Pennsylvania Oddities

Latest Episodes:

The Skeleton That Refused to Stay Buried Mar 15, 2022

Show notes

The Moosic Mountains of Lackawanna County are just a stone's throw away from the urban centers of Scranton and Wilkes-Barre, yet they still contain dark, shadowy, seemingly impenetrable places steeped in mystery dating back to Indian times. However, one of the most fascinating mysteries doesn't date back to the early settler days, but to the early 20th century, when the coal mining industry reigned supreme. It is the mystery of a skeleton of an unknown man whose bones might be scattered anywhere except the spot they were first buried in 1906.

Dynamite and Diphteria: The Strange Trial of Lloyd Wintersteen Mar 01, 2022

Show notes

In the early hours of September 10, 1896, the sleepy town of Bloomsburg became the center of one of the most diabolical murder plots ever concocted by the human mind. Poison, dynamite and deadly microbes-- these were the tools used by Clifton Knorr, a disgruntled son of a wealthy businessman hired by prominent local lawyer Lloyd S. Wintersteen to eliminate his chief rival.

The Strange History of the Mt. Penn Fire Tower Feb 15, 2022

Show notes

With its fieldstone construction reminiscent of a Medieval fortress, the William Penn Memorial Fire Tower is a Reading landmark that turns about as many heads as its Mt. Penn neighbor, the Pagoda. While both structures are unofficial historic symbols of Berks County's largest city, the fire tower has a particularly strange history-- a history marked by irony, tragedy and perhaps even an Indian curse.

The Tragic History of Dead Man Corners Feb 01, 2022

Show notes

Amid the sprawling wilderness of the Allegheny National Forest, miles from the nearest town, four roads converge in a remote spot in Howe Township, where a wooden cross marks the lonesome grave of a murder victim long forgotten. Although the name 'Turner' is etched into the weather-beaten memorial, most locals can't quite say who the unfortunate man was or when he died; all they can tell you is that it happened long, long ago.

A Nightmare on Elm Street: The Carlisle Triple Murder of 1924 Jan 15, 2022

Show notes

In September of 1924, a shocking act of violence stunned the residents of Carlisle when a jealous man shot his sweetheart and her mother before turning the gun on himself in the back yard of the Dotter family home at 118 Elm Street. The ghastly act was said to have left such an impression that witnesses reported seeing the ghost of the killer near the scene of the crime just weeks after the tragedy... and, strangely, an eerily similar brush with death occurred inside the very same house six years later.

The Suspicious Slaughter of Mary O'Keefe Jan 01, 2022

Show notes

The tiny borough of Hawley, in Wayne County, was the scene of horror on March 4, 1904, when the body of an elderly widow was found drenched in a pool of blood on the floor of her candy shop on Marble Hill. Although a veteran of the Spanish-American War was later arrested and tried for the crime, the evidence against him was flimsy at best, and the suspect was eventually acquitted. To this day, the heinous murder remains unsolved, although many residents of Palmyra Township insisted that they knew who the real killer was-- a mentally unbalanced man who lived next door to the victim.

The Legend of Augusta Bitner Dec 15, 2021

Show notes

There is a statue in a Lancaster cemetery that is said to come alive at night and descend from her pedestal when the moon is just right. It is the statue marking the final resting place of Augusta Harriet Bitner, a young woman whose death in 1906 has spawned many rumors and ghost stories. But is there any truth to this local legend?

The Mystery Skeletons of Oyster Paddy's Tavern Dec 01, 2021

Show notes

During the 19th century, one riverfront tavern served as the secret hideout for some of Pittsburgh's most dangerous criminals. There was Brocky McDonald, the bank robber who would eventually meet his demise at the hands of his own gang. There was Booby Adams, Blinky Morgan, Kid Munn, Patsy McGraw, Dutch Tony and an assortment of criminals whose exploits were known all over the country. There was also Joe Anderson, the bartender who operated his own crime syndicate when he wasn't pouring drinks for Oyster Paddy.
Shortly before the owner, Hugh O'Donnell-- locally known as "Oyster Paddy"-- passed away in 1907, human skeletons were unearthed at the site of his notorious saloon during the construction of a new skyscraper. Since Oyster Paddy died taking his secrets to the grave, the identities of these forgotten victims have never been ascertained, thereby forming the basis for one of Pennsylvania's most perplexing unsolved mysteries.

Natalie, Pennsylvania: A Murderer's Paradise Nov 15, 2021

Show notes

Welcome to Natalie (pop. 371): A small town with a big murder problem.

Lena Miller: The Pioneer Murderess Nov 01, 2021

Show notes

Of the hundreds of murderers who have hanged for their crimes in Pennsylvania, only a handful have been female. Lena Miller, who was one of these women, also holds the distinction of being the first person sentenced to death in Clearfield County. This is the story of one pioneer woman who went to considerable lengths to kill her seemingly destructible husband.

Our TOPPODCAST Picks

Follow Us

Stay Connected

Related Podcasts

Links

Stay Connected