Blog Post: The Black Flash of Provincetown: A Shadow in the Dunes

By Juniper Ravenwood

A Town Gripped by Fear

In the fall of 1939, the quiet seaside town of Provincetown, Massachusetts, was anything but peaceful. A mysterious figure known as the Black Flash emerged from the fog, terrorizing residents with its glowing blue eyes, silver ears, and superhuman speed. Towering nearly eight feet tall and cloaked in black, this entity leapt over hedges, ambushed passersby, and vanished into the night with a chilling, maniacal laugh. For weeks, Provincetown was gripped by fear as the Black Flash haunted its streets and dunes, leaving behind a legacy that still whispers through the town today.

The Sightings That Shook Provincetown

The Black Flash first appeared to children, who ran home with tales of a monstrous figure that seemed to materialize from the shadows. One October evening, Maria Costa, a local woman, encountered the entity near Town Hall. Its glowing eyes locked onto hers before it vaulted away, leaving her trembling. Other accounts describe grown men being overpowered by its unnatural strength, and one man even fired a shotgun at it, only to watch it laugh and disappear. The Black Flash’s ability to appear across town in minutes—first in the East End, then the West End—defied logic, fueling speculation that it was no ordinary prankster.

A Paranormal Enigma

What was the Black Flash? Some believe it was a demon, drawn to the collective anxiety of a town rattled by global tensions and local oddities, like a decomposing “sea monster” washed ashore that same year. Others suggest it was a tulpa, a thought-form born from the town’s fear, or a shadow being slipping through dimensional cracks. The Wampanoag legends of Cape Cod hint at ancient spirits tied to the land, and some wonder if the Black Flash was a manifestation of such lore. Its buzzing sound, described as a swarm of insects, only deepens the mystery, evoking otherworldly energies.

The Skeptical Perspective

Not everyone is convinced the Black Flash was paranormal. Chief of Police Anthony Tarvers claimed it was a hoax orchestrated by local teens, with two boys using a cape and a flour sifter to mimic the silver ears. Yet, this explanation struggles to account for the entity’s reported speed, strength, and ability to evade capture. Could a prank really terrify an entire town, including adults who swore they faced something unearthly? The skeptical view leaves more questions than answers.

A Lasting Legend

The Black Flash’s final reported sighting in 1945, when children fended it off with hot water, marked the end of its reign. But its story lingers in Provincetown, a town steeped in mystery and charm. Was it a phantom, a prank, or something else entirely? The dunes still hold their secrets, and the Black Flash remains one of the Cape’s most enduring enigmas. What do you think, readers? Share your thoughts at shadowpodcast@protonmail.com or leave a voicemail at shadowfrequencypodcast.com.

Signed, Juniper Ravenwood