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!

People in Glass Houses... 01/09/2025

People in Glass Houses... In Episode 378 Jeff Belanger and Ray Auger head to New Canaan, Connecticut, to see an architectural masterpiece called the Glass House. Designed and built by Philip Johnson in 1949, the Glass House sits on a 49-acre compound and its design will make you ask: where is the bathroom? See more here: Listen ad-free plus get early access and bonus episodes at: /episode/index/show/newenglandlegends/id/34785640

FtV – Archer’s Pond Curse 01/06/2025

FtV – Archer’s Pond Curse Welcome to New England Legends From the Vault – FtV Episode 96 – Jeff Belanger and Ray Auger head over the area surrounding Archer’s Pond and Polly’s Crossing in Ossipee, New Hampshire, in search of ghosts, curses, plagues, and the story behind an alleged mass murder. So many legends swirl around this place that it’s tough to know where to begin, but after searching news archives and town records, we find there’s something to all of the stories. This episode first aired October 11, 2018 Listen ad-free plus get early access and bonus episodes at: /episode/index/show/newenglandlegends/id/34552485

FtV - The Ghost of Elsie 01/02/2025

FtV - The Ghost of Elsie Welcome to New England Legends From the Vault – FtV Episode 95 – Jeff Belanger and Ray Auger park alongside Evergreen Cemetery on Route 67 in New Braintree, Massachusetts, in search of the ghost of Elsie. On April 18th each year her spirit is said to rise from her grave and wander by the stone wall next to the cemetery. She’s said to be the spirit of a bride who was murdered on her wedding day by a jealous groom. But what do we really know about Elsie? We investigate and learn there’s more to this ghost than just a story. This episode first aired April 19, 2018 Listen ad-free plus get early access and bonus episodes at: /episode/index/show/newenglandlegends/id/34549680

FtV – Gardner Lake’s Phantom Piano 12/30/2024

FtV – Gardner Lake’s Phantom Piano Welcome to New England Legends From the Vault – FtV Episode 94 – Jeff Belanger and Ray Auger visit Gardner Lake in Salem, Connecticut, on a quest to find the source of phantom piano music that’s said to emanate from the lake itself. What happened on this lake back in 1895? This episode first aired November 30, 2017. Listen ad-free plus get early access and bonus episodes at: /episode/index/show/newenglandlegends/id/34552380

FtV - The Rod Men of Middletown 12/26/2024

FtV - The Rod Men of Middletown Welcome to New England Legends From the Vault – FtV Episode 93 – Jeff Belanger and Ray Auger try their hands at dowsing rods in Middletown, Vermont. Back in 1801 an end-of-the-world event took place here… or rather, DIDN’T take place here that inspired a boy to take up dowsing, and later to start a religion that today boasts millions of members worldwide. Could it all have begun with dowsing or divining rods? This episode first aired June 28, 2018 Listen ad-free plus get early access and bonus episodes at: /episode/index/show/newenglandlegends/id/34548285

FtV - The Jingle Bells Scandal 12/23/2024

FtV - The Jingle Bells Scandal Welcome to New England Legends From the Vault – FtV Episode 92 – Jeff Belanger and Ray Auger explore the controversial roots of the song “Jingle Bells,” and its connection to Medford and Boston, Massachusetts. Is it just an innocent Christmas carol about a ride in the snow, or is it a circa 1850 song about a booty call? You’ll never hear this tune the same after this! Kelley Cocuzzo McCauley joins us on piano. This episode first aired December 21, 2017 Listen ad-free plus get early access and bonus episodes at: /episode/index/show/newenglandlegends/id/34529555

Christmas Made in New England 12/19/2024

Christmas Made in New England In Episode 377 Jeff Belanger and Ray Auger spend the Christmas holiday unwrapping some iconic toys invented and manufactured right here in New England. Some may surprise you! Your buddies Jeff and Ray wish you and yours a great holiday and happy New Year! We’ll see you back with all new episodes in January. See more here: Listen ad-free plus get early access and bonus episodes at: Listen to RAYdio: See Jeff Belanger's The Fright Before Christmas LIVE and In-Person: Dec. 22, 2024 - 7:30PM - Shea Theater Arts Center, 71 Avenue A, Turners Falls, Massachusetts Tel: 413-648-SHEA Tickets: /episode/index/show/newenglandlegends/id/34529435

