
Debunked or Not, the Paulding Lights Legend Holds on Tight
Last month, we did an article on the Paulding Lights, and how Michigan Tech students seemed to debunk the whole "ghostly lights" legend. It doesn't matter if the students or scientists have come up with a logical explanation of the Paulding Lights. There are still plenty of people who want to believe there is something supernatural going on there.
Just off US-45 on Robbins Road, people gather around dusk to catch a glimpse of these 'mysterious' lights, said by scientists to be simply headlights in the distance...but there are many who scoff at a logical explanation and choose to embrace the supernatural theory. These lights don't just appear if you're lucky – no, they appear every night, and it's easy for anyone to go see them. They were first noticed in the 1960s and are seen at the far end of a valley as you stand on top of the other end.
These lights appear as shiny orbs, many times in different colors, mostly beige, red, and white; they appear and disappear many times throughout the night.

Okay, so non-believers say they're caused by headlights in the far distance...which is a plausible explanation, as the road in the distance from the sighting site correlates exactly to where the lights are seen. Makes perfect sense. But some people will not accept this explanation.
So what's the supernatural reasoning that many believe? There are a few:
1) The ghost of a railroad brakeman was killed and now shines his lantern to warn people
2) Aliens in the treetops
3) Swamp gas
4) Spirits looking for lost children
5) Native American apparitions dancing over telephone wires
But are they really vehicle headlights as previously mentioned? That may explain the front lights, and the red colors could explain the rear vehicle lights. Mystery solved...or so say the scientists at Michigan Tech University.
The people of Paulding embrace the legend, as it makes the town special and brings travelers into town every day. They thumb their noses at the scientists, who they say probably DID see vehicle lights, but not the true 'Paulding Lights'.
In closing, anyone can drive to this road at night and see these lights located just south of Paulding at Old US-45 and Forest Highway 181, Bruce Crossing, south of Paulding. There are videos online of people who gasp and squeal when the lights appear, probably because they've heard so much about them and are geeked when they finally show up.
What do I believe?
1) The ghost of a railroad brakeman?
Possibly.
2) Aliens in the treetops?
Oh, please...
3) Swamp gas?
That would be a cop-out.
4) Spirits looking for lost children?
Another possibility.
5) Native American apparitions dancing over telephone wires?
Sure, why not.
What do I really believe?
HEADLIGHTS.
Whether you believe or not, you may as well take a trip to Paulding and see for yourself and draw your own conclusions.
"Experts," "solved" the Paulding Light as headlights. Ignored decaying Powerline!









