Episode Notes In this special episode, Samantha and Aaron take a look back at the first year of Great Lakes Lore. What were their favorite episodes? What have they learned? What would they change? Then, they’re joined by Adam Sayne and Serfiel Stevenson of the Conspirinormal podcast for a preview of the upcoming Strange Realities Conference. The conference takes place October 14-16 in Nashville, Tennessee with an online streaming option and features Samatha and Aaron presenting on Friday...

Episode Notes What caused a series of Norwegians to move to a small town in Indiana, never to be seen again? In this episode, Samantha and Aaron explore the murders of Belle Gunness in La Porte, Indiana and the mystery surrounding her own death. Often referred to as a female Bluebeard (which Samantha takes issue with), the pair dive into the tale of this famous serial killer and discuss a variety of issues dealing with memory, gender dynamics, and mental health.  Intro- 0:21 Who was...

Episode Notes This week, Samantha and Aaron begin their exploration of the bigfoot phenomenon! After laying a solid framework, featuring discussions on the nature of bigfoot and a history of bigfoot in the 20th/21st centuries, they look at Bigfoot sightings in Michigan. They share audio clips, discuss video sightings, and talk about stick formations left in the woods. Join Samantha and Aaron for this first (yes there will be more) adventure with everyone’s favorite cryptid. ABBA-...

Episode Notes Screams could be heard throughout the town of Earling, Iowa in 1928. It was there, in a Franciscan Convent, that Father Theophilus Riesinger conducted a series of exorcisms on Anna Ecklund…or what is Emma Schmidt? Samantha and Aaron dive into the mysterious and troubling world of demonic possession with the story of Wisconsin natives Anna Ecklund and Father Riesinger. With a topic this complex, Samantha and Aaron make sure to provide a lot of background information on the...

Episode Notes In the 1890s, James Scotford discovered a series of ancient artifacts in Michigan’s Montcalm County that could cause a reevaluation of the way human history was understood…if they were authentic. Join Aaron and Samantha as they share the saga of the Michigan relics. From the Hopewell Indians to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, this episode brings together archaeology, fraud, museums, and a touch of Indiana Jones (minus the Nazis). Check out our website post on...

Episode Notes Is there a group of small humanoids with bulbous heads living in the woods near Saugatuck, Michigan…and Cleveland, Ohio…and Newtown, Connecticut? Aaron and Samantha have a theory, so join our hosts as they investigate doctors without first names, buildings that may or may not have existed, and speak to the evils of turning those with medical conditions into monsters. Aaron and Sam get a bit angry this time.  Intro- 2:50\ Michigan Melon Heads Overview- 4:22\ The Felt Mansion and...

Episode Notes This time on Great Lakes Lore, Samantha and Aaron tackle their first modern UFO case. They’ll introduce the broader topic of UFO sightings and the government response to them in the 1950s and 1960s and then dive into looking at the 1966 wave of sightings in southeast Michigan that garnered national attention and led, eventually, to huge changes in how the US military dealt with UFOs. Read J. Allen Hynek’s final Blue Book Report on the sighting here! A UFO Primer-...

Episode Notes Club? Professional networking opportunity? Secret society? In Gilded-Age Chicago, the Whitechapel Club was a little bit of all of these. Join Samantha and Aaron as they explore the origins, activities, and membership of this macabre circle of journalists. Along the way, enjoy a story from a belly dancer, phrenology, and a ritualistic funeral pyre on the shores of Lake Michigan. Introduction: Secret Societies- 1:11 Club Life in the Gilded Age- 6:40 Establishing the Whitechapel...

Episode Notes What happens when a bloody torso is found in a small Michigan church in 1909? With no immediate identification of the body, no apparent motive for the crime, and mysterious rumors in town, investigators threw out numerous hypotheses and put out BOLOs in surrounding states and Canada. And, while this crime does end with a confession, the reasons for it are still a mystery. Check out this week’s episode to hear Samantha and Aaron share the story of the Rattle Run Murder and come...

Episode Notes Haunted histories can be fun and they can allow people to explore actual history along with deeper metaphysical questions. But where is the line between haunted history and haunted attraction? In this episode Samanth and Aaron dive into the stories of two haunted locations in St. Paul, Minnesota that have connections to Prohibition and, perhaps, gangster ghosts. Perhaps? Maybe?  Timestamps:\ Intro- 2:14\ What’s the deal with Prohibition?- 3:34\ The Wabasha Street Caves-...

Episode Notes Can the shipwrecks that plague to eastern end of Lake Ontario be attributed to normal dangers on a lake of that size, or do they speak to something more mysterious? Samantha tackles the maritime history and Aaron the…stranger explanations in this episode on the Lake Ontario Triangle. You might just find that the answer lies somewhere in the middle. Time stamps Intro- 1:06 The Allure of Maritime Mysteries- 2:07 So Many Triangles- 5:13 The Marysburgh Vortex- 8:29 The Quinlan’s...

Episode Notes Does a small red demon roam the streets of Detroit, Michigan? Probably not! In this episode, Samantha and Aaron dive into the story of the Nain Rouge. The creature first appeared in an 1880s tale on the history of Detroit as the foil to Antoine Laumet de la Mothe Cadillac, and today the creature is taunted and chased out of the city in an annual parade called La Marche du Nain Rouge. Was the story of the Nain Rouge fact? Should we chase the “red devil” out of Detroit? Listen to...

