Tag Archives: history

HGB Haunted Circus Mini-Series, Ep. 3: Ringlings in Wisconsin

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Baraboo, Wisconsin was home for the Ringling family and it would become the winter quarters for the circus that the Ringling brothers would found. The Ringling Bros. Circus would start as a basic dog-and-pony show and grow into the most famous circus in the world. The eldest brother that lead the family down this path was Albert and he built his gorgeous mansion in Baraboo that is now a museum, bed & breakfast and brewery. The mansion is not only home to some former members of the circus, but there are reputedly several ghosts here. Join us as we explore the remnants of the circus still in Baraboo and the Al Ringling Mansion as we are joined by the current owners of the mansion, Joe and Carmen Colossa and Don Horowitz.

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Greenwich Village, Ep. 331

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Greenwich Village is on the island of Manhattan in New York City. After European settlement, this area would become a place for carriage houses, black servant quarters and row homes. The area would industrialize and become home to slums. Eventually, the avant-garde would come and soon beatniks, hippies, artists and homosexuals called The Village home. Upscale stores moved in and New York University bought up historic buildings and gutted them. Residents have not embraced these changes, nor does it seem, have the ghosts. Join us as we share the history and hauntings of Greenwich Village. The Moment in Oddity was suggested by Jannae McCabe and features the Dracula Parrot and This Month in History features the end of the Battle of Iwo Jima. Our tour was through NY Ghosts.

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Victor, Colorado, Ep. 328

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Victor is an old mining town founded during the Victorian era in the Pikes Peak area of Colorado. This was a town founded by a couple of brothers and home for miners working the nearly 500 gold fields located in the nearby mountains. This was a typical mining town full of saloons, brothels and streets paved with gold. Today, Victor is a historic mining district where one can still find a room in a historic hotel and do a little gambling in a nearby town. And just like so many mining towns, there are reputedly ghosts here as well. Diane’s mom, Annette Student, will be joining us as we share the history and haunts of Victor, Colorado! Moment in Oddity was suggested by Chelsea Flowers and features the real reason Lilac bushes were planted and This Month in History features Parentalia. Our location was suggested by Melissa Potter.

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Legends of India, Ep. 326

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The country of India is a place with beautiful structures and gorgeous mountain settings, but also caste systems and abject poverty. India is an ancient city that has been ruled and controlled by many other countries and still finds some of its areas in political upheaval and struggles with its neighbors, Pakistan and China, continue today. This is a place of mystique and enlightened religious beliefs and many people living here harbor superstitions and beliefs about possession and spirits. The Himalayas are as rife with magical beliefs as our Appalachian Mountains in America. In this episode, we will touch on a brief history of India and then delve into her many ghost stories and legends! The Moment in Oddity was suggested by John Michaels and features Coga the Sheep and This Month in History features the launch of the G.I. Joe Action Figure.

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Hammond Castle, Ep. 324

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Hammond Castle is a medieval-style castle found in Gloucester, Massachusetts. This elaborate and whimsical structure was built by its eccentric namesake, John Hays Hammond, Jr. This was not just a home, but a laboratory because Hammond was an inventor who held over 800 patents. The interesting decor reflects the eclectic spirit of the man who lived here, but it may also still be holding on to that spirit. The ghost of Hammond is said to roam his former dwelling, but it may not just be his spirit here. Join us as we explore the history and hauntings of Hammond Castle! The Moment in Oddity features Prague’s Charles Bridge and This Month in History features Samuel Pepys starting his diary.

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Kangaroo Island, Ep. 323

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Kelly and I have watched, along with the rest of the world, as fire has devastated the entire country of Australia in 2019 and 2020. Fire renews, but it destroys everything in its wake before that renewal and the tragic statistics have been devastating. The fires have raged for over six months, thousands of homes have been destroyed, dozens of people are dead, millions of acres are scorched and the worst statistic is that nearly a billion animals are estimated to have been killed. One of the places hit hard is Kangaroo Island. Nearly half of the island was burned. This is a beautiful place and is one of Australia’s largest islands. There is a rich history here incorporating both the Aboriginal people, the settlers who made this their home and the treacherous waters that surround the island. All of these have contributed to reports of unexplained events and hauntings. Join us as we share the history and haunting of Kangaroo Island! The Moment in Oddity features Florida Bog Bodies and This Month in History features the Butterfield Overland Mail Route and Old Wire Road.

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New Orleans Brothels, Ep. 322

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Storyville was about two things: women and music. This area was a famous red-light district in New Orleans that would give birth to jazz. Today, it no longer exists, but its legacy does and the place it holds in New Orleans’ history is significant. Brothels were plentiful in this city of vice and some of these structures still stand today. The lady bosses of these establishments are some of the most famous people in New Orleans’ history and some of them still have a hold on the city as the subjects of ghost stories. Join us as we explore the history and hauntings of New Orleans’ Brothels!The Moment in Oddity features a family making a Masonic Temple their home and This Month in History features the Yorkshire Ripper confessing.

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Malvern Manor, Ep. 321

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Malvern is located in Southwest Iowa. This is a really small town similar to most of the small towns we visited in Iowa. Agriculture is the main economy here, but for Malvern, they have a claim to fame that gives them a tourism angle. Malvern Manor is here and is reputedly one of the most haunted buildings in America. This was a former hotel that became a place for the discarded people of society. Could this be why this place has so many spirits locked inside of it today? We got to take a tour of the place and also had the opportunity to do a mini investigation. Join us as we share the history and hauntings of Malvern Manor! The Moment in Oddity features the worst hole of golf ever and This Month in History features Lord Haw Haw executed.

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General Dodge House, Ep. 320

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We visited and investigated several haunted locations while in Iowa and the General Dodge House is one of them. This is one of the most beautiful Victorians I have ever seen. The inside is incredible and the historical society has done a beautiful renovation and upkeep of the structure. And while people probably expect to find interesting accoutrements and antiques inside, they probably don’t expect to run into ghosts. The house is reputedly haunted. Join us as we explore the history and hauntings of the General Dodge House! The Moment in Oddity features Kitty Cat Gods and This Month in History features Joyce Kilmer Born.

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Haunted Ashland, Virginia, Ep. 318

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Richmond, Virginia had been the capital of the Confederacy, so one can imagine that the towns around it would be strategic locations for gathering supplies and protection. Ashland is one of these towns and the railroad was a major part of the city. The railroad company established the town with a spa hotel that hosted visitors to the curative powers of a natural spring. This location would go on to become a college. As the Civil War erupted, Ashland found itself a host to battles and the wounded. With this kind of history, hauntings are sure to follow. Listener and Executive Producer Whitney Zahar has joined us on other episodes and she joins us on this one to share her experiences as a tour guide for Ashland Ghost Tours. Join us as we share the history and hauntings of Ashland, Virginia! The Moment in Oddity was suggested by Jen Sullivan and features Skara Brae discovered by a farmer and This Month in History features Dom Pedro I crowned.

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