Lore
120 EpisodesProduced by Aaron Mahnke
Lore is a bi-weekly podcast (as well as a TV show and book series) about dark historical tales. Each episode explores the mysterious creatures, tragic events, and unusual places that fill the pages of history.Because sometimes the truth is more frightening than fiction.
All Episodes
Episode 116: Something Blue
June 10th, 2019
36:45
No one likes to be sick, and yet it is one of the most dependable things in life. We will all, at some point, become ill, and when we do, the most important thing in our world will be recovery and wellness. Many simply …
Episode 115: Perspective
May 27th, 2019
38:15
The way we explain the world around us is determined by the lens we view it through, especially when events sit outside the realm of the believable. And no better moment in time can illustrate that idea better than the …
Episode 114: The Gateway
May 13th, 2019
39:30
Most locations have an isolated history that is unique to them and only them. But some places have served as the entry point for a bigger idea and a …
Episode 113: Word of Mouth
April 29th, 2019
37:30
Throughout history, cultures around the world have explored the world of medicine in search of tools that can heal our bodies. We’ve used plants and …
Episode 112: Facets
April 15th, 2019
35:45
Of all the parts of life that we can depend on, one of the darkest parts is loss. That’s the trouble with being surrounded by mortal, fragile human beings; at some point, the people we love won’t be here anymore. Which …
Episode 111: Inside Job
April 1st, 2019
36:43
The deepest mysteries come from the places we haven’t fully explored, or where we lack the control that makes us feel safe. And yet one of the most …
Episode 110: Crooked
March 18th, 2019
35:44
Not everything can be perfect. Even when there’s a clean slate and we’re given the resources and tools to make something great, humans have a way of …
Episode 109: Assumption
March 4th, 2019
33:55
There’s a lot in life we can count on. Death, taxes, the sunrise, and political turmoil--these are all guaranteed, safe bets. But outside that, …
Episode 108: Debris
February 18th, 2019
35:32
Our oceans are some of the most remote regions on the planet. Because of that, people have filled that darkness and space with stories that reflect our common fears and deepest suspicious. Unfortunately, the pages of …
Episode 107: Sight Unseen
February 4th, 2019
44:20
We like to think we’ll see it coming. That we can plan ahead and prepare—even defend ourselves. But death comes in all shapes and sizes, sometimes so …
Episode 106: The Collection
January 21st, 2019
34:28
Humans have a tendency to collect things. From baseball cards to Twitter followers, we enjoy bringing everything into one place. But when that …
Episode 105: Layers
January 7th, 2019
37:40
We love to simplify things. Easy is better than complex, after all, and simple things are easy to understand. Sadly, though, the people around us are far from simple; they are complex and layered, with deep, hidden …
Episode 104: Anchored
December 21st, 2018
32:00
The ocean is very good at taking things from us, but we are equally skilled at not forgetting. Still, no matter how many stories we tell about lost ships and vanished loved ones, it will never bring them back. At least, …
Episode 103: Disappointment
December 10th, 2018
34:01
Humanity is fueled by hope. We hope for improvement, and dream of a day when things get better than they are right now. And for a very long time, there have been certain people who have taken advantage of that hope. …
Episode 102: Devil in the Details
November 26th, 2018
33:52
Most of us live incredibly busy lives, and because of all that distraction, we tend to miss the little things. Whether it’s a forgotten birthday, or the small puddle of water beneath your water heater in the basement, …
Episode 101: Worn Away
November 12th, 2018
33:42
Like a well-loved pair of shoes, or those jeans you bought in college and never gave up on, some things become worn out over time. But when that …
Episode 100: Home Sweet Home
October 29th, 2018
43:23
Every movement has a seed, that spark that sets the fire ablaze. But this spark is more than just a murder mystery, or a treasure hunt, or even a haunting unlike any other. This one is all three. Which may explain why a …
Episode 99: Out For Blood
October 22nd, 2018
31:12
Each of us holds inside ourselves a precious cargo. It is the key to life, and a worthy sacrifice when important things are on the line. And yet it …
Episode 98: Never Alone
October 15th, 2018
36:11
When tragedy strikes and poor choices haunt us, sometimes the only thing we can do is move on and build on the ashes of the past. But there are places where that hasn’t worked out so well. In fact, sometimes the worst …
Episode 97: Misplaced
