Summary of "Short Stuff: Two Scary True Shorties!" – Stuff You Should Know

In the Halloween-themed episode titled "Short Stuff: Two Scary True Shorties!", hosts Josh and Chuck delve into two chilling real-life stories that blend mystery, folklore, and true crime. This summary captures the essence of their discussions, highlighting key points, intriguing insights, and memorable quotes with appropriate timestamps.

1. The Bricius Family and the Pennsylvania Dutch Powwow

A Creepy Discovery

At the outset, Josh introduces the first spooky tale involving the Bricius family from Auburn, Pennsylvania. The family, comprising six members, embarked on renovating their new home. During the demolition of a living room wall to install insulation, they unearthed a disturbing array of dead animal carcasses, bones, and skeletons. These remnants were peculiarly wrapped in newspapers dating back to the 1930s and 40s ([00:55] Josh).

Unraveling the Mystery

As Josh states, “...everything they opened up to put insulation in was packed with not only dead animals but also some spices, artifacts” ([02:05] Josh). Although the exact nature of these artifacts remains unclear, the family sought local insights to understand the bizarre findings.

Pennsylvania Dutch Powwow Magic

Chuck provides the cultural context, explaining that the house resides in the heart of Pennsylvania Dutch country, where a form of folk magic known as Powwow is prevalent. This tradition combines Christianity with folk healing remedies and is rooted in the 1820 book "The Long Lost Friends" by John George Homan ([02:40] Chuck).

Josh elaborates on the nature of Powwow, emphasizing its protective and defensive spells designed to ward off curses rather than cast them. “Nothing in the book is for casting spells against somebody or for hexing somebody. It's all protective or defensive to, like, undo some hex somebody did on you” ([03:28] Josh). Powwow doctors, serving as conduits between God and those needing healing, offer their services without charge, accepting only tokens of gratitude ([04:19] Josh).

A Haunted Backstory

Delving deeper, Chuck recounts a creepy backstory linked to the Powwow book. In 1928, a murderer named John Blymire possessed the book while trying to lift a curse placed by a neighbor, leading to a gruesome confrontation with a local witch, Nellie Knoll ([04:36] Chuck). This incident, though unrelated to the Bricius family’s findings, underscores the ominous aura surrounding the Powwow rituals.

Consequences and Costs

The Bricius family faced significant financial strain, investing around $20,000 to address the mysterious issues, which their insurance refused to cover, citing the anomalies as pre-existing conditions ([05:14] Josh). This left the family bewildered and deeply unsettled by the unexplained phenomena within their home.

2. Derek and Maria Brodus vs. The Watcher

A Dream Home Turned Nightmare

The second story revolves around Derek and Maria Brodus, who in 2014, purchased a $1.4 million Dutch Colonial home in Westfield, New Jersey. Built in 1905, the house boasted six bedrooms and four bathrooms, embodying the Brodus's dream home aspirations ([08:30] Josh).

First Contact with The Watcher

Shortly after closing, the Woods family, previous owners, received an alarming letter from an anonymous individual identifying themselves as "the Watcher". This individual claimed to have been observing the house since its construction in 1905 ([09:09] Chuck). The Broduses began receiving similar letters, heightening their unease.

Chuck humorously suggests, “Maybe we could have some scary music when we read these letters” ([11:11] Chuck), emphasizing the eerie tone of the correspondence.

Disturbing Messages

The letters from The Watcher became increasingly sinister. The second letter revealed intimate details about the Brodus children and ominously requested information about their bedrooms, stating, “...it will help me to know who is in which bedroom. Then I can plan better, man” ([11:26] Chuck). This intrusion into their personal lives terrified the family, especially with mentions of needing "young blood."

Escalating Paranoia and Investigation

In an attempt to safeguard their home, Derek installed webcams, but the harassment continued. Josh notes, “They moved some of their stuff in, but given what was happening, they were slow rolling it” ([12:44] Josh). Over a year elapsed without them fully moving in, leading to heightened paranoia and suspicions that The Watcher might be one of the previous bidders or a neighbor seeking retribution ([15:07] Josh).

Legal and Investigative Developments

The situation escalated to involve law enforcement. DNA tests revealed female DNA on the envelopes ([18:00] Josh), hinting at a possible female perpetrator. The Broduses faced challenges in selling the house, eventually incurring a $400,000 loss when they sold it five years later ([19:00] Chuck).

Cultural Impact and Media Portrayal

Chuck draws parallels to the Netflix series "The Watcher", noting, “It’s good... It gets nuts, man. It’s off the rails” ([19:17] Josh), highlighting how the true story has been dramatized for television, albeit without a clear resolution.

Conclusion

Josh and Chuck effectively weave together folklore, true crime, and eerie coincidences to present two haunting narratives. From the Pennsylvania Dutch Powwow protecting a family's home to the unrelenting stalking by The Watcher in New Jersey, these stories exemplify how mystery and fear can infiltrate everyday lives. The hosts interject humor and insightful commentary, making the chilling tales both engaging and thought-provoking for listeners.

Notable Quotes:

• Josh [00:55]: "I'm Josh and there's Chuck. And Jerry's here too, skulking around like a real ghoul who just wants to dig up a grave and eat the corpse inside."

• Josh [02:05]: "So spices, newspapers, and dead animals. And they're like, I don't know what's going on here."

• Josh [03:28]: "Nothing in the book is for casting spells against somebody or for hexing somebody. It's all protective or defensive to, like, undo some hex somebody did on you."

• Chuck [16:58]: "Violent winds and bitter cold to the vile and spiteful Derek and his wench of a wife, Maria. You wonder who the Watcher is? Turn around, idiots."

• Chuck [19:17]: "How does it end? Well, don't tell me how it ends, I guess, on air."

For those intrigued by these spine-chilling stories, tuning into "Stuff You Should Know" offers a captivating exploration of the unknown, blending historical context with modern-day mysteries.