Author Archives: History Goes Bump

Griggs Mansion, Ep. 347

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Tthe Griggs Mansion in St. Paul, Minnesota was originally built for wealthy merchant Chauncey Griggs in the 1880s. This house stands on a street full of historic homes and although it is quite beautiful, it has been through several hands. No one knows why it changed hands so many times, but it seems as though no one managed to live there for more than a couple of years, save for an art school that took up residence for twenty-five years. Could that be why this home is rumored to be one of the most haunted houses in the state? Join us as we explore the history and hauntings of the Griggs Mansion. The Moment in Oddity features The High Line or Death Avenue and This Month in History features World UFO Day. Our location was suggested by Sharon Remackel.

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Babenhausen Barracks, Ep. 346

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Babenhausen is a town in Germany with a long history that reaches back over 800 years. Remnants of that past can still be seen today in the fortified city wall, Witch’s Tower and old churches. The town has been the scene of witch hunts and the rebirth of European Jewish life in a displaced persons camp. The Babenhausen Barracks is today a museum, but once served as a military post for Germans and Americans. There are stories of deaths here that have left behind a spiritual residue and many people through the decades have experienced activity that they cannot explain. Join us as we share the history and haunts of the Babenhausen Barracks! The Moment in Oddity was suggested by Nancy Doi and features the Forestiere Underground Gardens and This Month in History features the discovery of the Rosetta Stone.

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The Biltmore Hotels, Ep. 345

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The are many hotels in the United States that carry the name Biltmore as part of their title. Three of them are well known for being one of the most haunted locations in their respective states. One of them is the Millineum Biltmore in Los Angeles, which will be an episode of its own one day. Another is the Providence Biltmore and based on its ominous past, that is not surprising. The fancy lobby belies the legends that claim that a Satanist not only financially backed the hotel, but performed rituals within its halls. There are tales of Prohibition fights and murders and people have literally disappeared from the hotel. The stories about this haunted hotel have inspired the likes of Stephen King and Robert Bloch. The Biltmore Hotel in Coral Gables also has tales from the days of Prohibition and has a long list of spirits said to be haunting its halls. Join us as we explore the history and hauntings of the Biltmore Hotels in Rhode Island and Florida! The Moment in Oddity features Jeremy Bentham’s dead body and This Month in History features the first Income Tax Bill signed into law.

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Haunted Music, Ep. 344

Posted on by Posted in Urban Legend .

We’ve covered quite a few music related topics on the podcast. HGB has featured Ernestine and Hazel’s Juke Joint, Bobby Mackey’s Music World and the Cincinnati Music Hall and we’ve talked about the life and afterlife of Patsy Cline, John Lennon and Elvis Presley. Bonus episodes have featured haunted instruments, Gram Parsons and the Devil’s Chord. We thought it would be interesting to do an episode on haunted music as a whole. This obviously won’t be exhaustive, but we are going to delve into haunted radio stations, recording studios, buses and jukeboxes. We’ll also look at the elements of music that lead to hauntings and curses. And wow, does music have some curses! The Moment in Oddity was suggested by Darren Koch and features Paris’ open-air urinals helping to defeat the Nazis and This Month in History features the birth of Chris Cornell.

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The Forts of Mobile Bay, Ep. 343

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At the mouth of Mobile Bay in Alabama sat three forts, Fort Gaines, Fort Powell and Fort Morgan. Fort Powell no longer exists, but both Fort Morgan and Fort Gaines are still here. All of the forts saw action in the Battle of Mobile Bay during the Civil War. Fort Morgan and Fort Gaines would also see action in the Spanish American War and both World Wars. Many people died at these forts and that has lead to stories of apparitions and other paranormal activity. Fort Morgan is considered one of the most haunted locations in Alabama. Today, the forts are historic sites that can be toured and there is even a creepy escape room for adventurous souls. Join us as we explore the history and hauntings of the forts of Mobile Bay! The Moment in Oddity features Exploding Whale Park and This Month in History features Coca-Cola Classic returns. Our location was suggested by Josh Nash.

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Mad Doctor McDowell and His Medical College, Ep. 342

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Stories connected to the McDowell Medical College cover all the bases for a good ghost tale. There was the unusual construction of the building, medical experiments, grave robbing, mental illness, Spiritualism, a Civil War prison and lots of death. The only thing missing in this story is the actual building. The former Ralston-Purina Company owns the land today, but tales of supernatural happenings persist. Join us as we share the history and hauntings of the McDowell Medical College! The Moment in Oddity was suggested by John Michaels and features the Talking Stove of Spain and This Month in History was suggested by Chelsea Flowers and features Frank Hayes dying of a heart attack during the Belmont Stakes.

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Mass Murder at Taliesin, Ep. 341

Posted on by Posted in Haunted True Crime .

Frank Lloyd Wright is one of the most celebrated architects in America. His designs were ahead of their time and he was a true architectural visionary. Most people know the successes, but not many know about a mass murder that has left one of his personal homes possibly haunted. That would be Taliesin in Wisconsin. Join us as we share the details of Wright’s life, this tragic event and the haunts that are connected to this famous architect! Moment in Oddity features The Phantom Fortress and This Month in History features Fabricius observes and publishes on Sunspots.

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The Exchange Hotel, Ep. 340

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The Exchange Hotel started out as a tavern along the railroad tracks in the quaint town of Gordonsville in Virginia. This would eventually become a forerunner to larger railroad hotels. As the Civil War erupted, the centralized location of the hotel and its proximity to the tracks, made it the perfect spot for a hospital. Soldiers lost limbs here and died here. More than 70,000 sick and wounded passed through here. Perhaps that is why this location has a reputation for being haunted. Join us, some of our Spooktacular Crew and Daryl Marston of A&E’s Ghost Hunters as we explore the history and hauntings of The Exchange Hotel! The Moment in Oddity was suggested by Darren Koch and features the Ancient Bone Wall in Belgium and This Month in History features an Atomic Emergency Civil Defense Drill. Our location was suggested by Myra Wheeler.

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Ohio University, Ep. 339

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Ohio University in Athens, Ohio has been open for over 200 years and today has over 28,000 students enrolled. The university is the home of the Bobcats and apparently, quite a few ghosts. A ghostly bobcat might be a more appropriate mascot. There are few buildings on the campus that don’t have some kind of ghost story connected to them. Join us as we explore the history and haunts of Ohio University. The Moment in Oddity was suggested by Breanne Sanford and features The Screaming Mummy Museum of Mexico and This Month in History features the event that inspired Les Miserables. Our location was suggested by Ashley Struz and Katie Meeks.

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Old Tailem Town, Ep. 338

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South Australia is said to be the most haunted state in Australia and within that state is said to be one of the most haunted locations, Old Tailem Town Pioneer Village. This is a unique, man-made village in Tailem Bend that is a compilation of buildings, old cars, antiques and artifacts. There is so much history reflected in these elements, but there is something else as well. Spiritual energy radiates from the buildings and many visitors have stories of unexplained experiences. Add to this that this is a favorite spot for paranormal investigators and it’s not hard to believe that there may be hauntings going on here. Join us as we explore the history and hauntings of Old Tailem Town. The Moment in Oddity was suggested by Jannae McCabe and features a solid gold Buddha discovered and This Month in History features the Relief of Mafeking. Our location was suggested by Jenni Watt.

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