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!

Thatcher’s Woe 03/06/2025

Thatcher’s Woe In Episode 386 Jeff Belanger and Ray Auger row out to Thatcher’s Island off the coast of Rockport, Massachusetts, to find the site of a horrific maritime tragedy that took place in August of 1635 during the Great New England Hurricane. 23 passengers and crew were sailing aboard the Watch and Wait when the storm hit. There were two large families on board. Of the 23, only two people survived. See more here: Listen ad-free plus get early access and bonus episodes at: Check out Jeff's new underground publication Shadow Zine! Listen to Ray's Local Raydio! /episode/index/show/newenglandlegends/id/35558045

FtV - Gov. Wentworth’s Missing Treasure 03/03/2025

FtV - Gov. Wentworth’s Missing Treasure Welcome to New England Legends From the Vault – FtV Episode 104 – Jeff Belanger and Ray Auger search for Governor John Wentworth’s missing treasure in Wolfeboro, New Hampshire. In 1775, with the American Revolution about to come to a boil, British Governor Wentworth is forced to flee his mansion with his family, his servants, and chests of gold and silver. On his way to Portsmouth, the governor is forced to lighten his load, so they say he buried his riches intending to come back for them after England squashes the American rebellion. Gov. Wentworth never set foot in New Hampshire again. Could the treasure still be out there? This episode first aired November 18, 2021 Listen ad-free plus get early access and bonus episodes at: /episode/index/show/newenglandlegends/id/35436775

The Ruin of Greenbank’s Hollow 02/27/2025

The Ruin of Greenbank’s Hollow In Episode 385 Jeff Belanger and Ray Auger explore the ruin of Greenbank’s Hollow in Danville, Vermont. Though today the site is a collection of cellar holes and foundations, at one point this was a bustling community with a massive woolen mill at its center. Greenbank arrived in 1849 and built the business up until a tragedy took everyone’s livelihood away leaving behind a ghost town. See more here: Listen ad-free plus get early access and bonus episodes at: Check out Jeff's new underground publication Shadow Zine! /episode/index/show/newenglandlegends/id/35436440

FtV – Hunting Glastonbury’s Glawackus 02/24/2025

FtV – Hunting Glastonbury’s Glawackus Welcome to New England Legends From the Vault – FtV Episode 103 – Jeff Belanger and Ray Auger drive around Glastonbury, Connecticut, in search of the Glawackus — a creature witnessed by hundreds of people back in 1939. Farm animals go missing, pets are killed, and hunters take up rifles in search of this strange beast. Then the media gets involved and the rest is legendary history. We see the maps of sightings, hear from the witnesses, and explore how the Glastonbury community embraces the weird! This episode first aired July 18, 2019 Listen ad-free plus get early access and bonus episodes at: https://www.patreon.com/NewEnglandLegends /episode/index/show/newenglandlegends/id/35340780

Lady Fenwick’s Restless Spirit 02/20/2025

Lady Fenwick’s Restless Spirit In Episode 384 Jeff Belanger and Ray Auger search for an ancient ghost haunting Saybrook Point in Connecticut. Today there’s a park that holds the remains of an old railroad roundhouse that was haunted by a ghost that threw objects and men around one spooky night. The event made the newspapers. Locals had a prime suspect, the spirit of a woman who was once buried nearby. See more here: Check out Jeff's new underground publication Shadow Zine! Zombie Prom 2025: Listen ad-free plus get early access and bonus episodes at: /episode/index/show/newenglandlegends/id/35339970

FtV – The Devil Made Me Do It 02/17/2025

FtV – The Devil Made Me Do It Welcome to New England Legends From the Vault – FtV Episode 102 – Jeff Belanger and Ray Auger explore Brookfield, Connecticut, to examine the infamous 1981 “Devil Made Me Do It Case” involving Arne Johnson, his girlfriend, Debbie Glatzel, and famed paranormal investigators Ed and Lorraine Warren. After Debbie’s youngest brother went through a demonic possession and a series of exorcisms, all was quiet until a fateful day in February when a man was murdered. Arne Johnson was found guilty of manslaughter, but to this day he insists he was not operating under his own power at the time. Hear the real story behind the new Conjuring 3 movie! This episode first aired July 8, 2021 Listen ad-free plus get early access and bonus episodes at: /episode/index/show/newenglandlegends/id/35270520

Newport’s Mystery Tower 02/13/2025

Newport’s Mystery Tower In Episode 383 Jeff Belanger and Ray Auger investigate an ancient stone tower in the heart of Newport, Rhode Island. Some suggest the tower was once an early colonial windmill, others believe maybe it was built by Vikings centuries before Columbus, or maybe it served a more esoteric function as both a solar calendar, or maybe even an ancient camera obscura. See more here: Check out Jeff's new underground publication Shadow Zine! Zombie Prom 2025: Listen ad-free plus get early access and bonus episodes at: /episode/index/show/newenglandlegends/id/35269930

FtV - The Haunted Homestead of Daniel Benton 02/10/2025

FtV - The Haunted Homestead of Daniel Benton Welcome to New England Legends From the Vault – FtV Episode 101 – Jeff Belanger and Ray Auger check out the haunted Daniel Benton Homestead in Tolland, Connecticut. This three-centuries-old home has seen a lot of human activity, but it was a tragic event that took place in the winter of 1777 between two star-crossed lovers caught between a war and a deadly virus that still haunts us today. This episode first aired May 20, 2021 Listen ad-free plus get early access and bonus episodes at: /episode/index/show/newenglandlegends/id/35176460