Episode Notes The legendary monster of Algonquian lore, the Windigo (or Wendigo), regularly appears in popular culture, but how well is it represented? What is the Windigo? Samantha and Aaron dive into the legend of the Windigo, explore actual Windigo cases, and then put television and comic books to task. Who passes and who fails? What do we lose when the monster is removed from its cultural context? Find out in this week’s episode of Great Lakes Lore! The Windigo’s MO- 1:39 Cannibalism!-...

Episode Notes America’s “Second Salem,” you say? We’re on it! Aaron and Samantha dive in to explore the legends surrounding the town of Whitewater, Wisconsin. When they got down to the sources did they find evidence of witchcraft, cursed books, murder, and spiritualists? You’ll have to tune in to find out. The pair put their history skillz (yes, with a ‘z’) to the test  in “Were There Witches in Whitewater?”.  Intro- 00:20 Whitewater Background- 02:15 The Legends- 04:29 Morris Pratt-...

Episode Notes The mystery of the Circleville, Ohio letters is a tangled web of accusations and threats that Samantha and Aaron attempt to unknot in this week’s episode. They begin by outlining the basic chronology of the strange happenings that began in Circleville in 1972 and then move on to look into the way the story has been shared by news outlets, television shows, and podcasts. Why are we fascinated with true crime? What is it about this mystery, in particular, that has pulled Aaron...

Episode Notes Last week's episode was a long one, so here's the "book club" segment we didn't have time for. Join Sam and Aaron as they discussed, over lunch, the books they're currently reading and veer into a more general conversation about reading habits. Visit our website and follow us on... Instagram Facebook Twitter Youtube Like the show and want more? Subscribe to our Patreon! Great Lakes Lore is produced by Cheeso Media.

Episode Notes Some places accumulate stories more readily than others and Mackinac Island is just that place. With thousands of years of history and deep spiritual connections, this 4.3 square mile island is oozing with stories demanding our attention. In this episode, Samantha and Aaron are joined by Claire Herhold, a public historian who spent six seasons working on the island, to dive into this rich and diverse history. We’re positive you’ll find the true history far more interesting than...

Episode Notes Aaron and Samantha travel back to the nineteenth century to explore the mystery airships that were spotted throughout the country in 1896/97. What started as a trio of lights above Sacramento, California, grew to reported sightings of actual ships that moved from the west coast to the Great Plains and into the Great Lakes States. Samantha and Aaron look at various sightings, possible explanations, and touch on the history of aviation. Fasten your seatbelts, it’s a wild...

Episode Notes Samantha and Aaron did a livestream last week to preview the next run of Great Lakes Lore episodes. If you missed it, we've got you covered with this audio version. Great Lakes Lore returns on January 17 with Mystery Airships! Visit our website and follow us on... Instagram Facebook Twitter Great Lakes Lore is produced by Cheeso Media. Support Great Lakes Lore by contributing to their Tip Jar: https://tips.pinecast.com/jar/great-lakes-lore

Episode Notes Samantha and Aaron got wrapped up in the bustle of December and showed up to record without any material. Luckily, Aaron recorded the first Great Lakes Lore Holiday Party where the pair shared stories about interesting monster sightings and legends from around the Great Lakes. Tune in and have a happy holiday season! Intro- 0:00 The Monroe Monster- 6:08 The Ogre of Seney- 14:02 Oscar the Beast of Busco- 20:48 Legend or Lie- 29:13 Michigan Merman- 31:14 Floating Humanoid-...

Episode Notes Maritime disasters, adolescent fascination with the paranormal, the importance of citations, regional variations in precipitation terms, and more! Join Samantha and Aaron as they respond to listener comments on The Witches' Castle of Utica. Visit our website and follow us on... Instagram Facebook Twitter Great Lakes Lore is produced by Cheeso Media. Support Great Lakes Lore by contributing to their Tip Jar: https://tips.pinecast.com/jar/great-lakes-lore

In this episode, Samantha and Aaron take listeners on a wild ride from the middle ages to the 1990s, trying to get to the bottom of the legend behind the stone ruins along the Ohio River in Utica, Indiana. In the end, Samantha and Aaron come up with their own theory about the Witches’ Castle of Utica. Time Stamps History of Utica- 3:06 Witch Legends- 6:40 Sharer Murder- 13:40 Legend or Lie- 24:51 Some Real History- 28:25 Newspaper and Internet Sources- 32:50 Prince Madoc- 44:38 Wrapping It...

Episode Notes Sam and Aaron return to address your questions and comments about their two most recent episodes on wolf lore and the Michigan Dogman. Visit our website and follow us on... Instagram Facebook and Twitter Great Lakes Lore is produced by Cheeso Media. Support Great Lakes Lore by contributing to their Tip Jar: https://tips.pinecast.com/jar/great-lakes-lore

Episode Notes In this week’s episode Samantha and Aaron dive into the legend and various sightings of Michigan’s Dogman. This state’s canid creature warrants treatment outside apart from other dog creature sightings, thanks to the song from a local DJ and the Gable film. Tune in as they discuss these things, as well as things the dogman is not and the importance of thorough research methods. Tune in and enjoy the discussion. Time Stamps:\ Introduction- 00:57\ “The Song”- 5:19\ What Dogman...