FtV – A Hermit Named Coffin in the Desert of Maine 12/16/2024

FtV – A Hermit Named Coffin in the Desert of Maine Welcome to New England Legends From the Vault – FtV Episode 91 – Jeff Belanger and Ray Auger head to Freeport to explore the Desert of Maine. While there, they search for a man named Coffin, the Hermit of Maine, who lived nearby and charged tourists 15 cents to look inside his shack. How did a desert appear in Maine? And who was this hermit? This episode first aired November 4, 2021 Listen ad-free plus get early access and bonus episodes at: /episode/index/show/newenglandlegends/id/34410985

Haunting the Ladd School 12/12/2024

Haunting the Ladd School In Episode 376 Jeff Belanger and Ray Auger investigate Exeter, Rhode Island, to see the former site of the Ladd School. Built in 1908, the former Rhode Island School for the Feeble-Minded has a dark history of neglect, patient abuse, and even murder. We explore the disappearance of a nine-year-old boy in-depth. Though the buildings are all gone now, history has left behind a stain that can never be washed away. See more here: Listen ad-free plus get early access and bonus episodes at: Listen to RAYdio: See Jeff Belanger's LIVE and In-Person: Dec. 22, 2024 - 7:30PM - Shea Theater Arts Center, 71 Avenue A, Turners Falls, Massachusetts Tel: 413-648-SHEA Tickets: /episode/index/show/newenglandlegends/id/34410580

FtV – The Druid’s Chair and Witch’s Altar 12/09/2024

FtV – The Druid’s Chair and Witch’s Altar Welcome to New England Legends From the Vault – FtV Episode 90 – Jeff Belanger and Ray Auger explore the woods of Narragansett, Rhode Island, in search of a strange configuration of stone monuments locals call the Druid’s chair and Witch’s Altar. In the 1880s, these monuments and the house across the street were built by eccentric Spiritualist Joseph Peace Hazard. Though Hazard built these structures, he would tell you the design was dictated by spirits, but for what purpose? He never knew. This episode first aired March 25, 2021 Listen ad-free plus get early access and bonus episodes at: /episode/index/show/newenglandlegends/id/34301800

A Ghostly Cry for Justice in Dixmont 12/05/2024

A Ghostly Cry for Justice in Dixmont In Episode 375 Jeff Belanger and Ray Auger investigate a haunted home in Dixmont, Maine, that made the news back in 1905 because a ghost—believed to be the spirit of a murdered peddler from decades earlier—was stirring up activity throughout the house. Dozens of locals witnessed the unexplained phenomena that attracted the attention of the press. See more here: Listen ad-free plus get early access and bonus episodes at: Listen to RAYdio: See Jeff Belanger's The Fright Before Christmas LIVE and In-Person: Dec. 7, 2024 - 7PM - The Singh Performance Center, 60 Douglas Rd, Whitinsville, Massachusetts Tel: (508) 234-6232 Tickets: Dec. 12, 2024 - 6:30PM - Cobblestone Arts Center, 1622 Route 332 Farmington, New York Tel: (585) 398-0220 Tickets: Dec. 22, 2024 - 7:30PM - Shea Theater Arts Center, 71 Avenue A, Turners Falls, Massachusetts Tel: 413-648-SHEA Tickets: /episode/index/show/newenglandlegends/id/34301225

FtV – The Vampire of Cumberland 12/02/2024

FtV – The Vampire of Cumberland Welcome to New England Legends From the Vault – FtV Episode 89 – Jeff Belanger and Ray Auger search for a vampire buried in a tiny family cemetery in Cumberland, Rhode Island. In February of 1796, the father of Abigail Staples petitioned the town to exhume her body and perform some experiments in an effort to save his other daughter, Lavinia who was dying from consumption. Some believed if Abigail was indeed a vampire, perhaps they could break the spell to save Lavinia. This episode first aired February 6, 2020 Listen ad-free plus get early access and bonus episodes at: /episode/index/show/newenglandlegends/id/34184025