October 8th, 2018
33:33
For thousands of years, humans have built rules and procedures for handling the various curveballs that life throws our way—and we place a lot of …
Episode 96: The Long Good-Bye
October 1st, 2018
34:59
Life is full of challenges. From learning new skills to climbing the social ladder, most people struggle with the hurdles we’re forced to overcome. …
Episode 95: Out of Sight
September 17th, 2018
32:14
Few things disappoint us more than when our expectations aren’t met. We expect to be loved, or to be rewarded for our hard work. And above all, we expect the people in our lives to always be there. Which is why it’s so …
Episode 94: Hard Rain
September 3rd, 2018
32:55
Our understanding of the natural world is incredibly advanced compared to our ancestors from a few centuries ago. We have established rules and order …
Episode 93: A Place to Lay Your Head
August 20th, 2018
32:00
Humans are hard-wired for trust. It’s the secret ingredient that helps us form communities, build relationships, and grow as people. But while that trust is a noble inclination, it can also get us into trouble—trouble …
Episode 92: Stronger
August 6th, 2018
31:24
There is a lot in life that we can control, but no system is perfect. Every now and then, circumstances pull the rug out from underneath us and leave …
Episode 91: Beneath the Surface
July 23rd, 2018
31:22
Islands have served a variety of functions for people over the years. They can be a place of safety and privacy, or of simplicity and escape. But islands have played host to other less savory events over the years. And …
Episode 90: Mind the Gap
July 9th, 2018
39:07
We tend think of rivers and lakes as tame. They are the safe and friendly counterpart to the deep and treacherous waters of the ocean. Freshwater rivers and lakes give us life, after all. But that doesn’t mean they …
Episode 89: Fanning the Flames
June 25th, 2018
33:46
Some cities experience a single tragedy and then live with that pain and loss for generations. They are built on a dark foundation, and everything new takes on a flavor of the past. But there are other places where that …
Episode 88: Crossing the Line
June 11th, 2018
40:25
Humans have always sought companionship. From the communities we live in, to the pets we welcome into our homes, our need for companions is as old as …
Episode 87: Road Trip
May 28th, 2018
37:43
Every now and then a story comes along that is so powerful and compelling that it creates a new branch on the tree of folklore. Yes, it has deeper …
Episode 86: Under Siege
May 14th, 2018
38:07
Our bodies are a fortress, and every day, they suffer through attacks from the outside. Over the centuries, we’re become very good at protecting ourselves from illness and disease, but all of those efforts assume …
Episode 85: Creature of Habit
April 30th, 2018
34:50
Our home is supposed to be a safe space where we are free to relax and enjoy life. History, though, contains stories that break that mould. Places …
Episode 84: A Family Affair
April 16th, 2018
33:48
Nothing is more magical than when a family works together. But when their talents seem to defy all logic and reason, it might not be a bad idea to …
Episode 83: Carried Away
April 2nd, 2018
34:31
Humans have always been more than a little bit superstitious, and one of the oldest and most universal of those beliefs is the curse. The story of …
Episode 82: Forgotten
March 19th, 2018
33:16
People are really good at moving on. We rush from fad to fad at an alarming speed, and it’s difficult to predict where our interests will land next. …
Episode 81: On the Edge
March 5th, 2018
33:07
Humanity seems to always be at risk of suffering through another major outbreak. History is full with dark moments of biological chaos, and despite …
Episode 80: Dark Imports
February 19th, 2018
33:39
The places we inhabit slowly become like us, reflecting our brightest ambitions and darkest secrets. Countless cities harbor the shadows of a violent …
Episode 79: Locked Away
February 5th, 2018
31:39
Our lives have a way of becoming magnets that attract pain and suffering. Some of us go through more than others, but in the end, we’re all running from something. Just how far we might go to get away is a mystery, but …
Episode 78: Exposure
January 22nd, 2018
36:17
We live in a very technological world today, with constant updates and improvements over last year’s model, and while many of the advancements are …
Episode 77: Withering Heights
January 8th, 2018
28:43
Waves of illness crash against the shores of humanity. They always have, and they probably always will. But we weather the storm through advancements in medical science and the resilience of human nature. Still, no …
Episode 76: Talk Show
December 22nd, 2017
30:34
