New England Legends

Twice each week, legend hunter, author, and historian Jeff Belanger and radio host Ray Auger explore the ghosts, monsters, aliens, folklore, history, roadside oddities, true crime, and legends of New England in this award-winning podcast. If you give us about twenty minutes, we’ll give you something strange to talk about today. The bizarre is closer than you think!

The Face that Witnessed a Murder 03/19/2026

The Face that Witnessed a Murder In Episode 437, Jeff Belanger and Ray Auger investigate the former Malden Bank building in Malden, Massachusetts, to witness the site of America’s first armed bank robbery that included a murder. On December 15, 1863, 17-year-old bank employee Frank Converse became the victim of a gunman who made off with thousands of dollars in the heist. But whodunit and why? The event still haunts the old building. See more here: Listen ad-free plus get early access and bonus episodes at: Buy Jeff Belanger's new book Wicked Strange New England on Amazon: Check out Jeff's new underground publication Shadow Zine! Listen to Ray's Local Raydio! /episode/index/show/newenglandlegends/id/40541160

FtV - The Lordship Mermaid 03/16/2026

FtV - The Lordship Mermaid Welcome to New England Legends From the Vault – FtV Episode 160 – Jeff Belanger and Ray Auger head to the Stratford, Connecticut, coast by the Stratford Point Lighthouse in search of a mermaid sighting that was reported in great detail by lighthouse keeper Theodore Judson in July of 1915. Mermaid fever had gripped the region decades earlier thanks to another local Connecticut guy name P.T. Barnum who introduced the world to the Feejee Mermaid in the 1840s. This episode first aired June 4, 2020 Listen ad-free plus get early access and bonus episodes at: /episode/index/show/newenglandlegends/id/40411680

Doomsday Island in the Connecticut River 03/12/2026

Doomsday Island in the Connecticut River In Episode 437, Jeff Belanger and Ray Auger explore Kings Island in Suffield, Connecticut. The island was once home to DeWitt Terry, A Seventh Day Adventist elder who believed the second coming of Christ, and thus the end of times was going to occur November 5, 1873 (spoilers: he was wrong). Over 100 people once gathered on this island to await the end. See more here: Listen ad-free plus get early access and bonus episodes at: Buy Jeff Belanger's new book Wicked Strange New England on Amazon: Check out Jeff's new underground publication Shadow Zine! Listen to Ray's Local Raydio! /episode/index/show/newenglandlegends/id/40411450

FtV – The Ghost of Emily 03/09/2026

FtV – The Ghost of Emily Welcome to New England Legends From the Vault – FtV Episode 159 – Jeff Belanger and Ray Auger explore the campus of Marlboro College in Vermont in search of the ghost of Emily Mather. They say Emily committed suicide after the man she loved took his own life because her parents forbade their romance. This story of star-crossed lovers still haunts the small campus today with strange paranormal activity and a haunting tale that’s told to students each year. But is it true? This episode first aired July 25, 2019 Listen ad-free plus get early access and bonus episodes at: /episode/index/show/newenglandlegends/id/40326755

Frozen Charlotte 03/05/2026

Frozen Charlotte In Episode 436, Jeff Belanger and Ray Auger head to Benson, Vermont, to trace the origins of Frozen Charlotte dolls. The tiny dolls were popular in the latter half of the nineteenth century and exist because of a song, based on a poem, based on a news story, based on a tragic and creepy winter legend. See more here: Listen ad-free plus get early access and bonus episodes at: Buy Jeff Belanger's new book Wicked Strange New England on Amazon: Check out Jeff's new underground publication Shadow Zine! Listen to Ray's Local Raydio! /episode/index/show/newenglandlegends/id/40324785

FtV – Simeon Cary’s Gold-Hunting Chickens 03/02/2026

FtV – Simeon Cary’s Gold-Hunting Chickens Welcome to New England Legends From the Vault – FtV Episode 158 – Jeff Belanger and Ray Auger visit the border town of Fort Fairfield, Maine, in search of Simeon Cary’s gold-hunting chickens. In 1898, Cary was quietly using chickens to peck for gold just over the Canadian border. His technique was so strange, it made the news in July of 1899. This episode first aired August 8, 2019 Listen ad-free plus get early access and bonus episodes at: /episode/index/show/newenglandlegends/id/40241750

