Tag Archives: history

Shanghai Tunnels, Ep. 147

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Portland, Oregon was known in Victorian times as the “City of Roses” and it has retained that nickname for over a century. The Portland Underground is known more readily as the Shanghai Tunnels. These tunnels that snaked through what is today Old Town and Chinatown, were used for practical business purposes, but they also serviced the seedy side of things in the city. Some parts of these tunnels can still be accessed today and they reveal a dark, cob-webbed maze that one would not want to enter without a strong flashlight and a good guide. Spirits are reputed to lurk here. Is it because men and women were carried off for human slavery operations through these tunnels? Was it the era of Prohibition that has led to spectral activity? Join us as we explore the history and hauntings of the Shanghai Tunnels! The Moment in Oddity was suggested by Corbin and features an Indonesian man who is 145-years-old and This Day in History features President McKinley being mortally wounded. Our location was suggested by listeners C. Laurel Boaz, Lisa Lindermann and Michelle Vaugh.

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The Lowe Hotel and Mothman, Ep. 146

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At the corner of 4th and Main in Point Pleasant, West Virginia stands the historic Lowe Hotel. This hotel dates back to the early 1900s when it was built by two brothers. The hotel was needed to serve the heavy traffic and trade from the nearby Ohio and Kanawha rivers. Across the street from this grand structure is a peculiar statue. Rather ugly. It features a creature known as the Mothman. Point Pleasant is home to the legend of the Mothman. There are legends about the hotel as well, including many rumored hauntings, one of which might be a member of the Hatfield Family who was involved in the Battle of Matewan. Join us and our listener Katie Dunlap as we explore the history and hauntings of the Lowe Hotel and explore the legend of the Mothman! The Moment in Oddity features urine turned into beer and This Day in History features the birth of Edgar Rice Burroughs.

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The Whitney, Ep. 145

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In Detroit, Michigan sits a grand home with a gabled roof, arched windows and a beautiful rose hue emanates from the facade. This upscale dining establishment was once the David Whitney House and is known today simply as The Whitney. David Whitney, Jr. was such a successful lumber baron that people would remark that he was “the man who could out-lumber Paul Bunyan.” He was one of the wealthiest men in America and he would leave his mark in Detroit in a very positive way. Some believe he remains in the home he had built in the afterlife. They seems to be other spirits at The Whitney as well. Join us as we explore the history and hauntings of The Whitney! The Moment in Oddity was suggested by listener Teresa Slaven and features the Mortuary Railroad Station and This Day in History is by Richard Schaffer and features Pierre Barrière’s Attempt to Assassinate King Henry IV of France. Our location was suggested by listener Emily Ridener and she provided pictures!

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Haunted Pluckley Village, Ep. 144

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Guinness World Records has named Pluckley Village as the most haunted village in England. Pluckley dates back to the 11th century and was owned by the Archbishop of Canterbury. It is located on a hill in Kent and through the decades, it had expanded down the hill until the Black Death decimated the population in the 14th century and sent survivors back up the hill. One of the more well known areas is the Dering Wood named for one of the more well known families to live in the area. Dering Wood is also known as Screaming Wood. There are reports of as many as sixteen ghosts in this village. Listener and UK resident Alana Ashby joins us as we share the history and hauntings of Pluckley Village. The Moment in Oddity was suggested by listener Timothy Rich and features Life-like Eyes in Spring Grove Cemetery Statue and This Day in History is by Richard Schaffer and features the French joining the Irish Rebellion. Our location was suggested by Bob Sherfield and Alana Ashby!

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The Witch House in Salem, Ep. 143

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The town of Salem, Massachusetts carries a mystique that can be traced back to what has made this location infamous and that are the witch trials that began in 1692. One of the prominent figures in those trials was a man named Jonathan Corwin. When another judge was reluctant to continue forward with the trials, Jonathan stepped in, signing arrest warrants and taking part in hearings. The result of these trials would be the deaths of nineteen people. Corwin owned one of the few mansions in town and it would come to be known as the Witch House. Legends have cropped up around the house that the souls of those convicted of witchcraft haunt the home and other tales claim that women were tortured there to get their confessions. None of these are true. But something is haunting the former home of Jonathan Corwin. Join us and our special guest, Amanda Prouty who has given tours in Salem, as we explore the history and hauntings of the Witch House. Moment in Oddity features the history behind the electric chair as suggested by listener Karen Hubbard and This Day in History is by Richard Schaffer and features PeterFechter shot at the Berlin Wall. Our location was suggested by our listener and guest Amanda Prouty!

