Hoosier Myths and Legends

As the new year begins, many celebrate with unique superstitions for good luck and a fresh start. In this episode, we explore New Year’s traditions from around the world — from eating grapes in Spain to the famous kiss at midnight. Join us as we uncover the origins of these quirky rituals and how they shape the start of the year. 

Shadowwood Estate is a large two-and-a-half-story, five-bay Colonial Revival-style brick dwelling built for Colonel Eugene C. Wharf in 1917. This house and its land are known for their Civil War legends and unsettling encounters. The home has long been rumored to be haunted. So sit back, relax, and get comfortable as we unravel Shadowwood’s haunted past and explore its ghostly lore.

In August of 1955, Naomi Johnson, her friend Louise Lample, and Naomi’s three children went to the Ohio River near Evansville, Indiana to go swimming. However, while swimming that day, Naomi had a terrifying experience when she was suddenly grabbed and dragged underwater by a strange creature with a rough, claw-like hand. So turn down the lights and settle in as we bring you a mystery that baffles many to this day…The Green Clawed Beast.  

We're revisiting one of our favorite episodes today—Episode 1.4. This is the legend of Silas Shimmerhorn, a Confederate soldier and one of Morgan's Raiders, who came through Indiana in 1863. After deserting, Shimmerhorn hid out in the woods of Versailles and partnered with a wolf pack for survival, which earned him the nickname, "The Wolfman of Versailles."

Belle Gunness was a notorious Norwegian-American serial killer who buried her many victims on her farm in La Porte, Indiana. The farm has long been rumored to be haunted due to its dark history. So turn the lights down and relax as we bring you the tale of “The La Porte Ghoul.”

"Crybaby Bridge" is a term used to describe several bridges across the United States that are steeped in urban legends and ghost stories, particularly involving the eerie sounds of a baby crying. These stories often feature tragic backstories, such as infanticide, accidents, or other sorrowful events that are said to have taken place at or near the bridges. This phenomenon is not confined to a single location but reflects a type of folklore deeply woven into the cultural fabric of various regions, each adapting the legend to their own local history or landscape.  So turn the lights down, get comfortable, and relax as we bring you several tales of Hoosier crybaby bridges. 

In November of 2011, Latoya Ammons, along with her mother, Rosa Campbell, and her three children moved into a house located at 3860 Carolina Street in Gary, Indiana. Immediately after arriving, paranormal activity began to happen. What followed was a series of events that would become one of the most documented and terrifying hauntings in Indiana history. 

In this episode, we chat with authors Christopher and Christina Hunt as they share their book with us, "Ghosts & Legends of Crawfordsville, Indiana." We delve into some of the mysteries that Crawfordsville and Montgomery County have to offer.  

In 1848 the Indiana Hospital for the Insane, later known as Indiana Central State Hospital, opened its doors on the west side of Indianapolis.  The hospital treated patients who suffered from schizophrenia, dementia, depression, hysteria, alcoholism, and epilepsy.  However, over the years, stories began circulating about patient abuse, and the hospital was closed in 1994 due to concerns about patient care.  Since before the hospital's closing, stories about spirits, voices from beyond, and other paranormal occurrences were common on the grounds and in the old pathology building, which remains standing today. Join us as we discuss Indiana’s Hospital for the Insane. 

Grab a cup of coffee, sit back, and relax as we delve into the ghostly legends surrounding three Hoosier libraries that many believe to be haunted -  Willard Library in Evansville, Bartholomew County Public Library in Columbus, and the Indiana State Library in Indianapolis.