The Legendary Clock of Providence 02/26/2026

The Legendary Clock of Providence In Episode 435, Jeff Belanger and Ray Auger visit the legendary Ladd Observatory in Providence, Rhode Island, to explore its connection with a literary icon, possibly his ghost, and the method Providence used to keep time for 80 years. See more here: Listen ad-free plus get early access and bonus episodes at: Buy Jeff Belanger's new book Wicked Strange New England on Amazon: Check out Jeff's new underground publication Shadow Zine! Listen to Ray's Local Raydio! /episode/index/show/newenglandlegends/id/40240120

FtV - Hell’s Half Acre 02/23/2026

FtV - Hell’s Half Acre Welcome to New England Legends From the Vault – FtV Episode 157 – Jeff Belanger and Ray Auger are back with an all-new episode! The guys hike to the waterfalls of Bristol, Vermont, in search of Hell’s Half Acre, a place said to contain buried treasure guarded by the ghost of a little boy, and a ferocious Hell Hound. This episode first aired May 21, 2020 Listen ad-free plus get early access and bonus episodes at: /episode/index/show/newenglandlegends/id/40162390

The Ghost Witch of Maine 02/19/2026

The Ghost Witch of Maine In Episode 434, Jeff Belanger and Ray Auger explore the forests of Maine searching for the Skudakumooch, a cannibalistic ghost witch from Wabanaki legend. This dark and scary story endures through the ages where so many other legends have been lost. See more here: Listen ad-free plus get early access and bonus episodes at: Buy Jeff Belanger's new book Wicked Strange New England on Amazon: Check out Jeff's new underground publication Shadow Zine! Listen to Ray's Local Raydio! /episode/index/show/newenglandlegends/id/40162235

FtV – The Ghosts of Fort William Henry 02/16/2026

FtV – The Ghosts of Fort William Henry Welcome to New England Legends From the Vault – FtV Episode 156 – Jeff Belanger and Ray Auger explore the ruins of Fort William Henry near Pemaquid Beach, Maine, in search of a Native American ghost who dates back to the time of the King William’s War. A horrible atrocity took place on these grounds, and they’ve been haunted ever since. Though many people know about the haunting, many have misidentified the ghost here. This episode first aired June 27, 2019 Listen ad-free plus get early access and bonus episodes at: /episode/index/show/newenglandlegends/id/40087145

The Wood Devils of Coös County 02/12/2026

The Wood Devils of Coös County In Episode 433, Jeff Belanger and Ray Auger hike deep into the woods of Coös County, New Hampshire, searching for an eight-foot-tall, shaggy, grey-haired creature locals call: the wood devil. The stories have circulated throughout the 1900s. Could these creatures still be out there? See more here: Listen ad-free plus get early access and bonus episodes at: Get your tickets to our 2026 Freak Formal, February 14, 2026, at the DoubleTree Hotel in Milford, Massachusetts, to benefit Project Just Because! Tickets here: Buy Jeff Belanger's new book Wicked Strange New England on Amazon: Check out Jeff's new underground publication Shadow Zine! Listen to Ray's Local Raydio! /episode/index/show/newenglandlegends/id/40085670

FtV – Mercy Brown: The Rhode Island Vampire 02/09/2026

FtV – Mercy Brown: The Rhode Island Vampire Welcome to New England Legends From the Vault – FtV Episode 155 – Jeff Belanger and Ray Auger visit Chestnut Hill Cemetery in Exeter, Rhode Island, in search of the mortal remains of Mercy Brown. Mercy died of Consumption on January 17, 1892. Three months later, her father had her heart and liver removed from her corpse so he could burn them to ashes and feed those ashes to his dying son. Why? Because some suspected Mercy was a vampire. This episode first aired March 28, 2019 Listen ad-free plus get early access and bonus episodes at: /episode/index/show/newenglandlegends/id/40005675

