Cape Fear Unearthed

Rose O'Neal Greenhow was a well-known D.C. socialite when she signed on to become a spy for the Confederacy in the Civil War. But her story doesn't take place in the shadows. She was imprisoned, sent to Europe, dined with royalty and eventually drowned off Fort Fisher, all before the War Between the States came to a close.

This week, we're joined by Joseph Sheppard with the New Hanover County Library to talk about Rose's legacy and how Wilmington rallied for her final farewell.

Cape Fear Unearthed is written, edited and hosted by Hunter Ingram.

Additional editing by Adam Fish. Recorded at WHQR in downtown Wilmington.

A StarNews Media Production. This season is sponsored by Northchase Family Dentistry.

Sources:

"Wild Rose: The True Story of a Civil War Spy," Ann Blackman

"Rebel Rose" by Ishbel Ross

"Liar, Temptress, Soldier, Spy," by Karen Abbott

"My Imprisonment, and The First Year of Abolition Rule in Washington," by Rose O'Neal Greenhow

"Stories Old and New of the Cape Fear Region" by Louis T. Moore

In the fall of 1922, the circus rolled into town and brought with it Topsy, a four-ton elephant that would escape her handlers twice and lead a chase through Wilmington that included a swim in the Cape Fear River and a warpath of damaged buildings. The second season premiere episode of "Cape Fear Unearthed" follows Topsy's story with the help of Jan Davidson, the historian for the Cape Fear Museum in Wilmington.

Cape Fear Unearthed is written, edited and hosted by Hunter Ingram.

Additional editing by Adam Fish. Recorded at WHQR in downtown Wilmington.

A StarNews Media Production. This season is sponsored by Northchase Family Dentistry.

Sources:

"Stories Old and New of the Cape Fear Region" by Louis T. Moore

Wilmington Morning Star, October 1922 editions

"Legends of Old Wilmington & Cape Fear" by John Hirchak

Bodies in barrels and lights from a ghost, these are the stories we have loved the most. But as Christmas comes and the weather turns cold, let's turn our attention to holiday tales of olde.

As the holiday season gets underway, we're back with a special Christmas episode of Cape Fear Unearthed to share three stories of local festive traditions -- the John Kuners performances, the World's Largest Living Christmas Tree and The Christmas Flounder.

A special thanks to WHQR in downtown Wilmington, where we recorded this episode; and Cammie Bellamy, who helped us dream up the little rhyme at the top of this post. Please enjoy this special holiday episode and join us in January for season two! Happy Holidays!

Cape Fear Unearthed is sponsored by Northchase Family Dentistry.

Sources:

- "Stories Old and New of the Cape Fear Region," by Louis T. Moore

- John Kunering at Christmas, Cape Fear Historical Institute, www.cfhi.net

- Wilmington Chamber of Commerce memo, 1959

- The State magazine, Dec. 21, 1946, pgs. 8-9

- "Flounding in Tradition," Wilmington StarNews

- "The Tall Tale of The Christmas Flounder," Our State Magazine, Dec. 12, 2015

Whether you've watched it yourself or heard about it around town, the lingering presence of "One Tree Hill" in Wilmington and Southeastern N.C. is virtually inescapable. But how did the show get its start in the Cape Fear region, and why does it still have a undeniable impact more than half a decade after it went off the air? We explroe those questions and more in this very special episode of Cape Fear Unearthed, featuring and interview with James Lafferty, who starred on The CW series' nine-season run.

Cape Fear Unearthed is written and hosted by Hunter Ingram.

Editing by Adam Fish.

A StarNews Media Production.

Ever heard of the giant snake that guarded the mouth of the Cape Fear River? Or the shaggy creature the lurked in downtown Wilmington in 1909? You've probably heard rumbling of the Beast of Bladenboro, right? All of these monsters are things of legend in the Cape Fear region, but were they real? We tell their stories and talk with former StarNews staff writer Amy Hotz in the season finale episode of "Cape Fear Unearthed," a StarNews Media-produced podcast that digs into the history books of Southeastern North Carolina.

Cape Fear Unearthed is written, edited and hosted by Hunter Ingram.

Additional editing by Adam Fish.

A StarNews Media Production.

