This podcast explores ghost stories from around the world, including the well-known Australian tale of Frederick Fisher's Ghost and the urban legend of Hanako, a haunting ghost girl in Japan. It also delves into the haunting legend of Resurrection Mary in Chicago and explores the tragic and cursed past of Rotherwood Mansion. Along with the ghost stories, they discuss the advantages of having binoculars while sightseeing.
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Quick takeaways
Rotherwood Mansion in Tennessee is haunted by the ghost of Rowena, with visitors reporting strange occurrences and a sense of foreboding related to the mansion's tragic history.
The legend of Resurrection Mary, a ghostly figure in Chicago, has become iconic, with reports of her disappearing from cars near Resurrection Cemetery.
Deep dives
The Haunting of Rotherwood Mansion
Rotherwood Mansion, a private residence in Tennessee, is reportedly haunted by the ghost of a lady in white believed to be Rowena, the daughter of its original owner. Visitors have reported being watched, doors opening and closing on their own, strange noises, and a sense of foreboding. The mansion has a history of tragedy, including the deaths of Rowena's fiancé and her father. The current owner and her family have restored the mansion and its grounds, but the hauntings persist.
The Mysterious Make-a-Light
The Make-a-Light in Brunswick County, North Carolina is an urban legend about a ghostly light or lights. According to the lore, if you go to the third floor of a school's girls' bathroom, knock three times on the third stall, and ask if Hanako-san is there, a ghostly girl may answer. The encounters with Hanako vary, but they often involve seeing a ghost or a bloody hand, or being pulled into a portal or eaten by a three-headed lizard. This urban legend is reminiscent of the Bloody Mary urban legend in the United States.
Resurrection Mary's Ghostly Hitchhiking
Resurrection Mary is a ghostly figure said to haunt Archer Avenue in Chicago. According to the legend, if you pick up a female hitchhiker on Archer Avenue and pass Resurrection Cemetery, she mysteriously disappears from the car. The ghost is typically described as a young woman in white, often dressed in a flapper or ball gown. The origins of the legend vary, with different stories suggesting she died in a car crash or was the victim of a hit and run. Regardless, Resurrection Mary has become an iconic ghost story in the Chicago area.
The Ghost Stories of Larnach Castle
Larnach Castle in New Zealand is rumored to be haunted by various spirits. The castle was built in the 19th century by William Larnach, a wealthy banker and politician. Tragedy struck the Larnach family, with the deaths of William's wives and daughter, and William himself taking his own life. Visitors and staff have reported ghostly sightings, strange noises, and a sense of being watched. The castle's haunted reputation has led to it being featured in a paranormal TV series. Today, it serves as a historical site and tourist attraction.
October seemed like a good time for an installment of Six Impossible Episodes all about ghosts and hauntings. A lot of these are very well-known in the places where they originated, but maybe not outside of those places.
Research:
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Dictionary of Sydney staff writer, Fishers Ghost Creek, Dictionary of Sydney, 2008, http://dictionaryofsydney.org/entry/fishers_ghost_creek, viewed 04 Oct 2023
TBS News. “The ghost of little girls in Japanese schools.” https://www.tbsnews.net/splash/ghost-little-girls-japanese-schools-58747
Learn Japanese. “Hanako-San is Creepy, What's the Story?” https://www.jappleng.com/education/course/study/4/japanese-culture/lesson/320/japanese-legend-hanako-san-toire
Kishikawa, Molly. “The Real-Life Legend of Toilet-Bound Hanako (and Other Toilet Ghosts).” CBR. 9/27/2021. https://www.cbr.com/toilet-bound-hanako-japanese-toilet-ghosts/
Galvan, Jojo. “Resurrection Mary, The Hitchhiking Ghost of Archer Avenue.” Chicago History Museum. http://www.chicagohistory.org/resurrection-mary/
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Larnach Castle and Gardens. “1871 - 1898 "The Larnach Years".” https://www.larnachcastle.co.nz/Visitor-Information-for-Larnach-Castle/Visit-Larnach-Castle/Early-History
Neubauer, Ian. “Haunted Castle High on a Hill.” Stuff. 10/7/2014. https://www.stuff.co.nz/travel/destinations/nz/61737273/haunted-castle-high-on-a-hill
Little House of Horrors. “Larnach Castle.” https://thelittlehouseofhorrors.com/larnach-castle/
R. J. Sinclair. 'Larnach, William James Mudie', Dictionary of New Zealand Biography, first published in 1993. Te Ara - the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, https://teara.govt.nz/en/biographies/2l2/larnach-william-james-mudie (accessed 5 October 2023)
Steelman, Ben. “Do People Still See the Maco Light?” Star News Online. 10/31/2021. https://www.starnewsonline.com/story/news/2021/10/31/maco-light-brunswick-has-been-seen-since-1880-s/8539263002/
Justus, Anthony. “Rotherwood: House of Hell.” The Haunted Spots Blog. https://hauntedspotslibrary.wordpress.com/2016/03/02/rotherwood-house-of-hell/
Leonard, Austin. “The Legends of Rotherwood Mansion.” The Kayseean. 3/11/2021. https://thekayseean.com/life-and-culture/the-legends-of-rotherwood-mansion/
Ross, Frederick Augustus and Charles Coffin Ross. “The Story of Rotherwood from the Autobiography of Rev. Frederick A. Ross.” 1923. Bean, Warters & Company. https://play.google.com/store/books/details?id=YOwTAAAAYAAJ&rdid=book-YOwTAAAAYAAJ&rdot=1
Garden Study Club of Tennessee. “History of Homes and Gardens in Tennessee.” 1936. Parthenon Press.