Worcester’s Christmas UFO 02/05/2026

Worcester’s Christmas UFO In Episode 432, Jeff Belanger and Ray Auger stroll the streets of downtown Worcester, Massachusetts, to see the epicenter of a profound UFO sighting that took place just before the Christmas holiday of 1909. A strange light circled the city and was witnessed by thousands. What could this strange craft have been? See more here: Listen ad-free plus get early access and bonus episodes at: Get your tickets to our 2026 Freak Formal, February 14, 2026, at the DoubleTree Hotel in Milford, Massachusetts, to benefit Project Just Because! Tickets here: Buy Jeff Belanger's new book Wicked Strange New England on Amazon: Check out Jeff's new underground publication Shadow Zine! Listen to Ray's Local Raydio! /episode/index/show/newenglandlegends/id/40005280

FtV – The Man-Eating Apple Tree 02/02/2026

FtV – The Man-Eating Apple Tree Welcome to New England Legends From the Vault – FtV Episode 154 – Jeff Belanger and Ray Auger dig through the history of Providence, Rhode Island, in search of the roots of the story behind a man-eating apple tree that devoured state founder Roger Williams. In 1860, Rhode Island historians exhumed the body of Williams and made a gruesome discovery. This episode first aired September 12, 2019 Listen ad-free plus get early access and bonus episodes at: /episode/index/show/newenglandlegends/id/39921810

The Talcott Mountain Robot 01/29/2026

The Talcott Mountain Robot In Episode 431, Jeff Belanger and Ray Auger drive along Route 44 in Avon, Connecticut, searching for the Talcott Mountain Robot. In 1967, a robot or spaceman was seen late one night moving awkwardly and trying to get the attention of passing cars. The police received multiple calls on the sightings. Was it a prank? A spaceman? A real robot? See more here: Listen ad-free plus get early access and bonus episodes at: Get your tickets to our 2026 Freak Formal, February 14, 2026, at the DoubleTree Hotel in Milford, Massachusetts, to benefit Project Just Because! Tickets here: Buy Jeff Belanger's new book Wicked Strange New England on Amazon: Check out Jeff's new underground publication Shadow Zine! Listen to Ray's Local Raydio! /episode/index/show/newenglandlegends/id/39921585

FtV – The Black Dog of Hubbard Park 01/26/2026

FtV – The Black Dog of Hubbard Park Welcome to New England Legends From the Vault – FtV Episode 152 – Jeff Belanger and Ray Auger climb the cliffs over Hubbard Park in Meriden, Connecticut, in search of a mysterious black dog. They say if you see this mutt once, you’ll find joy, see him twice and you’ll find sorrow, but if you see him three times it means your death. Could this dog be connected to a different Connecticut legend? This episode first aired November 21, 2019 Listen ad-free plus get early access and bonus episodes at: /episode/index/show/newenglandlegends/id/39824920

The Haunting of the Equinox 01/22/2026

The Haunting of the Equinox In Episode 430, Jeff Belanger and Ray Auger check out the ghosts of the historic Equinox Hotel in Manchester, Vermont. The earliest structure called the Marsh Tavern opened here in 1769. It’s been some kind of inn and hotel ever since. U.S. Presidents have stayed here, as have other notable guests, including First lady Mary Todd Lincoln… some believe her spirit is still here. But she’s not the only one. A former owner met a tragic end on these grounds. See more here: Listen ad-free plus get early access and bonus episodes at: Get your tickets to our 2026 Freak Formal, February 14, 2026, at the DoubleTree Hotel in Milford, Massachusetts, to benefit Project Just Because! Tickets here: Buy Jeff Belanger's new book Wicked Strange New England on Amazon: Check out Jeff's new underground publication Shadow Zine! Listen to Ray's Local Raydio! /episode/index/show/newenglandlegends/id/39824220

FtV – Radioactive Breakfast at the Fernald School 01/19/2026

FtV – Radioactive Breakfast at the Fernald School Welcome to New England Legends From the Vault – FtV Episode 152 – Jeff Belanger and Ray Auger drive to the grounds of the old Fernald School in Waltham, Massachusetts, just in time for a radioactive bowl of Quaker Oatmeal. This is a facility with secrets. Back in the late 1940s a series of experiments was conducted on 74 boys between the ages of 10 and 17 to determine the nutritional effectiveness of oatmeal. The boys had no idea they were human guinea pigs until a declassified document shed light into the dark corners of the Fernald School. This episode first aired July 30, 2020 Listen ad-free plus get early access and bonus episodes at: /episode/index/show/newenglandlegends/id/39741605

