The Goblins of Old Detroit
Two Michigan monsters you wouldn’t want to run into
It’s safe to say the Great Lakes State enjoys a fair amount of cryptid sightings. Our dense forests and deep lakes reportedly host a myriad of beasts, ranging from giant water monsters to the ubiquitous sasquatch.
One might say the most remarkable of Michigan’s beasts come from the era of French Detroit, which lasted between 1700 and 1760 (le Détroit means “the Straits” en français), and are thought to draw upon both European and native Anishinaabe lore. Perhaps the most enduring of these cryptids are two vertically-challenged goblins whose M.O. is to bring mischief and mayhem to “the D”.
The Goblin Horseman (Le Lutin)
This underrated cryptid was observed in Detroit’s suburb of Grosse Pointe and is described as a horned goblin with a penchant for taking the townsfolk’s horses and riding them beyond exhaustion.
This legend is attributed to a gentleman named Jacques “Jaco” L’Esperance, who inherited a large estate in the area. Jaco was very proud of his horse and bragged about its abilities around town immediately after arriving.
It is likely because of this boasting that no one in town bothered to warn him about le Lutin. Everyone in town lived in fear of the monster and protected their livestock by marking each animal with the cross.
After finding his precious mare dripping with sweat several mornings in a row, Jaco complained to a neighbor.
“C’est le lutin qui la soigne” (“It is the goblin that takes her”), he replied.
Obviously not one to take such a statement lying down, Jaco decided to post watch that night from a window, expecting a common thief. Jaco, alerted by some commotion, looked down and saw a squat, ape-like creature attempting to ride off with his favorite horse. Jaco acted fast and doused the horned goblin with holy water (a must-have on every Catholic’s nightstand), which sent both monster and horse into oblivion.
From that incident onward, Jaco made like the rest of the locals and always marked his horses with the cross. It is uncertain how long le lutin terrorized Gross Pointe as there is little to no mention of the monster since, probably owing to the fact that everyone in metro Detroit now prefers driving SUVs to the Mustang (I’ll see myself out in a minute, thanks).
The Red Dwarf (Le Nain Rouge)
Our next enjoys much more fanfare: Le Nain Rouge — Detroit’s official cryptid mascot. A single glimpse of this razor-toothed goblin is said to foretell disaster in Michigan’s largest city.
The origins of le Nain are uncertain, and again the only explanation we have for the creature’s existence is again tied to a story. On the precipice of Antione de la Mothe Cadillac’s establishing a French colony on the straits between lakes Huron and Erie, he hosted a party at his estate in Montreal.
At this gathering, a fortune teller correctly predicted La Mothe’s future successes but warned him not to disrespect le Nain Rouge. Naturally, no one present had encountered this creature before so the caveat was immediately dismissed.
Just a few years later, La Mothe was enjoying a May Day celebration at his home, now in le Détroit, when the flame-haired, red eyed Nain appeared directly in front of him and his wife. Despite the fortune teller’s warning and apparent lack of provocation, La Mothe took his cane and proceeded to beat le Nain over the head until the ghoul disappeared.
In the years that followed, La Moth was to be charged with abuse of power by French courts and eventually returned to his native France. Le Nain wasn’t done, however, and was seen nearly a century later just before the near entirety of Detroit burnt to the ground in 1805.
This begs the question: did La Mothe’s offense curse Detroit for all time, even after French rule? Or has le Nain been wreaking havoc long before the Europeans arrived?
These days, Detroit residents prefer to err on the side of caution and try to placate the Red Dwarf with a quirky parade called “Marche du la Nain Rouge,” which takes place every year.
With Detroit’s troubled history and ongoing revitalization efforts, it’s probable they could use a little help.
Further Reading / References:
Legends of Le Détroit by Marie Caroline Watson Hamlin. 1884. Read online at https://archive.org/details/cu31924028870686/mode/2up
Were-wolves and Will-o-the-Wisps: French Tales of Mackinac Retold by Dirk Gringhuis. 1974. Published by Mackinac Island State Park Commission.
