In this episode, Becky muses about her upcoming trip to Kingsport for a funeral, and why she chose to stay in a historically haunted hotel. The trip brings back memories of haunted locations she’s heard about on previous road trips.

Becky telling East Tennessee legends is on YouTube:

Or listen right here:

Appalachian Slang and Quirks

Ever the etymologist, Diana challenges Becky to see if she’s familiar with some of the more unusual Appalachian phrases and slang terms. We delve into the authenticity and meanings of these unique expressions.

Do you know what any of these slang terms mean? Does your family use any of these Appalachian euphemisms?

• Airish
• Mushmellon
• Startin’ to Turn
• Tater Hole
• Sigogglin’
• Boomer
• Dope
• Ballhootin’
• She-balsam and he-balsam
• Pig in a Poke
• Whistle Pig
• Long Sweetenin’ and Short Sweetenin’
• Comefluttered
• Can See to Can’t See
• Zonies Alive!
• Eh, Law!
• Painter

Comefluttered yet? Well sure, ya gotta listen to the episode to hear what they mean! Or at least, what they probably mean. Some of these were apparently from deeper into the mountains than even Becky hails from. If you have any favorite Appalachian slang that we missed, or if we mis-translated a phrase you use fluently, tell us about it in our discussion on Facebook.

East Tennessee Legends

The Appalachian region is home to numerous fantastical legends that have been passed down through generations. In this section, we delight and horrify your auditory flesh windows with four distinct spooky legends. Each one holds a unique place in the lore that Becky grew up with.

Roaring Fork Nature Motor Trail

The Roaring Fork Motor Trail, nestled in the heart of Great Smoky Mountains National Park, carries more than just the sound of its rushing streams; it echoes with tales of the supernatural. If you drive along the trail, chances are you’ll be overwhelmed by the scenic beauty of the area. And, you might just also see a ghost.

The Spirit of Lucy

In 1909, a fire engulfed a cabin in the area of the Roaring Fork river, claiming the life of a young woman named Lucy. Since then, travelers have reported sightings of a young girl wandering the trails, especially in winter, as if reenacting her untimely demise. Wrapped in a white nightgown, with no shoes, and appearing inexplicably warm in the biting cold, Lucy’s spirit has become a somber reminder of the area’s tragic past.

Briceville’s Coal Creek War and Dick Drummond’s Ghost

Briceville, Tennessee, is a place where history and hauntings intertwine. The Coal Creek War of 1891, a significant labor uprising in Tennessee’s mining history, sets the backdrop for the town’s ghost stories.

The Tale of Dick Drummond

Among the many souls affected by the war was Richard “Dick” Drummond, a soldier turned miner. During the uprising, Drummond reportedly killed one of the soldiers sent to quell the feud. Of course, Drummond wasn’t the only one, but for some reason, one of the militiamen decided to execute him without a trial. Some say the executioner took a shine to the same lady that Drummond was courting. The real reason is lost to history.

What we do know, however, is that the militiaman strung Drummond to the steel beams of a nearby bridge and left him to die by the elements. Now known as Drummond Bridge, this liminal space still holds Dick’s spirit hostage. Legend has it that to encounter Drummond’s ghost, one must cross the bridge at night, ideally dressed as a soldier from the late 19th century. Those who have dared to do so report an eerie silence and a sense of foreboding enveloping the bridge.

Netherland Inn Road

On her way to her haunted accommodations, Becky makes a detour down Netherland Inn Road to swing by Rotherwood Mansion. You already know all about the story of Rowena Ross from our previous coverage. But there’s another haunting on this road that might be new to you.

The cautionary tale of Hugh Hamblen

According to local lore, Hugh Hamblen tragically lost his life in a car accident while crossing this road to his waiting vehicle, enveloped in thick fog. Since that fateful night, drivers have reported the chilling sight of Hamblen’s ghost along the side of the haunted highway. Wavering in the dense mist, Hugh’s spirit seems to be warning motorists of the perilous road conditions that claimed his life. His spectral figure, often seen frantically waving his arms as if to caution the living, is the embodiment of a cautionary tale of just how risky driving in the fog deep in the mountains can be.

The Haunting of Sensabaugh Tunnel

The Sensabaugh Tunnel, located close to Kingsport, Tennessee, is busting with supernatural legends. This seemingly unassuming tunnel also holds a reputation for being one of the most haunted places in the East Tennessee region. You’ll recall that one of our previous guests also talked about the legends of Sensabaugh Tunnel.

The most prevalent legend associated with the Sensabaugh Tunnel involves its namesake, Edward Sensabaugh. The story narrates a tragic incident of the Sensabaugh family hosting a homeless man in their home. The man ends up to be untrustworthy, but the family found out too late. Caught stealing the Sensabaughs’ belongings, the man grabs the only leverage in arms reach: the baby. In a dreadful turn of events, he drowns Edward’s baby daughter in the tunnel. The sad event left a lasting imprint. Visitors today speak of hearing a baby’s cry and Edward’s ghostly footsteps echoing through the tunnel. If one turns off their car engine inside the tunnel, it may refuse to start again. Many travelers in this uncomfortable position report the feeling of being watched.