The Haunted Kent County Jail 01/15/2026

The Haunted Kent County Jail In Episode 429, Jeff Belanger and Ray Auger explore the former Kent County Jail building in East Greenwich, Rhode Island. Built in 1795, this jail has seen countless people come and go through the legal system, from drunks and debtors to murderers. Some of those spirits may have never left their jail cells. See more here: Listen ad-free plus get early access and bonus episodes at: Get your tickets to our 2026 Freak Formal, February 14, 2026, at the DoubleTree Hotel in Milford, Massachusetts, to benefit Project Just Because! Tickets here: Buy Jeff Belanger's new book Wicked Strange New England on Amazon: Check out Jeff's new underground publication Shadow Zine! Listen to Ray's Local Raydio! /episode/index/show/newenglandlegends/id/39740560

FtV - The Gravelly Point Pirates 01/12/2026

FtV - The Gravelly Point Pirates Welcome to New England Legends From the Vault – FtV Episode 151 – Jeff Belanger and Ray Auger stroll the grounds around Newport Harbor Lighthouse in Rhode Island, because it’s here that 26 men are buried somewhere below the picturesque lighthouse. This was the site of New England’s largest state sanctioned mass execution. This is the tale of pirates on the high seas! This episode first aired June 11, 2020 Listen ad-free plus get early access and bonus episodes at: /episode/index/show/newenglandlegends/id/39659300

Maine’s Outlaw Mummy 01/08/2026

Maine’s Outlaw Mummy In Episode 428, Jeff Belanger and Ray Auger travel to Washington, Maine, to see where outlaw Elmer J. McCurdy got his start on January 1, 1880. The troubled youth became a drifter, made his way out to the heartland of America, then turned to an unsuccessful life of crime. After his death, and no one claiming his body, his embalmed and mummified corpse began to tour with carnivals. He was passed around for decades until folks didn’t even know he was ever a living human being. See more here: Listen ad-free plus get early access and bonus episodes at: Get your tickets to our 2026 Freak Formal, February 14, 2026, at the Double Tree Hotel in Milford, Massachusetts, to benefit Project Just Because! Tickets here: Buy Jeff Belanger's new book Wicked Strange New England on Amazon: Check out Jeff's new underground publication Shadow Zine! Listen to Ray's Local Raydio! /episode/index/show/newenglandlegends/id/39658035

FtV - The Moaning Bones of Mt. Tom 01/05/2026

FtV - The Moaning Bones of Mt. Tom Welcome to New England Legends From the Vault – FtV Episode 150 – Jeff Belanger and Ray Auger head to Arcadia, Rhode Island, in search of moaning bones — the ghostly cries of a peddler murdered long ago. While in town, we learn about a second, and eerily similar story coming from the region of Molasses Hill on Mt. Tome. Could these stories be one in the same? This episode first aired May 9, 2019 Listen ad-free plus get early access and bonus episodes at: /episode/index/show/newenglandlegends/id/39469425

FtV - Bangor Library’s Death Couch 01/01/2026

FtV - Bangor Library’s Death Couch Welcome to New England Legends From the Vault – FtV Episode 149 – Jeff Belanger and Ray Auger explore the Bangor Public Library in Maine, in search of a couch where former Vice President Hannibal Hamlin drew his last breath. The couch has become a macabre attraction in the library due to its connection with presidential royalty… but you can’t sit on it! What happened? And how did it get here? This episode first aired October 6, 2022 Listen ad-free plus get early access and bonus episodes at: /episode/index/show/newenglandlegends/id/39469335

FtV - Becky’s Mysterious Garden 12/29/2025

FtV - Becky’s Mysterious Garden Welcome to New England Legends From the Vault – FtV Episode 148 – Jeff Belanger and Ray Auger row out to a tiny island called Becky’s Garden on Lake Winnipesaukee to explore the fairy tale legend behind this rock and little house. It’s the smallest island on the lake, it’s been on the map since 1885, and the story behind it sounds all too familiar. This episode first aired February 20, 2020 Listen ad-free plus get early access and bonus episodes at: /episode/index/show/newenglandlegends/id/39469215