Spectral Edition by Tim Prasil of http://themerryghosthunter.wordpress.com

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Sloss Furnaces, Ep. 142

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Birmingham, Alabama is one of the more well known southern cities. Sloss Furnaces is a popular spot for music and art in Birmingham today. Many may not realize that this imposing historic landmark has a key role in the founding and growth of this famous southern city. For 90 years, Sloss Furnaces produced iron. It is the only blast furnace in America to have been preserved and restored. Something else has been preserved from the past. There are rumors of spirits here and not just the ones that come out every Halloween when Sloss hosts Sloss Fright Furnace. Ghosts seem to lurk in the old buildings. Join us as we explore the history and hauntings of Sloss Furnaces. The Moment in Oddity is by Bob Sherfield and features the Clay Castle and This Day in History is by Kristin Swintek and features the launch of Echo 1. Our location was suggested by listeners Lisa Atkinson and Megan Parks!

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Waitomo Cabves Hotel, Ep. 141

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In Ep. 141 we head to New Zealand! Waitomo is a beautiful natural location on the North Island of New Zealand that is known for its lush bush area and sea caves. The original people of this land, the Maori, have developed a culture rich in legend. A main draw for people from around the world are the Waitomo Glowworm Caves. The caves are not only known for their natural beauty, but for the creature for whom they are named: the glowworm. A popular tourist destination needs lodgings for the visitors and that is where the Waitomo Caves Hotel comes in to fill the need. The hotel has existed for over a hundred years. Situating a hotel in a land rich with lore, limestone and strife has led to rumors of this hotel being haunted. Join us as we share the history, lore and hauntings of the Waitomo Caves and their hotel! The Moment in Oddity is by Bob Sherfield and features George Wyman’s cross-country journey and This Day in History is by Kristin Swintek and features the Whiskey Rebellion. Our location was suggested by listener Erin Olivia.

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Washoe Club, Ep. 140

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Virginia City is an Old West mining town complete with a history of gun fights, explosions, brothels and mine cave-ins. The Comstock Lode was found in the Virginia Range near the future Virginia City and prospectors came looking for an alternative to the Gold Rush. Samuel Clemens was one of them. And when his luck at finding precious ore proved lacking, he took a job at the local paper and adopted the name we all know him by today: Mark Twain. The richer men in the city wanted a place to call their own and the Washoe Club was built for those millionaires. It is the oldest saloon in the city. And it is one of the most haunted locations in a reputedly very haunted town. Join us as we explore the history and hauntings of the Old Washoe Club. The Moment in Oddity features James Chaffin’s ghost leading his family to a will and This Day in History is by Kristin Swintek and features the Black Sox Scandal. Our location was suggested by listeners Tara Williams-Case and Jeni Justine.

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Brice House, Ep. 139

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At the mouth of the Chesapeake Bay sits the home of the United State Naval Academy, the city of Annapolis, which claims to have more original structures dating back to the 18th century than any other city in America. One of those structures is The Brice House. A house that exudes a malevolent energy that might be carrying over from the corrupt family that once inhabited the residence. Tales of skeletons in walls and other legends have lead to claims that the mansion is haunted. Join us as we explore the history and hauntings of the Brice House. Moment in Oddity features the Ozark Spooklight and This Day in History features the Battle of Ezra Church by Richard Schaffer. This location was suggested by listener Amanda Prouty who also joins us to share her thoughts and stories. Our Research Assistant was Steven Pappas.

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Battle of the Somme, Ep. 138

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The Battle of the Somme began on July 1st 1916, one hundred years ago this month, and it lasted until the 18th of November. This was the defining battle of the first world war and the very first day of this clash was the bloodiest in the history of the British Army. Hundreds of thousands would lose their lives in the four months of fighting. This was a campaign fought between the German and British empires and the Battle of the Somme has been called the beginning of modern all-arms warfare. The bloodshed is similar to the Gettysburg and Antietam battles during the American Civil War and as we have found with the locations where these meetings took place, the Battle of the Somme battlefield is reputed to be incredibly haunted. Join us as we explore the history and hauntings of the Battle of the Somme! The Moment in Oddity was suggested by listener Brittany Cox and features Crybaby Bridge and This Day in History features the discovery of the Hale-Bopp Comet. Our location was suggested by and researched by Oddity Editor Bob Sherfield.

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