Ohio Folklore

Among Ohio’s many tourist destinations, the Piatt Castles situated in Logan County are truly treasured.  Their native limestone blocks and intricately painted ceilings transport visitors to another time.  Some come for the history, some come for the aesthetics.  Few expect to have the kind of deep experience that leaves a person altered.

Come hear the tale from the museum’s director, Ms. Margaret Piatt.  A descendant of the original owner, she offers an inside view of the historic space.  Yet more than that, she shares the personal story of how she’s developed a fuller appreciation for the land on which it sits.

Come hear the compelling legend attached to one unassuming boulder located near the property.  On separating fact from fiction, we come to learn a bit more of who we were, and perhaps who we might yet become.  

Native tribes were forced from this region a long time ago.  Along with them, let’s not lose the truth of their struggles, their hopes, their wisdom.

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And as always, keep wondering…

Plan your visit to the Piatt Castle, Mac-A-Cheek by clicking here: https://piattcastle.org/ 

Cincinnati’s Music Hall, a venerable art institution known for wowing audiences with beauty and talent, is also a known for its other-worldly reputation.  Patrons and staff alike have sighted ghosts for more than 150 years.  All this has cemented the building’s role in Ohio’s folkloric history.

Come hear the tale of one veteran paranormal investigator, Mr. Dan Schneider, who captured his most dramatic unexplained experience there in the fabled freight elevator.

Come hear the tales of the site’s macabre history, dating back long before its original construction.  One piece of its tragic history stands out among the rest, a manmade explosion killing scores.  Their unidentified graves remain beneath the building’s foundations.

Perhaps the spirts linger there for the heavenly music wafting through its halls.  Come linger yourself and discover the hold this place has on both the living and the dead.

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And as always, keep wondering…

Special thanks to Dan Schneider, of Ohio Gothic.  This Facebook group can be found at facebook.com/ohiogothic

The crown jewel of professional golf in Ohio is the Memorial Tournament, held every spring at Dublin’s Muirfield Village Golf Club.  This renown course, designed by Jack Nicklaus himself, has long been rumored “cursed.”  More often than not, it seems, this storied contest suffers inclement weather, the kind of which leads to delays and shortened holes.  

Is there any truth to this lore?  The allegation is that the spirit of long dead Chief Leatherlips of the Wyandotte Nation is not happy about the course’s location near his grave.  It’s said that he commands the heavens each year to plague the tournament once again.

As is true with most Ohio Folklore episodes, the history behind the legend is more telling and profound than any supernatural claims.  Come hear the tale of one man, a Native leader, who inspired not only his people, but White settlers alike.  

His example guides us yet today.  More than any golf game, or the weather on any given day in May, what matters is our integrity.  

He died for his.

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And as always, keep wondering…

Feeling weary of our never-ending pandemic lives?  The fatigue was well known to our ancestors, who suffered infectious diseases with even less knowledge and fewer treatments than we have available today.

The tiny town of Gilboa, Ohio in Putnam County holds key information as to how just one small community confronted the unseen microbe causing Cholera, an intestinal illness leading to dehydration and death.  Come hear the tales of one ordinary 19th century cemetery said to contain a mass grave of child victims of the disease.  Hear the story of one local resident, Nancy Kline, and the disembodied words she heard while investigating the place.

Come hear the historic and epic tale of one immigrant physician, Dr. Gustavus Thatye, and his valiant attempts to save those who couldn’t flee the village.  He gave all he had, including his life, in support of the country to which he didn’t yet belong.

Our fight against infectious disease has been going on for ages.  Come learn what the spirits of yesteryear have to teach us.

If you enjoy this episode, please rate, review and subscribe to Ohio Folklore on your chosen podcast platform.  You can also find Ohio Folklore at:

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And as always, keep wondering...

To make a generous donation to the Gofundme account which raises funds for Dr. Thatye’s new tombstone, click here: https://www.gofundme.com/f/tombstone-for-dr-gustavus-thatye      

Pretty Boy Floyd.  It’s a name you’ve no doubt heard.  Perhaps you know him as the depression-era outlaw, whose reputation for bank heists is as legendary now as it ever was.  We count him among historic bandits who’ve inspired a rare kind of admiration.

Did you know, however, that this notorious criminal met his demise in Columbiana County?  The controversial details surrounding his death remain unresolved today.  Perhaps that’s why his troubled spirit is known to roam the field where he was gunned down.

Come hear the story of one man, Mr. Michael Kishbucher, author of Legends & Lore of Little Beaver Creek.  Not only is he an avid folklorist, but he’s a native of Columbiana County with unique family ties to this legendary story.

 
Whatever you once thought of Charles Arthur “Pretty Boy” Floyd, you won’t think the same about him again.