Life is a lot like a big budget movie. We click play, and then let the action wash over us. There are highs and lows, laughter and tears, and then it’s all over and the screen goes silent. The dead can’t talk back, …
Episode 75: Black and Wild
December 11th, 2017
28:35
The pages of our greatest literature are full of tales of powerful wizards. People gifted with abilities that stand head and shoulder above their …
Episode 74: All Fall Down
November 27th, 2017
30:00
The sky is a source of life for everything on this planet. Rain to quench our thirst and sunlight for our food. We don’t look up too often these days, but that hasn’t changed our dependance on it. But occasionally, the …
Episode 73: A Sweet Embrace
November 13th, 2017
35:35
When our health is failing and our lives are at risk, trust is essential. The people who care for us often find themselves in a position of power, …
Episode 72: A Grave Mistake
October 30th, 2017
43:05
Humans have a seemingly never-ending list of fears. The dark of night, small spaces, open water…there doesn’t seem to be an area of life that doesn’t come with a few reasons to take pause and be afraid. But the greatest …
Trick or Treat 2017 - Set 2
October 23rd, 2017
17:55
In this second Lore Trick or Treat 2017 set of stories, we explore the power of folklore and fate. A Head of Steam takes us on an eerie trip through …
Episode 71: Silver Lining
October 16th, 2017
30:33
We’ve conquered much of our world, but even with all of our great cities and urban sprawl, there are still shadows on the edge. And it’s in the shadows that the greatest threats still exist—creatures from our darkest …
Trick or Treat 2017 - Set 1
October 9th, 2017
19:55
The first Trick or Treat Halloween special of 2017 features two tales. The first, A Bridge Too Far, walks us through a winter train ride that went horribly wrong over a century ago. The second story reminds us that life …
Episode 70: Familiar
October 2nd, 2017
31:20
There’s a fine line between rationality and madness, but it’s not as easy to avoid as you might think. Throughout history, our world has played host to people who have taken their superstitions too far, but it was the …
Episode 69: Wide Open
September 18th, 2017
29:53
The sky is full of mystery. It’s big, expansive, and—despite a century of powered human flight—outside our realm of control. Which is why, for …
Episode 68: The Tainted Well
September 4th, 2017
30:05
The older the country, the deeper the roots of its folklore have grown—roots that are fed by darkness, fear, and pain. And few countries hold such a …
Episode 67: The Red Coats
August 21st, 2017
29:14
There are some locations that seem to draw humans closer. Places that are away from the bustle of everyday life, that almost seem part of our soul. …
Episode 66: Where There’s Smoke
August 7th, 2017
27:10
Fire is a dangerous tool. Used properly, it can transform a society, but if it isn’t respected, it can burn that society to the ground. Which is why …
Episode 65: Doing Tricks
July 24th, 2017
28:20
There are very few bits of folklore that haven’t spread around the globe over the past few centuries. Yet every now and then, something fresh and …
Episode 64: Behind Closed Doors
July 10th, 2017
27:15
The bigger the city, the easier it is to miss the little details. Stories of loss, tragedy, and horrifying events have a way of vanishing beneath the bustle of everyday life. And no place is better at hiding away its …
Episode 63: Homecoming
June 26th, 2017
29:00
Folklore and popular culture are filled with a type of event that seems both unusual and logical: time and time again, criminals return to the …
Episode 62: Desperate Measures
June 12th, 2017
26:35
Folklore and medicine often go hand in hand. In fact, for a long time they were the very same thing. But folklore has a way of leading people to …
Episode 61: Labor Pains
May 29th, 2017
28:45
You can tell a lot about a culture by the things it creates. Tools, exploration, weapons; all of it speaks to the priorities and character of that …
Episode 60: If Walls Could Talk
May 15th, 2017
25:35
Humans have an innate desire to fix what’s broken, and that’s a good thing. We’re not the best at it, though, and we often fail—sometimes horribly. …
Episode 59: A Deep Fear
May 1st, 2017
27:20
H.P. Lovecraft said it best: “…the oldest and strongest kind of fear is fear of the unknown”. And no other place in the world is as unknown to us as …
Episode 58: The Devil’s Beat
April 17th, 2017
25:42
Human culture has a different expression no matter where you go. Despite that variety, though, we do share one common thread: music. And while it has …
Episode 57: Quarantine
April 3rd, 2017
26:30
Nearly four centuries ago, a wave of sickness spread through a community in the French countryside. It wasn’t a traditional disease they were fighting, though. This plague had a more sinister source.
