Author Archives: History Goes Bump

Haunted Derby Street in Salem, Massachusetts, Ep. 295

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Long before America was America, there was Salem. The town was a successful and busy port city, but it would become an infamous location that still causes a chill to run down our spines at the mere mention of its name. Based on my research, I would say that Salem has two main streets in its historic district that are the most haunted in the city. One is Essex Street and the other is Derby Street. On this episode, we are going to focus on the history and hauntings of Derby Street. The Moment in Oddity was suggested by John Michaels and features Fredric Baur buried in a Pringles can and This Month in History features Levi Weeks acquitted in Manhattan Well Mystery.

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Dover Castle, Ep. 294

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Dover Castle stands on the White Cliffs of Dover in Britain. This castle was originally not much to behold, but during the reign of King Henry II, it would become a grand structure. Tunnels lie beneath the castle and are built into a cliff, making it unique among castles. This is the largest castle in the country and has been around since the 12th century. The castle was a key defense and saw wars that were revolutionary, civil, Napoleonic and great. Today, it is a tourist destination with a reputation for being haunted. Join me for the history and hauntings of Dover Castle! The Moment in Oddity was suggested by John Michaels and features Rasputin connection to movie disclaimer and This Month in History features the premiere of My Fair Lady on Broadway.

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Kentucky Caves and the Trickster

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The state of Kentucky is not only a place full of caves, these voids seem to exist under the entire state with the largest cave system in the world being located here. Add to the limitless possibilities of what could exist within caves, the fact that these caves are carved mostly out of limestone and you have the perfect makings for strange supernatural activity. I’ve been in two of these cave systems, Mega Cavern and Mammoth Cave. They are a wonder to behold. But there are stories of other things here that cannot be as easily explained as natural wonders and formations. Join me as I explore the history and hauntings of Kentucky’s caves and the Trickster who may be playing within them. The Moment in Oddity was suggested by Kayla Buss and features the Giant Penguin in Clearwater and This Month in History features Churchill talking about the Iron Curtain.

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Aradale Asylum in Australia, Ep. 292

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The Aradale Asylum would be home for the mentally ill for over a century and would feature conditions and treatments similar to other asylums around the world, most of which were not good. This misunderstanding and mistreatment of the mentally ill lends itself to the negative energy that sometimes feeds paranormal activity. The fact that the criminally insane were kept in J Ward only heightens that energy. Join me as I explore the history and hauntings of the Aradale Asylum! The Moment in Oddity features Moonshiners using cow shows to hide footprints and This Month in History features the first photo of an American President.

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Jackson Square in New Orleans, Ep. 291

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Jackson Square is a magnet for visitors to New Orleans. Centuries of history are represented in the square and this history includes shipping, trade, artists colony, pirates, war and executions. The beautiful St. Louis Cathedral is a popular subject for photographers and Cafe du Monde is a must stop for some world famous beignets. New Orleans is considered one of the most haunted cities in the world, so it should come as no surprise that this iconic area of this historic city is home to many ghosts stories. Join me as I explore the history and hauntings of Jackson Square! The Moment in Oddity was suggested by Jim Featherstone and features Times Beach, Missouri and This Month in History features Alan Shepard golfing on the moon.

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Return to Queen Mary, Ep. 290

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We first featured The Queen Mary all the way back on episode 13 in November of 2014. I had the opportunity to visit this magnificent ship recently (January 2019) and so on this episode, we revisit the history and hauntings and share our own experiences from visiting the ship. Construction on the liner began in 1930 under John Brown & Company and was named for King George V’s wife Queen Mary. It would serve under various capacities over the decades and find its final home in Long Beach, California where it now serves as a hotel. Historical tours are offered as well as ghost tours and investigations. Join us as we board the Queen Mary and seek out her elusive spirits! The Moment in Oddity was suggested by John Michaels and features the Humpty Dumpty Cannon and This Month in History features the Frisbee entering the toy market.

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The Colosseum, Ep. 289

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Rome is a city that is believed to have had some kind of human existence within it for at least 10,000 years. This city would rise from a place of little stature to one of the greatest empires ever to exist. Amazing structures would be built under that empire. The Colosseum in Rome, Italy was an architectural marvel, but also a place of immense human and animal suffering. People would come from all over to witness amazing feats by human gladiators and to witness the tearing apart of other humans at the hands of wild animals. This was considered sport at that time and the remnants of this activity and the residue left behind has imprinted spiritually on The Colosseum. Tales of hauntings are rampant and this structure is said to be one of the most haunted locations in all of Italy. Join me as I explore the history and hauntings of The Colosseum!Moment in Oddity was suggested by Breanne Sanford and features the SS Warrimoo at International Date Line and This Month in History features Robert Clifton Weaver as first Black Cabinet member. Our location was suggested by Anthony Ortiz.

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The Tutwiler Hotel, Ep. 288

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The Hampton Inn and Suites in Birmingham is an upscale hotel with a long history. This is the former Tutwiler Hotel and the former Ridgely Apartments. This was not the original Tutwiler Hotel. That one was built in 1914 on a different spot and eventually demolished in 1974. The Tutwiler was built in a grandiose style to attract the steel industry to come to town for conventions. This worked and Birmingham soon became a convention destination. The city felt the loss of the hotel when it was demolished and so it was decided to renovate the historic luxury Ridgely Apartments and reopen it as the new Tutwiler Hotel. And it is this location where the namesake for the hotel is reputedly still hanging around in the afterlife. Join me as we explore the history and hauntings of the Tutwiler Hotel. We also have three listener stories to share! Moment in Oddity was suggested by John Michaels and features Alien Hand Syndrome and This Month in History features Zulu War Begins. Our location was suggested by Jonathan Geisel.

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House of the Seven Gables, Ep. 287

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Most of my adult listeners have probably read something written by classic author Nathaniel Hawthorne. Nearly all schools require a reading of “The Scarlet Letter.” Hawthorne also wrote other classic stories and one of those books is “The House of the Seven Gables.” Within the pages of this volume is a ghost story. Hawthorne himself claimed to be a skeptic, but even he had some experiences. And the house he wrote about was not a fiction. It is a real home that can be found in Salem, Massachuesetts. Apparently, it’s not just the novel that claims that the location is haunted. Visitors and staff to the now museum, claim to have had experiences they cannot explain. Join me as we explore the beliefs of Nathaniel Hawthorne and the history and hauntings of The House of the Seven Gables! The Moment in Oddity was suggested by Kim Gasiorowski and features three cages on St. Lamberti Church spire and This Month in History features Unabomber killing first victim. Our location was suggested by Nicole Cardarelli.

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Culloden Battlefield, Ep. 286

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The Battlefield of Culloden is under the care of the National Trust for Scotland and can be found in the Scottish village of Culloden. Culloden Village is an ancient town with buildings dating back to the 1600s, one of which is Culloden House that is today a hotel. The battlefield was the scene of the Battle of Culloden that would be the final confrontation of the Jacobite rising of 1745. This battle was bloody and causalities were high. This has led to paranormal activity on the battlefield that seems to recreate the battle. Along with this are stories of omens, premonitions and The Scree. Join me as I share the history of the Battle of Culloden and the resulting hauntings of the battlefield. The Moment in Oddity was suggested by John Michaels and features French Stilt Walkers and This Month in History features the first Virginia Company Expedition leaving London. Our location was suggested by Brian Morse.

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