A Weird New England Thanksgiving Feast 11/28/2024

A Weird New England Thanksgiving Feast In Episode 374 Jeff Belanger and Ray Auger sit down to a weird Thanksgiving feast New England style! We celebrate some of the food and beverage products that are synonymous with the northeastern United States. We’re grateful to spend time with you each week -- think of this as our own Friendsgiving. See more here: Listen ad-free plus get early access and bonus episodes at: See Jeff Belanger's The Fright Before Christmas LIVE and In-Person: Dec. 7, 2024 - 7PM - The Singh Performance Center, 60 Douglas Rd, Whitinsville, Massachusetts Tel: (508) 234-6232 Tickets: Dec. 12, 2024 - 6:30PM - Cobblestone Arts Center, 1622 Route 332 Farmington, New York Tel: (585) 398-0220 Tickets: Dec. 22, 2024 - 7:30PM - Shea Theater Arts Center, 71 Avenue A, Turners Falls, Massachusetts Tel: 413-648-SHEA Tickets: /episode/index/show/newenglandlegends/id/34183115

FtV – The Stone Throwing Devil 11/25/2024

FtV – The Stone Throwing Devil Welcome to New England Legends From the Vault – FtV Episode 88 – Jeff Belanger and Ray Auger head to New Castle, New Hampshire, in search of a stone-throwing devil that plagued the home of George Walton for three months back in 1682 according to multiple eye-witnesses. Rocks were tossed, as were pots, pans, and hammers. Windows were broken, and passers-by were pelted with stones. It nearly drove Walton mad. This episode first aired June 25, 2020 Listen ad-free plus get early access and bonus episodes at: /episode/index/show/newenglandlegends/id/34038761

New Hampshire’s First Execution 11/21/2024

New Hampshire’s First Execution In Episode 373 Jeff Belanger and Ray Auger explore a neighborhood in Concord, New Hampshire, to see what’s left of the original New Hampshire State Prison. It was on these grounds that Josiah Pike became the first person executed by the state for a capital crime. We’ll explore the heinous crime that led to his execution. See more here: Listen ad-free plus get early access and bonus episodes at: /episode/index/show/newenglandlegends/id/34038376

FtV – Revere’s Ghostly Pirate 11/18/2024

FtV – Revere’s Ghostly Pirate Welcome to New England Legends From the Vault – FtV Episode 87 – Jeff Belanger and Ray Auger head to the Point of Pines section of Revere, Massachusetts, in search of buried treasure guarded by a ghostly pirate and his horse. In the 1690s, local Native American leader David Kunkshamooshaw used his witch hazel divining rod to locate a buried pirate treasure near the shore, but what happened next frightened him and his treasure-hunting crew to their core. Some say that treasure is still out there. This episode first aired September 26, 2019 Listen ad-free plus get early access and bonus episodes at: /episode/index/show/newenglandlegends/id/33927957

The Hermit of Erving Castle 11/14/2024

The Hermit of Erving Castle In Episode 372 Jeff Belanger and Ray Auger hike the woods of Erving, Massachusetts, searching for the former “castle” of the hermit John Smith who lived in a cave in the woods for more than 30 years in the latter half of the 1800s. Two books were published that included his writing and remarkable story. See more here: The limited-edition 2025 Haunted New England calendar by Jeff Belanger and Frank Grace is on sale now! You can buy it online here: Listen ad-free plus get early access and bonus episodes at: /episode/index/show/newenglandlegends/id/33927562

FtV – Midnight Mary in Evergreen Cemetery 11/11/2024

FtV – Midnight Mary in Evergreen Cemetery Welcome to New England Legends From the Vault – FtV Episode 86 – Jeff Belanger and Ray Auger explore Evergreen Cemetery in New Haven, Connecticut, in search of the haunted headstone of Midnight Mary. Mary E. Hart died at midnight on October 15, 1872, and her headstone and epitaph have stood behind various legends about being buried alive, a curse, and her wandering ghost being seen on nearby Winthrop Avenue. This episode first aired November 11, 2021. Listen ad-free plus get early access and bonus episodes at: /episode/index/show/newenglandlegends/id/33828962

