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In the early 1930’s a local man of the Meadowlark Area had an encounter with the Yulegarou that changed his life - creating  a longstanding tradition in his quaint hometown. Mr. Quincy Bixby was a local woodsman and forester who on his acreage (now the town center) grew a field of beautiful Douglas Firs. It was these trees that he sold to the township of Meadowlark Falls for the holiday season. But it wasn’t these trees that Mr. Bixby is now known for. In the heart of Meadowlark Falls town square lies the East Coast's Largest Living Christmas tree - and the only surviving tree of Mr. Bixby’s tree farm .

 

As the legend goes, one night, Mr. Bixby was finishing up thinning out and shaping his trees with his machete for the next day of sales. He rounded a corner and spied the largest tree of the bunch. He marveled at its size and remarked why he hadn't noticed this tree before. He approached the evergreen with its piney branches aimed to attack with his machete, when suddenly a drift of snow shifted just out of the corner of his eye. He turned and noticed the movement in the snowbank and commented to himself “Must be one of those darn Chipaloupes after my maple syrup again! Oh how right - and wrong he was. 

 

For Mr. Bixby was near one of the areas well known cryptid creatures. It wasn't the Chipaloupe that was in the branches ready to strike, but something far more frightening.  Mr. Bixby rounded the large Fir Tree, machete in the air, shouting “Stay away from my syrup you little…” He was cut off when he saw the 10 foot man-beast looming over him. 

 

He looked it up and down - the ragged white fur, the leathery hands, the mass of antlers, and the face like that of the chipaloupe with its large black eyes. The beast curved his body down close to his face and breathed in his scent. 

 

“Human” the monster growled “stay away - this tree is mine”

 

Mr. Bixby began to quake “what?” he quivered.

 

“This tree belong to Yulegarou - belong to chipalope. You” He jabbed him in the chest and with a mighty snarl  “You bring syrup. You leave tree alone!”

 

The  monster's voice echoed in the darkness. 

 

Mr Bixby got out a dry “yes” , backed away slowly, then turned and ran as fast as he could to Ol’ Pa Anderson’s  (then Harry Anderson) sugar shack. He banged on the door demanding entry - demanding syrup. 

 

When Mr. Bixby returned the monster was gone - and all his trees were ripped out by the roots. Except for the largest tree - The Yulegarou tree. 

 

Mr. Bixby made his offering and left the tree biz all together. He moved to Boca Raton and never returned. 

 

It is now a yearly holiday tradition to offer Maple Syrup to the Yulegarou and his Chipaloupe denizens. This tradition is tied into the spirit of the holiday season of Meadowlark Falls especially during the Holiday Festival where is it said the offering brings good luck to it’s citizens into the next year. 

 

City Hall has a small display of Yulegarou lore in its historical library, which includes one plaster cast of a footprint found near the Falls 30 years ago. Each Winter Solstice, a candle is lit at the display next to a cup of maple syrup.