Pennsylvania Oddities

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The Despicable Crimes of John Gampher Jul 01, 2023

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In the backwoods of Cumberland County live some of the kindest, gentlest souls you could imagine; decent, God-fearing folks who'd gladly give you the shirt off their own back or drive you into town if you should happen to run out of gas on a lonesome country road. But the backwoods of Cumberland County have also been the home to some of the most depraved and reprehensible folks who ever trod God's green earth. One example is John Gampher, who, in the late 19th century, pulled off one of the most diabolical stunts in the annals of Pennsylvania crime.

The Hex Cat of Tumbling Run Jun 15, 2023

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In 1911, witchcraft hysteria spread across central Pennsylvania, with dozens of superstitious citizens swearing out complaints against men and women accused of being hex or "pow-wow" doctors, but one bizarre story of Schuylkill County made newspaper headlines across the commonwealth. Alleging that her father, Howell Thomas of Tumbling Run, died as the result of a hex placed upon him, Mary Isabelle Thomas went to the press with a long list of peculiar incidents which she believed would prove that her father succumbed to the effects of black magic. Mary claimed these mishaps began immediately after a black cat showed up on the Thomas farm-- a cat that assumed monstrous proportions, growing to four feet in height before magically returning to its previous form.

Horrors of the Hillside Home Jun 01, 2023

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In 1862, the residents of Providence Township in Lackawanna County decided to establish a poor farm for those who were impoverished, handicapped, elderly, and otherwise unable to work and care for themselves. This facility, which was then known as the Hillside Home, also provided housing and treatment for the mentally ill. In 1943, the name was changed to the Clarks Summit State Hospital, which continues to operate to this day.

As with any asylum with such a long history, the Hillside Home has seen some dark moments, including several violent inmate deaths at the hands of staff members, but none so tragic as the brutal murder of two female inmates in the summer of 1906 by a deranged mute named Ignatz Krewzyk.

Why Did Catherine Ward Murder Her Children? May 15, 2023

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In March of 1928, William Ward and his young wife, Catherine Ward, occupied the second floor of a Pittsburgh duplex with their two children, three-year-old Billy and eight-month-old Dorothy Mae. Once, the Wards had a been a happy family with all-American dreams of white picket fences and a garage to park their car. But everything changed one cold, dreary Thursday morning in March.

Murdered by His Mother Inside Classroom May 01, 2023

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On February 14, 1928, seven-year-old Lawrence McCall went to school at the No. 5 Mine schoolhouse in Springfield Township, near the Mercer-Lawrence county line. It was Valentine's Day and the teacher, Miss Ebba Widing, had planned a special presentation and all the parents were invited. Sadly, for the twenty pupils in attendance, this Valentine's Day would forever be remembered with horror, because on this particular day they looked on helplessly as Mrs. McCall slashed her own son's throat in full view of everyone.

Who Stole the Corpse of the Councilman's Son? Apr 26, 2023

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During the early 20th century, James Black Spahr was a popular member of the Chambersburg borough council. Unlike many politicians, Spahr genuinely cared about his community and those who called it home, and his many years of public service were unblemished by scandal. A devout Christian and family man, he didn't seem to have an enemy in the world. But on December 3, 1909, the beloved public figure made a horrifying discovery... someone had stolen the remains of his infant son. Who did it and why? Therein lies the mystery.

The Feely Triple Death Mystery Apr 16, 2023

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Guest hosted by Ashley Bemis. In 1936, a perplexing triple murder occurred on South Braddock Avenue in Pittsburgh. Described as the "ideal family", five-year-old Bobby, three-year-old Janice, and their mother Eleanor were found brutally slain inside their luxurious apartment on June 18 while the husband was away from home. But who would want to slaughter Eleanor Feely and her two young children? To this day, no one is quite sure who carried out this gruesome act.

Who Killed the Hoy Family? Apr 01, 2023

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Connellsville dates back to the early 19th century, but it did not become a city until 1909, when the borough of Connellsville and its neighbor across the Youghiogeny River, the borough of New Haven, were joined together. While Connellsville is famous for being the center of the coke industry in western Pennsylvania during the late 1800s, New Haven was at the center of a spectacular quadruple murder in 1893.

The Widow's Treasure and the Hanging of Charles Chase Mar 15, 2023

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Near Falls Creek in Jefferson County is a region known as Beechwoods, a locality which includes some of the finest farmland in Washington Township. The area was settled in 1824 by Henry Keys, Alexander Osborn, John McIntosh, John McGhee and Thomas Moore. These early settlers, mostly of Scotch and Irish origin, named the community after the large number of beech trees they found there. It is one of these founders, Thomas Moore, who played a role in one of the most colorful chapters in the history of Jefferson County. It is a story that seems ripped right out of the pages of a novel, and features murder, suicide, a haunted farm and a buried treasure of silver and gold.

The Kidnapping of Warren McCarrick Mar 01, 2023

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The mysterious 1914 kidnapping of seven-year-old Warren McCarrick created a media sensation and culminated in the finding of a boy's body in the Delaware River. While the boy's abductor has never been caught, it's possible that Warren might have been one of numerous child victims tortured and killed by a monstrous degenerate.

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