Some called him the “Mountain of Manheim.” Others called him the “Gentle Giant.” But regardless of what name he went by, this much is true: Jack Fasig was one tall tale. He seemed like Lancaster County’s own Paul Bunyan. By some accounts, he was about 7-foot-tall, over 300 pounds, strong enough to lift cars from ditches, and could support the weight of trains on his back. 

Except he’s not just a folk hero. Jack Fasig was a real man. He lived in a shack in Manheim, raised dogs and chickens, and worked at the local asbestos factory. His large size inspired those tall tales, but there were true stories, too, such as when he beat carnival strong men, trained as a boxer, and even ran into trouble with the law. 

We’ll break down what exactly was fact and what was fiction in this episode of “Legends of Lancaster.” 

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The sounds of barking hounds and eerie horns have been reported for decades in the woods along the border of Lancaster and Lebanon counties. So what might be lurking among the trees? Is something supernatural at work? Well, it depends on who you ask. 

By some accounts, the noises stem from the apparition of a cruel ironmaster who is cursed to roam those woods forever. It’s said that he committed unforgivable misdeeds in his lifetime and is now being punished to hunt with his hounds endlessly in the afterlife. Other people will say the apparition is simply a generous old hunter, whose spirit stays in the woods to ensure prosperity in that region.

In fact, there are multiple tellings of this tale of the Eternal Hunter. Plus, it’s possible the origin of the hunter has roots back to Germany. We’ll explore all of those angles and more on this episode of “Legends of Lancaster.”

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It might be one of the oldest theater buildings in the country, but new details emerge all the time about the Fulton Theatre in downtown Lancaster.

Hear stories about the theater that you might not have heard before. From over-the-top stage productions in the beginning of the 20th century to a little known connection to the Underground Railroad, there’s much to explore within the ornate halls of the theater’s past. We dig into all that plus the Fulton’s plan for the future.

Also hear from LNP | LancasterOnline’s in-house Legends expert, Tyler Huber, who will tell us some of the creepier tales associated with the theater. He takes us through those ghost stories, including one about a backstage diva and another about a sweet grandfather. All that on this podcast episode of “Legends of Lancaster.”

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Find Tyler's video series "Legends of Lancaster" here

Legends of Lancaster is back, now in podcast form. We have plenty of local folklore, supernatural stories, intriguing history, and more to explore.

Also check out the Legends of Lancaster video series here