Tag Archives: history

Hoia Baciu Forest, Ep. 156

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There are many legends that incorporate curses into their telling. A curse is a type of magic that is meant to harm people. It would seem that curses can fall upon the land as well. And there is a place on Earth that is considered one of the largest areas of cursed land. This is a forest that is said to be the world’s most haunted forest. A forest so completely terrifying that many have feared even saying its name: Hoia Baciu Forest. There are claims of all types of unexplained and paranormal activity, ranging from ghost and UFO sightings to strange feelings and sickness. People feel an urge to flee the forest. Is this just overactive imaginings or is something truly sinister going on in this forest where the vegetation is weird and in some places won’t grow? This location was suggested by listener Christopher Klimovitz and he joins us from Albania to give a firsthand account of what it is like to visit the forest. The Moment in Oddity features the Frogman of Loveland, Ohio and This Day in History features a gas explosion that rocks Cleveland.

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Sleepy Hollow and the Headless Horseman, Ep. 155

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The Legend of Sleepy Hollow is a well known piece of fiction written by Washington Irving in 1819. Many of us first heard the story in our youth and the tale fueled our imagination with images of a headless horseman chasing a man through the forest, carrying a fiery pumpkin that represented his head. It was a terrifying tale. But is this just a piece of fiction? Is there some truth to the story? Headless figures seem quite common in the world of the paranormal, so it’s not too hard to believe that some may ride horses. And what of this place called Sleepy Hollow? There is a town that does indeed bear this name, as does a cemetery, and both are reputed to be haunted. Join us as we explore the legends of the headless horseman and the history and hauntings of Sleepy Hollow! The Moment in Oddity features the Disappearance of Solomon Northup and This Day in History features the Disney Brothers Cartoon Studio being founded. Our topic was suggested by listeners Lexi Goober and Seth Nathan. We had research assistance from Melissa Cabic. Our cover art is by artist and listener Sara Otterstatter. Check out her website at http://www.sara-otterstaetter.de.

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Catacombs of Paris, Ep. 154

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Paris is the City of Lights, but deep in the darkness, beneath the streets, in the underground, lie hundreds of miles of tunnels that make up a vast ossuary for the dead. These tunnels are dangerous and largely unmapped, with pitfalls and areas filled with water and discarded remnants of the dead. One could easily become lost in the maze of stones and bones. These areas are restricted from public access for good reason. Could there be something down there in the Catacombs that is unseen? Are the spirits of the displaced bones now residing within the stones? Is there something evil down in those tunnels? Join us as we share the history and hauntings of the Catacombs of Paris! The Moment in Oddity features cryotherapy killing someone and This Day in History features the publication of Three Blind Mice. Our location was suggested by Bob Sherfield. We also have the fourth installment of Tim Prasil’s Spectral Edition!

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Ghosts of the 1871 Infernos, Ep. 153

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This episode is dropping on October 8th because this day in history marks the 145th anniversary of a day when terrible fires wiped out cities and took the the lives of thousands of people in 1871. One fire, the Great Chicago Fire, is well known, but there were other big fires, including one that not many people know about that actually claimed more lives and that was the Peshtigo Fire. The summer had been abnormally dry and it did not take much for the fires to spark and spread. The stories about these disasters are tragic, leaving behind emotions and turmoil that seem to fuel paranormal activity. And then there is the odd twist that these deadly fires occured on the same day. Join us as we share the history and hauntings of the 1871 Infernos! The Moment in Oddity was suggested by Michael Rogers and features the baby eating giant statue in Bern and This Moment in History features the Second Opium War. Our show topic was suggested by listener Ellen Martin.

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Tower of London, Ep. 152

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We start the show off with a recap of the second half of our Carolina Roadtrip and then comes the Tower of London! In London, located on the north bank of the River Thames, stands a tower that the mere mention of the name inspires feelings of dread and the macabre and that is because this structure’s thousand-year-old history is full of imprisonment, torture and execution. Many famous names in history met their final demise at the Tower of London. The Great Tower was not always a prison. It served as a royal residence for a time and is officially known as Her Majesty’s Royal Palace and Fortress of the Tower of London. Control of this piece of property usually signified control of the country. Because so much mystery, intrigue and death is associated with the structure, it is reputed to be quite haunted. Our infamous Lady in White is only one of the many spooks people claim to have seen or felt. Join us as we explore the history and haunting of the Tower of London. The Moment in Oddity was suggested by Bob Sherfield and features painting with dead hands and This Day in History features the Soviet Union Launching Sputnik into Space. Our location was suggested by Bob Sherfield.