What’s your favorite Appalachian legend?

Each of these East Tennessee legends, from Roaring Fork’s sorrowful ghost to Bryceville’s echoes of labor strife and the sad happenings of Sensabaugh Tunnel, illustrates the Appalachian region’s deep connection with the supernatural. These stories continue to captivate and haunt those who are bold enough to go ballhootin’ down these historic paths.

Follow along on our Patreon to witness our upcoming Appalachian road trip, at the beginning of May, 2024. While you’re there, why not stay a spell? Members get fresh, hot, and steamy exclusive bonus content every week, and access to all episodes ad-free.

And as always, if you have a spooky legend, either from East Tennessee or from your own neck of the woods, drop us a line. You might hear your voice on the next episode of Homespun Haints, and we can all have a spooky day!

The post Haunted Highways to Hell appeared first on Homespun Haints.

Listen to this episode right here:

Don’t miss the bonus episode, listen here:

Episode Summary

Remember Becky’s family’s haunted homestead in BFE, Florida? Well, it turns out she’s not the only Rule to be haunted there. Remember when you heard Becky talk about the weird octagonal house with the man-eating cows? Did you think “I wish I could live there”? Boy, do you have a treat in store.

Because Patrick actually did live there. Specifically while fixing up an 1898 haunted boarding house in Florida…a house full of ghosts lurking in the shadows, waiting for an opportunity to push this brave man through the rotting floorboards.

Patrick tells us the story of the time he decided to fix up a house in…wait, where the hell is Arcadia, Florida?

About the Guest: Patrick Rule, Haunted Florida Man

Patrick has been a YouTuber for longer than we’ve been YouTubers. He co-starred in a web series, My Best Friend, My Butler, a show about an ordinary dude who wins the lotto and, out of sheer generosity, hires his broke friend as his butler. It’s a poignant and tearful look into the strain of the unequal friendship between employer and manservant.

Just kidding. It’s a campy sitcom that cleverly harkens back to the short-form cheesy goodness of the ’80s TV shows we Gen Xers grew up on. We love Patrick as a content creator and actor, but he’s better known to Becky as her cousin.

Is it a haunting or a squatter?

Patrick shared his concerns that the voices he hears coming from the woods behind Grandpa’s house might be spirits. Or, they might be a family of vagrants hunkered down in the old rotting automobiles stored out there. To us, the latter sounds like it has the potential to be significantly scarier.

How common is it that someone could be squatting on–or even IN–your property without you knowing? Is it possible that those sounds you thought were your house settling might actually be a stranger sleeping in your attic? Here’s a terrifying video and article about times when a house was haunted by the living. Sweet dreams!

Florida Man Visits Haunted Cassadaga; Beer Disappears

Patrick heard a rumor that if you go to the Cassadaga graveyard at night, sit in the Devil’s Chair, and leave a beer out…your beer will disappear. So, like a true Florida man, he thought “what the hell…hold my beer and watch this haunted shit.” Becky and Diana have known many a beer to disappear after sunset in the Sunshine State. In fact, it’s pretty obvious that this particular urban legend arose simply because the first Florida Man to try it simply didn’t have a buddy to hold his beer.

Until next time, have a spooky day!

The post You Know An Urban Legend Is From Florida If It Involves Beer Disappearing at Night appeared first on Homespun Haints.

The Monster in the Toilet Tormented Me as a Child

From a young age, my parents told the tale of woe of all the little children who sat on the commode for longer than their allotted 1.35 minutes. They warned me how my bare ass would be a tantalizing treat for the evil toilet monster, who somehow exists in every rural home.

Not an urban legend, but a rural one

In my adult years, I have met few others whose parents also scared them into spending less time on the toilet. But one thing all of us who heard these monster tales shared: we grew up in rural areas of Appalachia. I’m sure other areas of the world have beasts similar to the monster in my toilet of yore: you might could equate the toilet monster with the toilet snakes in Florida, the sewer gators in New York.

What Does The Toilet Monster Look Like?

Different from these more plausible creatures, the toilet monster does not have a specific form or shape. His color, his teeth, his number of eyes, are all left to the wilds of the child’s imagination. You might call the toilet monster a a one-size-fits-all nightmare.

We made this documentary video to help you visualize the unspeakable horrors that lurk below. You’re welcome!

Where Does the Toilet Monster Come From?

The toilet monster lives in your septic tank. If you’re on a sewer or use an outhouse, you may not have to worry as much about this particular cryptid. (You probably contend with other creatures.)

When anyone in the household squats down to use the facilities, they unknowingly lure the toilet monster out of his stinky cave and up through the pipes. Everyone who takes the risk of using an indoor toilet must finish their business quickly before the toilet monster can make his way to the surface.

How Does the Toilet Monster Attack?