If you enjoy this episode, please rate, review and subscribe to Ohio Folklore on your chosen podcast platform.  You can also find Ohio Folklore at:

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And as always, keep wondering…

To purchase Legends & Lore of Little Beaver Creek, click here: https://www.amazon.com/Legends-Little-Beaver-Creek-American/dp/1467142301 

The wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald is a maritime tragedy known to many.  The sinking of this mighty Great Lakes freighter in November, 1975, remains fresh in our memories.  The reason, however, is more personal than some Ohioans know.  For many of our friends and neighbors, this disaster wasn’t just about a legendary ship lost at sea.  This calamity meant the loss of fellow Ohioans -- fathers, brothers, friends and husbands.  

Half of the Fitz’s crew called Ohio home.

Come hear the little-known life stories of some of these Ohioans, who lost their lives beneath Superior’s waves.  Come hear the tales of loss and grief which remain.  

But, most of all, come learn why this legend still calls us to ride the waves fate brings.

If you enjoy this episode, please rate, review and subscribe to Ohio Folklore on your chosen podcast platform.  You can also find Ohio Folklore at
 
 

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And as always, keep wondering… 

One monument to an era gone by once laid hidden in the overgrown hills of Ohio’s Vinton County.  Thanks to the efforts of countless local enthusiasts and state ODNR officials, this antiquated railway tunnel is now easily reached.  In fact, it’s handicap accessible.  

All who dare can now visit the Moonville Tunnel.  However, it’s not just the living who answer its beckoning call.  Claims of ghostly apparitions at this desolate location began in the late 1800’s, and persist yet today.  With the multitude of violent rail deaths that have been documented through the years, it’s no real surprise that perhaps some lost souls are still waiting for the next train.

Come hear the story of Mr. Rich Dahn, historian for the Moonville Rail Trail Association.  He’s been visiting the site for more than 40 years, and still can’t get enough.  Come hear the ghostly tales and the documented history of this legendary spot left yet untouched by modern civilization.

Come aboard this episode revealing a sparkling jewel of Ohio’s railway folklore.  

If you enjoy this episode, please rate, review and subscribe to Ohio Folklore on your chosen podcast platform.  You can also find Ohio Folklore at:

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And as always, keep wondering…

Special thanks to The Rarely Herd for their permission in using their song “Moonville Brakeman” as part of today’s episode.  Find them on Facebook here:  https://www.facebook.com/The-Rarely-Herd-113910075327852/ 

To learn more about the Moonville Rail Trail Association, click here: https://vintoncountytravel.com/parks-and-recreation/moonville-rail-trail/.  

Most of us think of Port Clinton as a summer tourist destination.  Indeed, it is.  And yet, it's so much more.

Few know of the haunted structure that sits on the corner of Madison and Perry Streets.  The Island House Hotel is a rumored home for lost spirits, including a famous mobster, sheriff and orphaned immigrant turned proprietor.  They make their presence known to staff and guests alike.  

Come hear the tale of a ghost hunter and founding member of Haunted Toledo.  Christopher Tillman shares the story of an investigation of the historic structure.  The hotel’s staff was eager to welcome his team and share their stories.

Beneath the claims of ghost sightings lies Prohibition Era history that deserves a good telling.  So sit back, raise a whiskey sour and soak in the knowledge of how it all came to be.

If you enjoy this episode, please rate, review and subscribe to Ohio Folklore on your chosen podcast platform.  You can also find Ohio Folklore at:
 
 

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And as always, keep wondering…

Many Ohioans have claimed to spot something unexplainable in the skies above us.  Tales of mysterious flying objects seem as numerous as the stars themselves.  It's easy to brush off such claims from individuals.  However, when dozens of citizens and police officers report the seeing the same strange object, it's time to reconsider...

Come hear the true tale of one unusually warm evening in December, 1994.  Many residents of Trumbell County would never forget the life-changing events of that night.  Their experiences would be documented in recorded calls to the 911 dispatch center.

Come hear the radio traffic which crackled with excitement, as one officer after another spotted something bright in the night sky.  Most eerie of all, it hovered in silence.  No engine,  no propellers. 

Perhaps we're not alone after all.

If you enjoy this episode, please rate, review and subscribe to Ohio Folklore on your chosen podcast platform.  You can also find Ohio Folklore at:

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And as always, keep wondering... 

All the wonders that come from our own Glass City (from Mud Hens baseball to Tony Packo's famous hot dogs) were once destined to spring forth from Michigan (gasp!) soil.  That's correct, by all rights legal and geographical, the city of Toledo and lands due west were once deemed within the borders of the fledging territory of Michigan.

Then came along Benjamin Franklin Stickney, a savvy politician and land speculator.  After working to keep the peace in the wilds of northeast Indiana, he heard tell of a little canal project which was sure to open shipping lanes from Toledo to Ft. Wayne.  And the meddling began...

Come hear the story of one author, Mr. Kenneth Dickson, who unearthed intriguing details of how one man's drive toward personal success led Ohio to take arms against neighboring Michiganders.

This is one rivalry that existed long before football.  Some hard feelings remain.

If you enjoy this episode, please rate, review and subscribe to Ohio Folklore on your chosen podcast platform.  You can also find Ohio Folklore at:

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And as always, keep wondering...

For  more information on Kenneth Dickson's book, search Benjamin Franklin Stickney and the Maumee Valley