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Episode 56: Going Viral
March 20th, 2017
26:22
Fear has a way of spreading. It’s contagious, moving from person to person. Given enough time, fear can consume an entire community. Sometimes, though, there’s good reason to be afraid.
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Episode 55: A Way Inside
March 6th, 2017
29:00
Folklore is more than just a collection of stories; it’s the soul of a culture or location. Without them, our world has less texture and beauty. And …
Episode 54: Teacher’s Pet
February 20th, 2017
28:00
The more crowded our world becomes, the more frequently we are confronted with our commonality. Our interests, our passions…even our appearance. But …
Episode 53: Trees and Shadows
February 6th, 2017
27:20
Our connection to animals is ancient, intimate, and complex. Humans have worshiped them, sacrificed them, lived with them, and been buried with them. …
Episode 52: Negative Consequences
January 23rd, 2017
28:11
History is full of criminals. They come in all shapes, sizes, and flavors. Some are cheerful, some are dark. Some, however, steal more than money or …
Episode 51: Within the Walls
January 9th, 2017
29:25
We crave safety. We build rules and systems and even physical barriers in order to create a sense of security. But darkness has a way of creeping in, …
Episode 50: Mary, Mary
December 23rd, 2016
30:40
The Spiritualist movement placed a large focus on reaching beyond the veil, which made us the outsiders pressing into a foreign realm. In the late 1800’s, however, that realm pressed back, and what a wonder it turned …
Episode 49: Seeing Double
December 12th, 2016
26:10
It’s often said that our real identity is the person we are in private, away from the public eye. Over two centuries ago, however, one person gave life to that idea, and in the process, gave birth to an entirely new …
Episode 48: Downriver
November 28th, 2016
25:45
Tragedy is never something we plan for. It sneaks up on us like a bandit in the night, and takes away our sense of security and purpose. But throughout history, there have been places so plagued by tragedy that those …
Episode 47: Missing the Point
November 14th, 2016
28:40
Our world is full of mysterious sightings, but most of them can be explained away with cold logic and common sense. When multiple reports flood in, …
Episode 46: Dark Conclusions
October 31st, 2016
28:20
For almost as long as there have been stories of supernatural beings, there have been tales of those who hunt them. From ancient traditions to …
Trick or Treat 2016: Set 2
October 24th, 2016
17:37
A Halloween treat to add a bit of dark history to your week. Each Lore “Trick or Treat 2016” episode is a collection of two of my favorite “shorts” …
Episode 45: First Impressions
October 17th, 2016
29:15
We say it all the time. It’s a phrase we hang our hopes on. It represents our wants and desires. But “a dream come true” has an older, darker side as …
Trick or Treat 2016: Set 1
October 10th, 2016
18:43
A Halloween treat to add a bit of spook to your week. Each Lore “Trick or Treat 2016” episode is a collection of two of my favorite “shorts” in one …
Episode 44: From Within
October 3rd, 2016
28:45
Civilization was transformed the moment we discovered it. We’ve built it into our religions and use it to advance our technology. Whether we take it …
Episode 43: Supply and Demand
September 19th, 2016
29:58
Throughout history, certain individuals have managed to rise to the challenge in the face of difficulty. But in 1827, that attitude was taken to a …
Episode 42: In the Bag
September 5th, 2016
26:06
Most of our fears can be blamed on a deeper, more instinctive anxiety: we hate losing control. And no place on earth represents that sensation more …
Episode 41: Hole in the Wall
August 22nd, 2016
24:57
We’ve been taught since childhood to be honest, because our actions have consequences and our words can hurt people. But the events that took place in a Scottish village over three hundred years ago took that lesson to …
Episode 40: Everything Floats
August 8th, 2016
26:22
The older the city, the more stories there seem to be. Some places are home to tragedy, while others have played host to disaster or war. Few cities …
Episode 39: Take the Stand
July 25th, 2016
25:05
For as long as humans have lived together in community, there has been the need for crimes and disputes to be settled by some form of court. Many of those trials have been fair, while others have been unjust. Some, …