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HGB Anniversary Special 2

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History Goes Bump is two today! Oh my, we are entering our third year of production and it’s going to be the terrible twos! On this, our second anniversary special, we recap the last couple of years, talk about our growth, thank a ghost ship full of people – particularly our listeners – and reveal the winners of our 2016 Flash Fiction Contest! We read several runner-up pieces and our three winners in this episode. We also announce something that will make everybody VERY happy! So grab your blankie, a warm drink and join us as we celebrate and look forward to an even better future and launch into October as we slide into Halloween!

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Hotel Galvez, Ep. 151

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Galveston Island is a beautiful setting on the Gulf side of the state of Texas, south of Houston. People flock here as a vacation destination. The island was originally settled by Native Americans and then explorers came who set down roots. The city of Galveston was chartered in 1839 and the rich came to build their mansions along Broadway. The city grew to be one of the largest in Texas in the late 1800s. This would all change with the Great Storm that hit on September 8, 1900. Thousands were killed by the hurricane and two thirds of businesses and homes were destroyed. Bodies were buried quickly wherever a spot could be found. The aftermaths of this storm and the countless bodies buried beneath the island seem to have opened a portal into the afterlife. Galveston is quite haunted. Many locations on the island claim to have ghosts. Historical Researcher and Author Kathleen Shanahan Maca has just published “Ghosts of Galveston” and she is going to share the history and hauntings of Hotel Galvez. The Moment in Oddity features The Petrifying Well of Knaresborough and This Day in History features Spanish Flu Hits Philadelphia. We also have the third installment from Series 3 of Tim Prasil’s Spectral Edition!

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St. James Hotel, Ep. 150

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When one thinks of the Old West in America, cowboys and Native Americans, along with all varieties of gunslingers from sheriffs to outlaws come to mind. It was a time when a man could die in the streets with his boots on or at the poker table holding the Dead Man’s Hand: a pair of aces and a pair of eights, all black. Cimarron, New Mexico was in the middle of all this and the St. James Hotel built there in 1872, exudes the faded Wild West. This was a wild town that played host to a veritable who’s who of old west gunmen, lawmen, gangs and famous performers like Buffalo Bill Cody. The hotel itself was witness to at least twenty-six deaths. And now the hotel seems to be playing host to spirits. The hotel is reputed to be quite haunted with at least seven identified spirits. Our listener Richard Cutshall has stayed there and hunted for some of those ghosts. Join us as we share the history and hauntings of the St. James Hotel! The Moment in Oddity was suggested by listener Jill Phenix and features Daisy and Violet Hilton and This Day in History – The Beast of Gévaudan Killed by Antoine de Beauterne.

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Ghost Lights: Bragg Light Road and Paulding Light, Ep. 149

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There are desolate roads in America that inspire sweaty palms, goosebumps and fuel the imagination with images straight out of a horror flick. These are roads where no sane person would want to have a breakdown in a car occur. Some of these roads have inspired tales of ghost lights. These are lights that seem to move of their own accord, always staying just out of reach. Legends have spawned about headless ghosts swinging lanterns as they search for their heads. Some people believe that these lights could be attributed to UFO activity. The Bragg Light in Texas and the Paulding Light in Michigan, are two of these ghost lights. The roads where they are seen are walled by thick forests. Both have haunting tales that claim that a ghost or possibly something worse, are responsible for the lights. And both have had skeptics claim that it is nothing more than swamp gas or light reflecting from something else. Are these natural phenomenon or is something supernatural going on here? Join us and our special guest, listener Summer White, as we explore the history and haunting of these ghost lights! The Moment in Oddity was suggested by Bob Sherfield and features the Ma’nene Festival in Indonesia and This Day in History features the Okeechobee Hurricane in Florida. Our show topic was suggested by listener Summer White.

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Vicary Mansion and Legends of Beaver County

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Freedom, Pennsylvania has the Ohio River flowing next to it and on a hill above the river stands a mansion built by Captain William Vicary. The mansion was built in a unique style and has stood on this spot since 1826. The home remained in the family for nearly one hundred years and was saved from demolition by the Beaver County Historical Research and Landmarks Foundation. Today, it is a museum that can be toured. The Foundation claims there are no ghosts at this location, but rumors and legends claim there is some kind of activity that is unexplained happening at the mansion. And Beaver County, where the mansion is located has many legends of its own. Join us as we explore the history and hauntings of the Vicary Mansion and explore the legends of Beaver County! The Moment in Oddity features Herophilus vivisecting live humans and This Day in History features the Massacre at Drogheda. Our location was suggested by listener Heather Marie!

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