Light Hearted

It’s that spooky time of year again – the leaves are falling, the air is crisp, and Halloween is right around the corner. In the spirit of the season, let’s take a look at one of the eeriest urban legends from right here in Michigan – the legend of the Nain Rouge.

In Detroit and the surrounding area, there are many chilling tales passed down through generations. From the Michigan Dogman to the ghosts of the old Packard Plant, Motown certainly has its fair share of paranormal activity. But perhaps none are more bone-chilling than the legend of Le Nain Rouge – The Red Dwarf.

The origins of this cautionary tale date back to 1701, when the French explorer Antoine de La Mothe Cadillac founded Fort Ponchartrain du Détroit on the strait between Lake Erie and Lake St. Clair. It was July 24, the feast day of St. James the Greater, as Cadillac surveyed the new settlement admiringly. Without warning, accounts say a small, lurid creature suddenly appeared before him. It had a wrinkled face, large ears, blazing red eyes, rotten fangs, and a hunchback with twisted limbs. Cadillac recognized it immediately as a pauvre diable – a devilish imp that portended trouble. He chased the beast away by striking it with his cane.

But this would not be the Nain Rouge’s only appearance. Over the next three centuries, this almighty omen would return again and again before calamity struck Cadillac’s settlement. In 1763, British commander Major Robert Rogers allegedly saw the dwarf dancing on the shores of the Detroit River just days before the bloody Battle of Bloody Run. In 1805, multiple eyewitnesses spotted the Nain Rouge cackling gleefully and dancing through the streets. Mere hours later, a devastating fire swept through Detroit, destroying hundreds of buildings.

During the War of 1812, General William Hull saw a vision of the red-eyed goblin before surrendering Detroit to the British forces. In 1876, utility workers spotted the creature climbing telephone poles just before a massive blizzard slammed Detroit with two feet of snow, costing hundreds of lives. Before the 12th Street Riot of 1967, multiple Detroiters again reported crossing paths with the Nain Rouge. Most recently in the 2000s, the dwarfish demon was seen prior to the downfall of the US auto industry.

To this day, the Nain Rouge is said to haunt Detroit, appearing only to foretell of impending catastrophes. On March 24th annually, Detroiters hold a cheeky Marche du Nain Rouge parade to banish the dwarf from city limits. But not all are convinced the ritual works. Some believe the Nain Rouge cannot be expelled from the city it seems to despise. As Halloween arrives, Detroiters exchange whispered tales of valid recent sightings and keep a cautious eye out for any telltale signs of glowing red eyes and rotten teeth, lest the dwarfish demon herald further doom.

Next time you’re in the Motor City, wander down Woodward Avenue or walk the Detroit riverfront – but beware any unexplained chills or strange creatures you encounter. For the Nain Rouge may once again be on the prowl, eager to dance at Detroit’s demise.