Sources:

"The Beast of Bladenboro," by Amy Hotz, Oct. 2006, Wilmington StarNews

"The Vampire Beast of Bladenboro," by Mark A. Hall, March 2002, Wonders 

"Fear filled the hearts," by Bill Reaves, Feb. 1974, Wilmington StarNews

"Mysterious Tales of Coastal North Carolina" by Sherman Carmichael

Legend tells of a man by the name of Joe Baldwin, whose ghost walked the train tracks where he died in the mid-1800s. But is Joe's story true, and was his name even Joe? StarNews reporter Ben Steelman joins to discuss that and more in this episode of "Cape Fear Unearthed," a StarNews Media-produced podcast that digs into the history books of Southeastern North Carolina.

Cape Fear Unearthed is written, edited and hosted by Hunter Ingram.

Additional editing by Adam Fish.

A StarNews Media Production.

Sources:

"The Maco Light: Brunswick's 'True' Ghost Story" by Ben Steelman, October 2009, StarNews

"Stories Old and New of the Cape Fear Region" by Louis T. Moore

When a blockade runner went up in flames off Wrightsville Beach in February 1864, a legend was born about what may have gone down with the ship. Specifcally, a fabled gold and jewel sword bound for Gen. Robert E. Lee from his supporters in Britain. Was the sword real? Histroian Chris E. Fonvielle Jr. joins to discuss in this episode of "Cape Fear Unearthed," a StarNews Media-produced podcast that digs into the history books of Southeastern North Carolina.

Cape Fear Unearthed is written, edited and hosted by Hunter Ingram.

Additional editing by Adam Fish.

A StarNews Media Production.

Sources:

"The Blockade Runner Fanny and Jenny and her Legendary Gold Sword" by Chris E. Fonvielle Jr., Wirghtsville Beach Magazine, Feb. 2016

"Wrightsville Beach: The Luminous Island" by Ray McAllister

"Stories Old and New of the Cape Fear Region" by Louis T. Moore

In its second century, Wilmington was plagued by a rash of devastating fires that destroyed much of the history it built in its formative years. Why was Wilmington so vulnerable to the scourge of fire and what was lost in the flames? We explore those questions with our guest, local historian Beverly Tetterton, on this episode of "Cape Fear Unearthed," a StarNews Media-produced podcast that digs into the history books of Southeastern North Carolina.

Cape Fear Unearthed is written, edited and hosted by Hunter Ingram.

Additional editing by Adam Fish.

A StarNews Media Production.

Sources:

"Stories Old and New of the Cape Fear Region" by Louis T. Moore

"Chronicles of the Cape Fear River" by James Sprunt

"Land of the Golden River" by Lewis Philip Hall

Nancy Martin's life was cut short in 1857 while on a ship bound for Cuba. But it's the way she was buried that has defined her story for more than 150 years. We explore the tragic tale of "Nance" in this episode of "Cape Fear Unearthed," a StarNews Media-produced podcast that digs into the history books of Southeastern North Carolina.

Cape Fear Unearthed is written, edited and hosted by Hunter Ingram.

Additional editing by Adam Fish.

A StarNews Media Production.

Sources:

Burial records from Oakdale Cemetery, provided by Eric Kozen

"Weird Carolinas" by Roger Manley

"Stories Old and New of the Cape Fear Region" by Louis T. Moore

"Entombed at Sea in a Cask" by NCDCR.gov

Theodosia Burr Alston's name has found new life thanks to the Broadway musical "Hamilton." But what really happened to the daughter of Aaron Burr, who's life took a dark turn and ended, according to legend, at the bottom of the ocean. We discuss her story with Ben Steelman on this week's episode of "Cape Fear Unearthed," a StarNews Media-produced podcast that digs into the history books of Southeastern North Carolina.

Cape Fear Unearthed is written, edited and hosted by Hunter Ingram.

Additional editing by Adam Fish.

A StarNews Media Production.

Sources:

"Mysterious Tales of Coastal North Carolina" by Sherman Carmichael

"Cape Fear Legends: Theodosia Burr Alston" by Joseph Shepard

"The Dramatic Life and Mysterious Death of Theodosia Burr" by Hadley Meares, Atlas Obscura, October 2016