Digby County Bigfoot

In the Salmon River area of Digby County a man was born who became known as Bigfoot on January 24, 1908. Joseph Alphee Deveau grew to a rather large 6’7” tall man.

Although he was very tall that was not what was so amazing about him. His feet literally stuck out as his main feature. They were 16” long, 5” wide, 6” thick and he had to have specially made size 24 shoes and boots made at a shoemaker shop in Saulnierville.

He also had a rather large big toe on one foot that stuck up making it even harder to find comfortable footwear. Because of the size of his feet people started calling him “Gros Pieds” which in English is “Bigfoot”.

Joseph grew up to become a woodsman working in the backwoods of Digby County. The only part of him bigger than his feet was his heart, he was a very likeable man. At one time he was offered to join the circus and tour the country showing off his large feet, but this was not the life Joseph wanted, so he declined.

It is said that at one time Joseph became sick and had to be hospitalized. This caused a problem as the hospital beds were not long enough for him, his feet stuck way out the end. The nurses decided to help make him more comfortable by placing a stool at the end of his bed to support his feet.

Joseph Deveau passed away on May 23, 1976 at the age of 68.

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