Most Ohioans know well the venerable institution called Ohio State Reformatory in Mansfield.  It served as the backdrop for the 1994 seminal film, The Shawshank Redemption.  Had the movie been shot elsewhere, the state would have demolished this historic structure.  How fitting that this movie's message is one of redemption and hope against all odds.  It resonates deep within us.

Tourists from all over the world come to visit this remarkable place.  Some come for the history.  Some come for the pop culture influence.  Yet many come to fill their curious minds and hearts.  They seek to know what lurks in the shadows, what hides behind iron bars.

Come hear the tales of three individuals with unique knowledge of the place.  Hear the paranormal experiences of a tour guide, a ghost hunter and a volunteer.  Come learn what draws them...what has drawn so many.

Lastly, hear the tragic tale of a supposed resident ghost, the spirit of a young man who was executed in the very electric chair now on display.  

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And as always, keep wondering...

The legend of the Mothman stands unique among Ohio’s folktales.  It’s a shared piece of lore with neighboring West Virginia.  The story has drawn thousands, literally.  Every year, hordes of tourists descend on this rural spot along the Ohio River.  They pay homage to the winged beast, known to all as a harbinger of doom.

Most of us think we know the story.  Perhaps we’ve read the book, or seen the movie.  Turns out, we don’t know the half of it.

Come hear the tale from a local himself, retired private investigator, Mr. Eddie Jenkins.  Come learn the truth of this centuries old legend that began long before falling bridges.  

It seems there’s been something mysterious in the skies above Appalachia for a very long time, indeed.

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When we Ohioans think of Annie Oakley, we think of a petite woman in fringed leather, staring down the barrel of a long gun, at a target soon to be decimated.  As one of Ohio’s most celebrated daughters, Annie Oakley’s fame lives on a century after her death.  She’s the subject of musicals, movies and countless books.

We’re well aware of her sharpshooting skills, the likes of which haven’t been seen since.  However, few of us have any idea of the remarkable history that led her to develop such superhuman abilities.

Come hear the tale of Annie’s early life, growing up in Darke County, in a time of scarcity, loss and immense adversity.

Sometimes that’s the very thing that brings forth greatness that lasts centuries.

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Many Columbus residents and visitors enjoy a day trip to North Market, the sprawling food hall that's every foodie's dream.  This downtown landmark has existed since 1876.  Few realize the hidden lore beneath this storied location.  Below cement and asphalt lie the remains of the city's founding citizens.  The Old North Graveyard, the city's original public burial ground, remains hidden under the bustle of the living.

Come hear the tale of one ghostly apparition known to still roam the corner of Park and Vine Streets.  This specter is no ordinary soul.  In his day, he was known as John Kerr, an Irish immigrant and city mayor.  His remains still rest beneath North Market itself.  

His spirit is anything but restful.  

Come hear the experience of one Ryan Weller, Columbus archaeologist, who excavated the site during a sewer project in 2001.  You won't believe what he uncovered. 

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Most of us have heard tell of the Underground Railroad, the secretive movement that spirited enslaved peoples northward, toward freedom.  Yet few Ohioans know of the integral role of one tiny town on the bank of the Ohio River.

Meet Ripley, Ohio.  History has dubbed this quaint village a "terminus of the Underground Railroad."

Come hear intriguing stories of a secret society of abolitionists who aided those seeking freedom.  And most compelling of them all, hear the daring tales of one John Parker, a former slave who risked life, limb and his very freedom to rescue desperate souls waiting on Kentucky's banks.  

To them, Ohio was a promised land...

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Some folktales are well worn in, like an old pair of sneakers.  We've heard the stories so many times, they become part of our cultural history.

But sometimes you're just lucky enough to get in on the ground floor.  Come hear one legendary story in the making.

South Main School was established in 1890 in Bowling Green.  In recent decades, locals have whispered of strange goings on within the dormant elementary school's walls.  Claims of disembodied giggles, fleeting shadows and even full bodied apparitions are now revealed.

Today, you can schedule your own investigation of the place.  But before you do, hear new, compelling true histories of spirits who take residence there.

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And as always, keep wondering...

Book your investigation at South Main School here: https://hauntedsouthmainschool.wordpress.com/book-now/

When we think of history in Ohio, most of us consider the past two to three hundred years.  Few know that one location in Ohio's southern hills holds prehistoric secrets that have yet to be explained.  The Serpent Mound of Adams County.

Come hear the tale of the world's largest effigy mound, here in our backyard.  One local Ohioan and resident expert, Ms. Beth Jenkins, shares her personal connection to the place, as well as the knowledge she's gained in her role as the History Preservation Manager for the memorial itself.

This remarkable piece of earthen art stirs wonder in many.  It stirs questions of both earthly and spiritual realms.  Come consider what the ancients are trying to tell us...

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Few historical accounts of Ohio UFO sightings are more compelling than what has become known as the Coyne Incident.  It was a cloudless October night in 1973 when an Army Reserve helicopter in the skies about Mansfield nearly collided with an unknown craft.  The four military men aboard would soon tell the world what they encountered.  

It was an account later recognized during an assembly of the United Nations.  It seems that for a time, the whole world wanted to know just what happened in our little corner of the planet.  .

Perhaps it's happening still.  Come hear the tale for yourself.

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Come hear the latest episode of Ohio Folklore!


Few Ohioans know the tale of the Ashtabula Train Disaster.  When it happened on December 29, 1876, it was the worst train accident in US history.  Today, a monument in Chestnut Grove Cemetery stands testimony to the horrors of that night, which have burned in Ashtabula’s history for more than a century.  
 

But the cemetery holds more than memories.  It holds more than the remains of those lost to the tragedy.  Many claim it holds restless spirits who still roam, desperate for some kind of explanation.

Come hear the tale of one couple who claims to have encountered one such spirit whose possible role in the accident remains a question today.  Come encounter a mystery of tortured souls longing for an explanation.

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For more than a century, residents and visitors to Ohio’s Ottawa County have witnessed unexplained balls of light rushing toward them while parked on rickety old bridges.  Many know the phenomenon as the legend of Elmore Ghost Rider… the glowing spirit of a local man who lost his head in a motorcycle accident.

Few understand the larger context behind this legendary story.

Come hear the truth.  Come hear the history of supernatural claims which pre-date the alleged ghost rider tale.  

Something’s been afoot in Ottawa County long before motorcycles even existed.  Come hear the details for yourself.

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…