The Hobgoblins of Springvale 02/06/2025

The Hobgoblins of Springvale In Episode 382 Jeff Belanger and Ray Auger investigate a haunting that dates back 1872 in the village of Springvale, Maine. The paranormal activity was so profound it caught the attention of the Lewiston Journal who sent a reporter and learned the strange activity dates back at least 12 years and had been witnessed by multiple people – none of them made it very long as a tenant in this house. Who is haunting this old farmhouse? See more here: Check out Jeff's new underground publication Shadow Zine! Zombie Prom 2025: Listen ad-free plus get early access and bonus episodes at: /episode/index/show/newenglandlegends/id/35175430

FtV - Rockland’s Ghostly Severed Head 02/03/2025

FtV - Rockland’s Ghostly Severed Head Welcome to New England Legends From the Vault – FtV Episode 100 – Jeff Belanger and Ray Auger travel back to October of 1940 in Rockland, Maine, to explore the gruesome Halloween murder of Alzada Pauline Young by her stepfather, John Phelps. This true crime has haunted this small town for generations and left residents with a mystery and the ghost of a severed head. A warning to parents listening with their kids, this episode is a little more graphic than our usual offerings. You may want to preview first. This episode first aired October 1, 2020 Listen ad-free plus get early access and bonus episodes at: /episode/index/show/newenglandlegends/id/35081350

Madame Sherri’s Haunted Castle 01/30/2025

Madame Sherri’s Haunted Castle In Episode 381 Jeff Belanger and Ray Auger explore the ruins of Madame Sherri’s castle in the woods of Chesterfield, New Hampshire. Built in the early 1930s, this gorgeous home was the site for some wild parties of New York City socialites who came up to the Madame Sherri’s secluded woods to let their hair down. Ever the eccentric, there were rumors that “Madame” may have also been Sherri’s occupation. The house burned down to the stonework in 1962, and today they say the grounds are haunted. See more here: Zombie Prom 2025: Become a New England Legends Patron! Listen ad-free plus get early access and bonus episodes at: /episode/index/show/newenglandlegends/id/35080695

FtV - The Ghost of Nancy Barton 01/27/2025

FtV - The Ghost of Nancy Barton Welcome to New England Legends From the Vault – FtV Episode 99 – Jeff Belanger and Ray Auger explore the woods around the Notchland Inn in Hart’s Location, in the White Mountains of New Hampshire, searching for the ghost of Nancy Barton. In the winter of 1788, Nancy left her boarding house in Jefferson, New Hampshire, to trek 30 miles through the snow to chase down her faithless lover who had stolen all of her money the previous morning. Not only are the nearby brook, pond, falls, and mountain named after her, but her ghost is still said to roam the area. This episode first aired April 12, 2021 Listen ad-free plus get early access and bonus episodes at: /episode/index/show/newenglandlegends/id/34970695

The Indian Lake What-Is-It 01/23/2025

The Indian Lake What-Is-It In Episode 380 Jeff Belanger and Ray Auger check out the shores of Indian Lake in Worcester, Massachusetts. Back in 1904, a strange creature was witnessed in the water. It was described as the size of a large dog with wings and scaly tail. This beast may have also been spotted on land nearby. The newspapers called this terrorizing beast the What-Is-It. See more here: Zombie Prom 2025: Become a New England Legends Patron! Listen ad-free plus get early access and bonus episodes at: /episode/index/show/newenglandlegends/id/34970395

FtV - The Adventures of John Capon Adams 01/20/2025

FtV - The Adventures of John Capon Adams Welcome to New England Legends From the Vault – FtV Episode 98 – Jeff Belanger and Ray Auger visit Bay Path Cemetery in Charlton, Massachusetts, to visit the grave of John Capen Adams, a man who went on to inspire a folk hero legend, books, a popular television series in the 1970s, and a generation of kids eager to explore the great outdoors and tame wild animals. So who is John Capen Adams? This episode first aired May 31, 2018 Listen ad-free plus get early access and bonus episodes at: /episode/index/show/newenglandlegends/id/34879970

Vermont’s UFO Invasion 01/16/2025

Vermont’s UFO Invasion In Episode 379 Jeff Belanger and Ray Auger investigate a rash of UFO sightings that took place in East Richford, Vermont, back in 1982. From black triangles, to glowing balls of light, to saucer-shaped craft, these events were witnessed by police officers, fire fighters, and locals who all came forward to share their story. What were they? And why were they here? See more here: Zombie Prom 2025: Become a New England Legends Patron! Listen ad-free plus get early access and bonus episodes at: /episode/index/show/newenglandlegends/id/34879705

FtV - Mercy Brown: The Rhode Island Vampire 01/13/2025

FtV - Mercy Brown: The Rhode Island Vampire Welcome to New England Legends From the Vault – FtV Episode 97 – 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 March 28, 2019 Listen ad-free plus get early access and bonus episodes at: /episode/index/show/newenglandlegends/id/34786550

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 England Legends

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