FtV - Boston’s Christmas Tree 12/25/2025

FtV - Boston’s Christmas Tree Welcome to New England Legends From the Vault – FtV Episode 147 – Jeff Belanger and Ray Auger stroll Boston Common to see this year’s Christmas tree. The tree is an annual gift from the people of Halifax, Nova Scotia – a gift that traces its roots back to a horrible tragedy that took place December 6, 1917, when a French ship carrying munitions exploded, instantly killing hundreds of people, and injuring thousands more. Out of this dark day came a bright light of hope when neighbors reached out to help neighbors. This episode first aired December 24, 2020 Listen ad-free plus get early access and bonus episodes at: https://www.patreon.com/NewEnglandLegends /episode/index/show/newenglandlegends/id/39469095

FtV – America’s First Christmas Card 12/22/2025

FtV – America’s First Christmas Card Welcome to New England Legends From the Vault – FtV Episode 145 – Jeff Belanger and Ray Auger head to the Roxbury section of Boston, Massachusetts, searching for the factory that produced America’s first Christmas cards. Back in 1875, Louis Prang took a chance that Americans might want to send Christmas cards like they do in Europe. His risk paid off. Within a few years 5 million cards per year were leaving his Roxbury factory, and sending holiday cards became an institution. Jeff and Ray wish you the happiest of holidays! This episode first aired December 22, 2022 Listen ad-free plus get early access and bonus episodes at: /episode/index/show/newenglandlegends/id/39468970

The Phantom Coach: A Holiday Ghost Story 12/18/2025

The Phantom Coach: A Holiday Ghost Story In Episode 427, our holiday special, Jeff Belanger and Ray Auger take the classic Victorian Christmas ghost story “The Phantom Coach” by Amelia Edwards, and turn it into an audio drama. Actor Michael Legge joins us to spin this spooky holiday tale. Music by John Judd. See more here: Listen ad-free plus get early access and bonus episodes at: Buy Jeff Belanger's new book Wicked Strange New England on Amazon: Check out Jeff's new underground publication Shadow Zine! Listen to Ray's Local Raydio! /episode/index/show/newenglandlegends/id/39453430

FtV - The Wreck of the Cursed Isidore 12/15/2025

FtV - The Wreck of the Cursed Isidore Welcome to New England Legends From the Vault – FtV Episode 145 – Jeff Belanger and Ray Auger sail the shores of southern Maine from Kennebunkport to York, searching for the ghost ship Isidore. They say the Isidore was cursed from the start, which is why she wrecked on her maiden voyage November 30, 1842. Had the captain and crew heeded their premonitions, maybe 16 lives could have been spared. The story of this tragedy may have been lost if not for a song and book by Maine troubadour Harvey Reid, who joins Jeff and Ray on this episode. This episode first aired December 16, 2021 Listen ad-free plus get early access and bonus episodes at: /episode/index/show/newenglandlegends/id/39382685

The Wakefield UFO Mystery 12/11/2025

The Wakefield UFO Mystery In Episode 426 Jeff Belanger and Ray Auger visit a pond near a rural farm in Wakefield, New Hampshire. Back in January of 1977 a local farmer found a three-foot circle cut through the thick ice of his small pond. At the bottom of the shallow pond, he saw a strange black cube. He called the police and set off an investigation that led to radioactive readings, the National Guard getting involved, and a mystery that persists to this day. See more here: Listen ad-free plus get early access and bonus episodes at: Buy Jeff Belanger's new book Wicked Strange New England on Amazon: Check out Jeff's new underground publication Shadow Zine! Listen to Ray's Local Raydio! /episode/index/show/newenglandlegends/id/39367065

FtV - Boston’s Psychic Sleuth 12/08/2025

FtV - Boston’s Psychic Sleuth Welcome to New England Legends From the Vault – FtV Episode 144 – Jeff Belanger and Ray Auger start their adventure in Milford, Massachusetts, looking for a local farm boy who went missing in February of 1846. Then they head to Boston where a break in the case came two years later when a psychic medium gave the family the whereabouts of the boy’s body. According to the newspaper reports, her insight unraveled the entire case of the boy’s mysterious murder. This episode first aired January 2, 2020 Listen ad-free plus get early access and bonus episodes at: /episode/index/show/newenglandlegends/id/39296160

New England Legends

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