A Snob’s Mausoleum 11/07/2024

A Snob’s Mausoleum In Episode 371 Jeff Belanger and Ray Auger explore a grave in the woods of West Windsor, Vermont. In 1934, Vermont’s eccentric and snobby poet laureate Daniel Cady built his tomb on a hill so the world would forever have to look up at him. He made his money the old-fashioned way. He married rich. See more here: The limited-edition 2025 Haunted New England calendar by Jeff Belanger and Frank Grace is on sale now! You can buy it online here: Listen ad-free plus get early access and bonus episodes at: /episode/index/show/newenglandlegends/id/33828532

FtV – Halloween at the Lizzie Borden House 11/04/2024

FtV – Halloween at the Lizzie Borden House Welcome to New England Legends From the Vault – FtV Episode 85 – Jeff Belanger and Ray Auger go trick-or-treating at the haunted Lizzie Borden House and Museum in Fall River, Massachusetts. In this Halloween special, we explore the infamous case from August 4, 1892, and the haunt the double-murder left behind. We walk room-by-room with tour guide Sue as we take in the house, examine crime scene photos, and sit where Andrew Borden’s skull was crushed in while he napped. Happy Halloween! This episode first aired October 29, 2020 Listen ad-free plus get early access and bonus episodes at: /episode/index/show/newenglandlegends/id/33703227

Halloween Drama: The Vengeful Corpse 10/31/2024

Halloween Drama: The Vengeful Corpse Episode 370: for Halloween we spin the tale of an old Inner Sanctum radio drama. It’s the story of a ghostly, murderous witch who returns from the grave to seek revenge on the descendants of her accusers. Special thanks to our voice actors: Tim Ellis, Carolyn Chaplin, Michael Legge, Dean Calusdian, Jay Pillarella, Jeff Belanger, and Ray Auger. See more here: The limited-edition 2025 Haunted New England calendar by Jeff Belanger and Frank Grace is on sale now! You can buy it online here: Listen ad-free plus get early access and bonus episodes at: /episode/index/show/newenglandlegends/id/33702392

FtV – The Pigman of Northfield 10/28/2024

FtV – The Pigman of Northfield Welcome to New England Legends From the Vault – FtV Episode 84 – Jeff Belanger and Ray Auger drive up to Northfield, Vermont, with a bucket of slop in search of the infamous Pigman. In 1971, a naked man with the head of a pig terrorized the small town of Northfield in the area of the Devil’s Washbowl. Multiple witnesses were rattled by a vision they can’t explain, and one claims he was attacked. Could this mysterious man… or creature still be lurking in the woods of Northfield? This episode first aired March 21, 2019 Listen ad-free plus get early access and bonus episodes at: /episode/index/show/newenglandlegends/id/33596952

The Essex Ghost with a Nose for Beer 10/24/2024

The Essex Ghost with a Nose for Beer In Episode 369 Jeff Belanger and Ray Auger investigate a haunt from 1915 in Essex, Connecticut. Strange knocks on the wall got a lot of newspaper coverage, but the strangest part of the story was this ghost knew where to find beer! This is our kind of haunt! See more here: The limited-edition 2025 Haunted New England calendar by Jeff Belanger and Frank Grace is on sale now! You can buy it online here: Listen ad-free plus get early access and bonus episodes at: /episode/index/show/newenglandlegends/id/33596647

FtV - Two Legends of Matinicus Rock Lighthouse 10/21/2024

FtV - Two Legends of Matinicus Rock Lighthouse Welcome to New England Legends From the Vault – FtV Episode 83 – Jeff Belanger and Ray Auger sail out to Matinicus Rock Lighthouse off the coast of Maine in search of two legends. For years, lighthouse keepers and coast guard staff claimed the facility was haunted. But this facility is also the former home of a hero — Abbie Burgess — a young girl who, in 1856 saved her family from a brutal storm, and saved countless sailors and ships during some of the roughest seas this tiny island had ever endured. Could these two legends be more intertwined than previously thought? This episode first aired September 20, 2018 Listen ad-free plus get early access and bonus episodes at: /episode/index/show/newenglandlegends/id/33498622

