We put on our coats and head to the snowy regions of the North for tales of deadly encounters with packs of bloodthirsty wolves, before climbing the hills and hollers of the Ozarks in search of feather crowns. Songs in this episode: “Lonesome Roving Wolves” circa 1846, by Levi Hancock “Lonely Tombs” circa 1880s, by William M. Golden Researched,+ Read More

POOR ELLEN SMITH PART II: OZARK BURYINGS

True And Tragic Tales From The Back Roads of American History

In 1856, two small boys wandered away from their cabin in the wilds of Pennsylvania. For almost two weeks, thousands of volunteers combed the mountainside in search of the little lost children. It seemed that they had disappeared without a trace, until one man’s eerie dream revealed their fate. Song: “Babes In The Woods”, traditional Researched, written,+ Read More

Babes In The Woods: The Lost Children of the Alleghenies

Yesterday’s local headlines, the daily tragedies and triumphs in American communities large and small, are often trampled in the unrelenting march of time, overshadowed by more monumental moments in our collective history. But the fragile, yellowed pages of century-old newspapers contain untold treasures for those of us who are fascinated by the past. Today we present an+ Read More

Keep On The Sunny Side: July 1899

Follow us back in time as we walk the red brick streets of our little Wild West town to a haunted shack by the railroad tracks, the scene of the untimely death of Ella Myers. But was she really dead when her corpse was buried in a pauper’s grave?  Tales of ghostly visions and reports of plaintive wails caused+ Read More

The Blood-Red Hand: A Guthrie Ghost Story

In this episode, we take you to the Texas Hill Country of the 1860s, a perilous place for those who remained loyal to the Union, however secret they tried to keep their allegiance. For many of these unfortunate Union sympathizers, the War Between the States ended at the bottom of Dead Man’s Hole. Song: “Weeping Sad+ Read More

Weeping Sad and Lonely: The Fire Eaters

As you may know, we’re taking a short production break, but we wanted to mark a very special milestone. The Most Wonderful Wonder is one year old today. To celebrate, we’re giving you an unreleased Welcome Little Stranger original song, and our unending gratitude. Thank you for listening to our weird and wonderful little show.+ Read More

POOR ELLEN SMITH PART II: OZARK BURYINGS

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