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Connecticut Legends of Lost Treasure
Cursed Aztec Gold of Charles Island
Around 1721, five Connecticut sailors found a golden treasure in a cave in Mexico supposedly once belonging to emperor Cuauhtémoc (Guatmozin), the last ruler of the Aztec Empire captured by Hernán Cortés. After returning to Connecticut with the treasure, four of the five sailors died in quick succession through accidents or violence. Panicked, the lone survivor rowed the rest of the treasure to Charles Island, where he buried it under cover of darkness hoping to break the curse or at least confine the curse to that spot. Captain Kidd is also said to have buried pirate loot on this island. Explore More
Pirate David Marteen’s Hidden Gold
Legend tells of Pirate David Marteen amassing untold riches after plundering numerous cities in Spanish-controlled territories, and then also attacking the Spanish galleon “Neptune,” getting away with $20 million in gold, worth over $300,000,000 today. He fled north along the American coastline and, after encountering a strong storm, headed into the Long Island Sound, then up the Connecticut River to Windsor where he stayed a while. He was eventually driven out of that area by the townspeople, heading northwest, and is said to have hidden $millions in gold in the 1660’s somewhere between Salmon Brook and Old Newgate Prison in the area of present-day East Granby. Explore More
Winsted Bank Heist that Broke the Bank
In 1861, thieves robbed the Winsted Bank over the weekend of gold and silver coins, as well as bank notes, valued in total at about $60,000 ($2,000,000 value today). The clever robbers entered a law office over the bank, ripped up the floor above the vault, split the stone sitting on the vault, removed the valuables, replaced the stone pieces, and restored the floor. Prior to the robbery three strange men had been spotted in a wooded area south of town that has since become known as “the Robbers Cave” near where a campsite with tools was found. A $1,000 reward was offered, but the thieves were never caught. The theft caused the bank to go belly up. Reports claimed three men were seen carrying heavy bags at the toll gate between Winsted and Norfolk, and it is rumored they couldn’t carry all of the coins so left behind a large amount in a hiding spot west of Winsted. Explore More
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