Starting out as a self-described goth adjacent teen, Joe Durwin found himself fascinated far more by cemeteries than the library and other traditional research, as he developed his passion for the less glamorous (but equally as fascinating) side of history in the Berkshires. This episode takes a slightly epic journey from the Shakers' occult side, the paranormal, our cherry-picked tourist friendly history, Joe's research methods, the freewheeling and oftentimes more salacious journalism in the newspapers of the day (including the former Pittsfield Evening Journal, Pittsfield Sun, Pittsfield Courier, among others), pre-Bigfoot sightings, factors on the creation of ethnic neighborhoods in the city, O.B. Joyful, the Fighting Parson, Allen family, Rev. Samuel Harrison, red-lining in Pittsfield, mass exhumation of former cemeteries in downtown Pittsfield, the Wahconah/Nessacus myth, the sinking/rising boat at Allendale, urban renewal's impact on Coltsville, Plunkett School, demolition delay orders, Taco Bell, the Community Preservation Act, and a whole lot more. I hope you'll enjoy my conversation with Joe Durwin.

Berkshire-based writer Joe Durwin's "These Mysterious Hills" has run on a regular basis for over than a decade, first in the former Advocate Weekly, and iBerkshires.com, along with his local history column Sagas of the Shire. His work on folklore of the region has also been featured in Fate Magazine, Haunted Times, the North Adams Transcript, William Shatner’s “Weird or What”, Jeff Belanger's "New England Legends," MSG Films’ “Bennington Triangle,” and numerous other programs for television, radio, and web. His business The Home Historian aims to connect people with the history of their property, neighborhood and community in a more direct and meaningful way. 

Check out Joe's walking tours, beginning May 2022.

TheseMysteriousHills.com