where you need to be. go there and then tell us what you see, because when you see the real light you will know it. thanks

[red]

where's this light at?

[bigtom714]

The Paulding Light is in Michigan a little north of Watersmeet on U S 45 to Robbins Pond Rd hang a left go down the road to the dead end barrcade and park your car a wait and you will see some pretty neat lights dance around in the distance and if it's quiet the light sometimes comes right up to you and can be very scary. You can walk down the road if you want, is goes down into a valley, you need to cross a small creek, but if you do take a hike down there you lose sight of the light ,plus you have to put up noisy people drinking and partying sometimes, so if you can go there mid week it should be less crowded, also we go there in the Fall, the weather is cooler and no bugs.

[hans]

i am the paulding light. www.k102.com