Episode 38: The Mountain
July 11th, 2016
23:51
Humans have always wandered off into unexplored territory. It’s a key part of our identity to leave safety behind in pursuit of adventure. Those journeys, though, don’t always end in success. In fact, sometimes they end …
Episode 37: Passing Notes
June 27th, 2016
31:15
For as crowded as this world has become, most people feel isolated and alone. Perhaps that’s why so many of us believe that there’s another world, …
Episode 36: When the Bow Breaks
June 13th, 2016
24:46
The cities and buildings where tragedy has concentrated over the years always seem to hold stories. Stories of loss, of pain, and of things that …
Episode 35: The King
May 30th, 2016
25:20
Popular culture is obsessed with the idea of a lost humanity. Countless films, novels, and television shows all ask the same question: what would …
Episode 34: All the Lovely Ladies
May 16th, 2016
25:50
Folklore has often developed as a response to real-world events, but the opposite has also been true. History has, upon occasion, unintentionally …
Episode 33: A Dead End
May 2nd, 2016
26:50
Folklore can change and evolve over time. But when we uncover the roots of these stories, we often find that the real events at their core are the …
Episode 32: Tampered
April 18th, 2016
25:24
Maybe it’s human pride, or maybe it’s a tendency toward superstition, but humans are very good at making excuses. When things don’t go our way or when something breaks, there always seems to be a reason for it. And …
Episode 31: Lost and Found
April 4th, 2016
29:06
We spend every waking moment surrounded by people. People who talk to us, who interact with us, and who are very much alive an breathing. Which is why it’s that much more shocking when we stumble upon those who aren’t. …
Episode 30: Deep and Twisted Roots
March 21st, 2016
30:01
When two boys discovered a macabre surprise while playing in a Connecticut gravel pit, they uncovered more than a piece of the past. Their discovery …
Episode 29: The Big Chill
March 7th, 2016
24:46
Thanks to the writings of Stephen King, the state of Maine has become known as a place of fictional horror and tragedy. But it's at the real-life intersection of Maine's harsh winters and deadly coastline that we find …
Episode 28: Making a Mark
February 22nd, 2016
25:00
Stories leave a mark on us. They can act like scars or decoration, always there, always reminding us of things that happened. But in some cases, those stories leave behind literal, physical marks. Or do they?
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Episode 27: On the Farm
February 8th, 2016
24:17
Safety is a basic human need, and we build a lot of our life around achieving it. This is nothing new, really; humans have always sought safety in a dangerous world. And because of that, it’s those moments when safety …
Episode 26: Brought Back
January 25th, 2016
24:40
Humans have been obsessed with escaping the grasp of death for thousands of years. It’s impossible, of course, but we dream of it nonetheless. Which makes the events in a small Caribbean village all the more horrifying.
Episode 25: The Cave
January 11th, 2016
23:15
Over the centuries, all sorts of methods have been used to govern people. And while some have been just and humane — such as most modern legal systems — others have been more unusual. Social fear, religious tyranny, and …
Episode 24: A Stranger Among Us
December 28th, 2015
27:10
Many family traditions and treasured folktales involve strangers who visit us. What would Christmas be without Santa, after all. But strangers in …
Episode 23: Rope and Railing
December 14th, 2015
23:00
There are places in the world that we rarely see. Our busy lives never take us there, and as a result, they don’t come to mind when we think of …
Episode 22: Over the Top
November 30th, 2015
25:10
History is full of examples of moments in time when hysteria and fear ruled common sense. While some of these examples were valid reasons to panic …
Episode 21: Adrift
November 16th, 2015
23:40
Since the dawn of time, humans have pushed themselves to explore. When that adventure took to the seas, however, it was an invitation for tragedy. The ocean, you see, takes much from us. And sometimes it gives it back.
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Episode 20: Homestead
November 2nd, 2015
24:55
Home is where the heart is. It’s where we build our lives and celebrate the things we love. But it can also be the center of tragedy and darkness. On many different levels, there’s no place like home.