If you are having a particularly bad day digestive-wise, or if you decide to use the throne as a library seat, this despicable plumbing-savvy monster rises from the murky water to do unspeakable things to your derriere. And, as my parents described to me in great details, once you’re in the clutches of the toilet monster, there’s no escape. He reaches straight up through the toilet seat and grabs you in your most vulnerable areas (I imagine quite like a bowling ball) and pulls you down into the toilet.

Where does it take you?

Stuck in the toilet monster’s clenches, you’re wrenched through the pipes, special delivery, into the septic tank. There, you scrabble for purchase in the slippery, dark depths. You scream, but no one can hear you. It’s too late. You’re fated to die a grotesque death on the fumes of your family’s farts.

Sewer Monsters From Antiquity

Apparently, the 2nd century book Aelian’s “On the Characteristics of Animals” contained the first known written account of a toilet monster. In that case it was an Octopus, but what else would you expect a rampaging animal from an ancient Greek sewer to be? I’m just glad to know my family wasn’t the first.

Is the Toilet Monster Real?

The answer to that question depends on your definition of “monster.” It may interest you to know that there are indeed real dangerous animals that can indeed come up out of your toilet and getcha. How fun!

A real toilet monster…snake?

Listen to this funny podcast episode, where I challenge my friends with this awesome quiz on the top three most dangerous animals that people actually find when they lift the toilet lid. I’m not sure how a monster snake of that size fits in the u-bend, but given the snake-to-seat distance, I’m learning to pee standing up.

Is the Toilet Monster a Hoax?

You’re probably thinking of the time one man convinced the entire world that there were alligators in the NYC sewer system. This awesome monster prank has even been commemorated in a bronze statue.

Speaking of an awesome monster prank…

If you wanted to perpetrate your own awesome monster prank, I suppose you could use suction cups to attach a fake pop-up monster to the toilet seat to scare your friends. Believe it or not, there’s a product for that. After all, who doesn’t love a good laugh at the expense of their friends’ lifelong trauma? Have fun pranking friends, you heartless monster.

Effect of the toilet monster on adulthood

To this day, I am quick on the commode. A small tickle in the back of my brain still warns me if more than 80 seconds have passed while I’m engaging in fecal transfer. When my friends spend too much time in the throne room, I get antsy. Don’t they know how they’re toying with their own fates?

Have You Ever Heard of the Toilet Monster Before?

So, in case you did not grow up under the advisement of sadistic parents, you now are aware. Tell your friends about the monster in my toilet, who might very well be in yours. Be warned, be safe, and most of all, poop quickly.

The post What is the Toilet Monster? appeared first on Homespun Haints.

Would you venture into this cemetery and visit its multiple ghosts? Listen to the episode and decide if it would make a good place for a picnic, or if it’s better to just stay away.

The H Files

Welcome to The H Files. This is a limited-run miniseries where we delve deep into the folklore and science behind ghostly sightings and urban legends. This series began September 1 and will run every other Tuesday until November. First of all, if you would like to discuss anything you hear on the episode, please reach out to us in our Facebook Group or through Instagram. Secondly, if you have something you’d like to contribute to the show, you can always email us at info@HomespunHaints.com.

Episode Summary

Becky lived a few miles away from Bachelors Grove cemetery for 10 years. But she never got the guts to venture into it. Now, she talks about the famous ghosts that inhabit this strange site. Becky also talks about the Chicago ghosts she learned about while living there. Finally, Becky shares with us the deep, unrelenting remorse she feels for never visiting this famous haunted cemetery.

Other Episodes about Bachelors Grove

We discuss Bachelors Grove in several other episodes on this podcast, including this episode about some other haunted cemeteries of Illinois with Abby from Mysteries of the Past and Present.

Phantom Houses?

Phantom houses aren’t as common as haunted places and locations that stay put. If you’d like to learn more about the phantom houses at Bachelors Grove and ghost house legends throughout the world, check out this video by Goblin Kwain.

References

The Bachelors Grove Cemetery & Settlement Research Center official website

Have you seen the very famous photo of the white lady? She sits on a grave in Bachelors Grove, but was not visible IRL when the photo was taken. This photo even ended up in a reputable Chicago newspaper in 1991. You can view it, along with history of Bachelors Grove, here.

Bachelors Grove has a house that appears and disappears. It also changes shape and location. The house has a glowing blue light on the ground floor, when it has a ground floor. The lore of this strange house is the single reason Becky was too chicken to visit the cemetery as a teenager. Learn more about the haunted cemetery’s disappearing house.

Can two entities meld into one upon death? That is the theory about the two-headed horse man sometimes seen plowing the fields around this haunted cemetery.

Books on Chicago ghosts and Bachelors Grove Cemetery

After you’ve explored the Bachelors Grove website, you might want to delve deeper into Chicago cemeteries and ghosts. We reference several great books in the episode:

• Chicago’s Street Guide to the Supernatural by Richard T. Crowe
• Haunted Bachelors Grove by Ursula Bielski
• Voices from the Chicago Grave by Scott Markus

Until next time, have a spooky day!

The post The Most Haunted Cemetery In The World appeared first on Homespun Haints.