The Mysterious Disappearance of Blaise Harsell

Join us as we tell the adventurous and daring story of the kidnapping of Jemima Boone, daughter of the legendary frontiersman Daniel Boone, by a Native American war party and her dramatic rescue. Discover how Jemima's quick thinking and bravery, along with the relentless efforts of her father and Colonel Richard Calloway, led to her safe return.    Listen to the Stories podcast on Spreaker, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or your favorite podcast app. Don’t forget to subscribe for more Stories of Appalachia.   You can also support our storytelling journey and access exclusive content by becoming a patron here:https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/stories-of-appalachia--5553692/support Thank you for listening and for sharing our stories with your friends!

Join us as we tell the tragic and lesser-known story of Willis Hatfield, the youngest son of Devil Anse Hatfield. While the Hatfield-McCoy feud had cooled down by the time Willis came of age, his life was still marked by turmoil and violence.   Willis's life took a dark turn on December 31, 1911. After a heated encounter with Dr. Edwin O. Thornhill in a local drugstore in Mullens, West Virginia, Willis's actions led to a shocking and brutal killing that reverberated through the community and beyond.Listen to the Stories podcast on Spreaker, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or your favorite podcast app. We’re also on YouTube @StoriesOfAppalachia; be sure to like, comment and subscribe. You can help support our storytelling journey and access exclusive content by becoming a patron here:https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/stories-of-appalachia--5553692/supportThank you for listening and for sharing our stories with your friends!

Join us as we tell the story of one of the most notorious landmarks in West Virginia: the Trans-Allegheny Lunatic Asylum.Known as the most haunted place in America, this episode uncovers the dark history and eerie folklore surrounding this infamous asylum. From its beginnings in the 1850s to its closure in 1994, the asylum's story is filled with tragedy and overcrowding.  We also tell about the spirits that are said to haunt its halls, including the ghost of a young girl named Lily, and the alleged murderer known as Slewfoot. Listen to the Stories podcast on Spreaker, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or your favorite podcast app. Don't forget to subscribe for more Stories of Appalachia.You can also support our storytelling journey and access exclusive content by becoming a patron here:https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/stories-of-appalachia--5553692/supportThank you for listening and for sharing our stories with your friends!

This week we tell the mysterious and tragic story of Blaise Harsell, a wealthy naturalist and writer from New York who vanished into the rugged mountains along the Tennessee-North Carolina border, leaving behind a puzzle. In the fall of 1921, Blaise embarked on what was supposed to be a preliminary wilderness expedition before a planned journey to a remote part of South America. However, this hike through Appalachia would be the last time he was ever seen.Listen to the Stories podcast on Spreaker, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or on your favorite podcast app. Don't forget to subscribe for more Stories of Appalachia.You can also support our storytelling journey and access exclusive content by becoming a patron here: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/stories-of-appalachia--5553692/supportThank you for listening and for sharing our stories with your friends!

Today, we tell a story about a place that over a century ago was said to have been shrouded in mystery and fear, known for inexplicable and mysterious disappearances. That, folks, is our story today. Join us as we tell the eerie tales of Black Mountain, a region straddling the border between Virginia and Kentucky, infamous for its history of vanishing people. Listen to the Stories podcast on Spreaker, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or your favorite podcast app. Don't forget to subscribe for more Stories of Appalachia. You can also support our storytelling journey and access exclusive content by becoming a patron here:https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/stories-of-appalachia--5553692/support Thanks for listening and for sharing our stories with your friends!

On Christmas Eve in 1881, Ashland, Kentucky, was shattered by a horrific crime that would forever be known as the Ashland tragedy. Join us as we recount the chilling events that led to the brutal murders of Robert and Fanny Gibbons and their friend Emma Carrico, whose lives were violently cut short in a crime that shocked the entire state of Kentucky.We explore the trials, the public outrage, and the violent and deadly confrontations that marked this tragic chapter in Appalachian history. Don't miss out on this gripping tale of crime, punishment, and the search for justice.Listen to the Stories podcast on Spreaker, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or your favorite podcast app. Don't forget to subscribe for more Stories of Appalachia.You can also support our storytelling journey and access exclusive content by becoming a patron here:https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/stories-of-appalachia--5553692/supportThank you for listening and for sharing our stories with your friends!

Today we tell a story about a man from Kentucky whose life was said to have spanned across three centuries. Truth or fiction? Well, folks, you'll have to decide that for yourselves. Join us as we tell the story of John Shell, a man who claimed to be the oldest person to have ever lived.Listen to the Stories podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spreaker, Spotify, or your favorite podcast app. Don't forget to subscribe for more Stories of Appalachia.You can also support our storytelling journey and access exclusive content by becoming a patron here:https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/stories-of-appalachia--5553692/supportThanks for listening!

This week, we tell the fascinating story of a beloved American soft drink, Dr Pepper.Join us as we explore the origins of this iconic beverage, which has roots right here in Appalachia. We'll take you on a journey from the small town of Rural Retreat, Virginia, to the bustling streets of Waco, Texas, where it blossomed into the beloved drink we know today. Whether you call it pop, soda, or soft drink, this episode is sure to tickle your taste buds and warm your heart.Don't miss out on all our stories! Subscribe to the Stories podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spreaker, Spotify or on your favorite podcast app.You can also support our storytelling journey and access exclusive content by becoming a patron on Spreaker here:https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/stories-of-appalachia--5553692/support  Thanks for listening!  

In the early morning hours of May 13, 1972, a head-on collision involving a double-decker Greyhound bus and a tractor-trailer occurred on US Route 11W, about 5 miles west of Bean Station, Tennessee. This tragic accident resulted in 14 deaths and 15 injuries, marking it as the deadliest traffic accident in Tennessee history, further cementing the reputation of a road known locally as “Bloody 11W.”Listen to the Stories podcast on Spreaker, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or on your favorite podcast app. Don't forget to subscribe for more Stories of Appalachia.You can also support our storytelling journey and access exclusive content by becoming a patron here:https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/stories-of-appalachia--5553692/supportThank you for listening and for sharing our stories with your friends!  

Our story today involves a member of the infamous Wild Bunch, Butch Cassidy's gang. Known as the wildest of the bunch, Harvey Alexander Logan, better known as Kid Curry, was a force to be reckoned with. After a successful train robbery put a bounty on their heads, the gang members went their separate ways to wait for things to cool off.  Curry chose Knoxville, Tennessee, as a hideout in December, 1901. There he got into a brawl with another man, leading to a violent confrontation with the police and Curry’s desperate escape attempt.Listen to the Stories podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spreaker, Spotify, Player FM, or your favorite podcast app. You can also support our storytelling journey and access exclusive content by becoming a patron on Spreaker here:https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/stories-of-appalachia--5553692/support  Thanks for listening!