The Haunted Fleur de Lys 10/17/2024

The Haunted Fleur de Lys In Episode 368 Jeff Belanger and Ray Auger explore the haunted Fleur de Lys building in Providence, Rhode Island. Built in 1885 by artist Sydney Richmond Burleigh, the building has always served as a studio for area artists. In 1921, Burleigh’s protégé took her own life inside the building. There were rumors of an affair, and that her ghost has haunted the building ever since. See more here: The limited-edition 2025 Haunted New England calendar by Jeff Belanger and Frank Grace is on sale now! You can buy it online here: Listen ad-free plus get early access and bonus episodes at: /episode/index/show/newenglandlegends/id/33498067

FtV - Narragansett Rune Stone 10/14/2024

FtV - Narragansett Rune Stone Welcome to New England Legends From the Vault – FtV Episode 82 – Jeff Belanger and Ray Auger walk the shores of Narragansett Bay in Rhode Island searching for the ancient mystery of the Narragansett Rune Stone. This enigmatic rock may hold the key to European contact centuries before Christopher Columbus ever buckled his first shoe. Others claim this rock isn’t what it seems. Still, it recently became the most famous rock in Rhode Island! This episode first aired September 6, 2018 Listen ad-free plus get early access and bonus episodes at: /episode/index/show/newenglandlegends/id/33404637

Ghost Camp 10/10/2024

Ghost Camp In Episode 367 Jeff Belanger and Ray Auger investigate Camp Etna in Maine. This Spiritualist camp has been around since 1876. It’s a place for mediums and psychics to offer readings to the public, to commune with each other, and connect to spirits. See more here: The limited-edition 2025 Haunted New England calendar by Jeff Belanger and Frank Grace is on sale now! You can buy it online here: Listen ad-free plus get early access and bonus episodes at: /episode/index/show/newenglandlegends/id/33403837

FtV – The Old Coot of Bellow Pipe Trail 10/07/2024

FtV – The Old Coot of Bellow Pipe Trail Welcome to New England Legends From the Vault – FtV Episode 81 – Jeff Belanger and Ray Auger hike Mt. Greylock near Adams, Massachusetts, in search of the ghost of the Old Coot–a Civil War-era relic who came home after the war battered and broken to learn that life had gone on without him. According to an intriguing newspaper photograph from 1939, and even modern-day eyewitness accounts, the Old Coot may still be out there in the shadows of the old Thunderbolt ski trail. But who was the Old Coot in life? Is he alone? This episode first aired January 31, 2019 Listen ad-free plus get early access and bonus episodes at: /episode/index/show/newenglandlegends/id/33314232

A Charlestown Bank Heist Gone Wrong 10/03/2024

A Charlestown Bank Heist Gone Wrong In Episode 366 Jeff Belanger and Ray Auger head to Charlestown, New Hampshire, to witness the 1850 robbery of the Connecticut River Bank. The bandits made off with all of the money in the vault, but somehow lost it a few hours later. The crime of the year was downright weird. See more here: The limited-edition 2025 Haunted New England calendar by Jeff Belanger and Frank Grace is on sale now! You can buy it online here: Listen ad-free plus get early access and bonus episodes at: /episode/index/show/newenglandlegends/id/33312992

FtV - Vermont’s Psychic Eddy Brothers 09/30/2024

FtV - Vermont’s Psychic Eddy Brothers Welcome to New England Legends From the Vault – FtV Episode 80 – Jeff Belanger and Ray Auger drive up to the Highlife Ski Club Building in Chittenden, Vermont, to a place once called the “Spirit Capital of the Universe.” This building was the home of William and Horatio Eddy. These brothers were once one of the biggest names in psychic mediums in New England. We investigate their story and legends and ponder the big questions of life after death and spirit communication. Were the Eddy Brothers the real deal? Many thought they were. This episode first aired February 7, 2019 Listen ad-free plus get early access and bonus episodes at: /episode/index/show/newenglandlegends/id/33217057

New England Legends

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