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Episode 19: Bite Marks
October 26th, 2015
24:13
Seeing isn’t always a prerequisite for belief. In fact, oftentimes the things we believe in the most strongly are invisible to our naked eyes. But when we experience those invisible things through pain and physical …
Episode 18: Hunger Pains
October 19th, 2015
23:50
For as advanced and civilized as we are, humans are still led by very basic desires. We are drive by a need for safety and shelter. We long for a community to belong to. And we hunger. But not every method of sating our …
Episode 17: Broken Fingernails
October 12th, 2015
26:15
We leave our loved ones there after they’ve passed. We treat the space with reverence and solemn deference. Cemeteries are meant to be a final …
Episode 16: Covered Mirrors
October 4th, 2015
23:46
At the heart of every horror film is an iconic weapon. Often times they are nondescript and ordinary, but in the hands of a killer they become something more. Something that has the potential to haunt our nightmares. …
Episode 15: Unboxed
September 20th, 2015
23:10
People can be a bit possessive. We love our things, and we cling tightly to them. But what happens when the things we own refuse to let go of us?
This episode of Lore was sponsored by:
Stamps.com: Visit Stamps.com, click …
This episode of Lore was sponsored by:
Stamps.com: Visit Stamps.com, click …
Episode 14: The Others
September 6th, 2015
24:15
We don’t like to be alone. We hate it. So we tell stories about others, the things at the edges of society. Things we’re not sure about. But what if those “others” are more real than we first believed?
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Episode 13: Off the Path
August 24th, 2015
22:55
Life is a careful journey down a pathway that we’ve set our hearts on. But every now and then we get pulled off the trail. Sometimes that’s a good …
Episode 12: Half-Hanged
August 7th, 2015
23:30
History is full of people who took things too far. Humans are gifted at turning on one another, a skill we’ve honed over the millennia. But when a …
Episode 11: Black Stockings
July 25th, 2015
24:50
Humans have a history of making up stories to explain the unexplainable. Sometimes we use those stories to teach our children a moral lesson, or entertain our friends. Sometimes, though, those stories get taken …
Episode 10: Steam & Gas
July 12th, 2015
23:35
The well-worn carpets and imperfect walls of an old hotel can often make guests feel as if they are staying in a little slice of the past. In one …
Episode 9: A Devil on the Roof
June 28th, 2015
24:35
Few stories have the endurance to last centuries. Fewer still have a proven track record of documented, authoritative eye witness accounts to back them up. Among those rare myths, one stands above most. For nearly 300 …
Episode 8: The Castle
June 15th, 2015
24:00
When the authorities entered a building in Chicago’s south side in 1895, they weren’t prepared for what they found. Above and below the neighborhood pharmacy was a seemingly never-ending maze of doors and rooms. What …
Episode 7: In the Woods
June 1st, 2015
20:50
Stepping into the woods is like stepping through a doorway to another world. A world that hides dark secrets from prying eyes, and holds unknown …
Episode 6: Echoes
May 18th, 2015
22:40
Settings are often just as important to a story as the tale itself. The Shining had the Overlook. The Legend of Hell House had the Belasco. We fear cabins in the woods and even our own basements. But the mother of all …
Episode 5: Under Construction
May 4th, 2015
21:45
Humans have always loved to build things, but we occasionally have to make adjustments to our plans. City ordinances, building codes, and property disputes all get in the way. Sometimes, though, the reason we change our …
Episode 4: Dinner at the Afterglow
April 20th, 2015
21:15
Deep in the forest at the northern tip of a small island near Vancouver Island, there is a stone monument standing amidst the trees. How that structure came to be, and what it meant to those who built it, are both …
Episode 3: The Beast Within
April 6th, 2015
21:40
In 1582, the German town of Bedburg was ravaged by a violent and mysterious creature. After untold bloodshed, the townsfolk took up arms and hunted …
Episode 2: The Bloody Pit
March 23rd, 2015
17:40
Over 200 lives were lost during the construction of the Hoosac Tunnel in western Massachusetts. According to countless eye-witnesses across nearly …
Episode 1: They Made a Tonic
March 18th, 2015
21:15
On the morning of March 17, 1892, a group of townsfolk in rural Rhode Island dug up the graves of three local women. What they did to their bodies …
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- Lore 2015 Aaron Mahnke