On May 19, 1780, the residents of New England woke to a typical spring morning. However, as noon approached, the unexpected happened—the sky gradually darkened until it was as black as midnight. This bewildering occurrence was not limited to a small area; it stretched across most of New England. People were forced to light candles to see in the middle of the day, and wildlife behaved as if night had fallen. The darkness was so complete that many believed the end of the world was at hand. The cau