Episode 331 - Axe Hollow Murders & Hauntings | Appalachian Lore

Summary

Episode Summary: Two Girls One Ghost – Episode 331: Axe Hollow Murders & Hauntings | Appalachian Lore

Release Date: July 20, 2025
Hosts: Corinne Vien and Sabrina Deana-Roga
Podcast: Two Girls One Ghost
Description: Delve into the eerie Appalachian lore as Corinne and Sabrina explore the chilling tale of the Axe Hollow Murders, uncovering its origins, variations, and the supernatural phenomena surrounding it.

---

1. Introduction: Personal Ghost Stories

The episode opens with Corinne and Sabrina sharing personal anecdotes that set the stage for their deep dive into Appalachian supernatural lore.

Corinne recounts a mysterious event involving her child, Noah:

"[02:25] No, Noah is Matilda. Because my mom was like, I think it's Grammy. Like, she knew that, like, because my dad had to leave for a day when we were visiting to tend to some things."

Sabrina adds a playful nod to the supernatural traits of Noah:

"[05:34] I believe it. Noah's a spooky kid."

This segment not only personalizes the hosts but also establishes their genuine connection to ghostly phenomena.

---

2. Transition to Appalachian Lore and the Axe Hollow Legend

Sabrina seamlessly transitions the conversation to the broader theme of Appalachian lore, highlighting the region's rich tapestry of ghost stories and legends.

Sabrina emphasizes the region's spooky reputation:

"[05:53] Spooky, scary, scary. Spooky, scary, spooky, scary is the Appalachian area."

This sets the foundation for the main narrative—the legend of the Axe Hollow Murders.

---

3. The Legend of Axe Murder Hollow

a. The Origin Story

Sabrina begins by narrating a dramatized version of the Axe Hollow Murders, painting a vivid picture of the events that birthed the legend.

Sabrina describes the plight of a gloomy farmer:

"[07:12] This is the movie Klaus, I'm telling."

She details how the farmer's envy and suspicion of a cheerful hired hand led to a tragic series of murders:

"[08:24] He then went in search of the man he had driven off his land... carrying a bloody axe, looking for the man."

This rendition establishes the haunted reputation of Axe Murder Hollow, a place shrouded in tragedy and supernatural activity.

b. Research into the Legend

Delving deeper, the hosts discuss their research challenges, noting the lack of concrete records about the supposed murders.

Sabrina expresses confusion over the legend's geographical association:

"[09:31] And I was very confused because I found it in this book... But when I began my Google search, this legend takes place in Erie, Pennsylvania."

They uncover that despite its prominence in Appalachian regions, the legend originates from Erie, Pennsylvania—a location technically outside the traditional Appalachian boundaries.

c. Theories Behind the Legend

To unravel the mystery, Corinne and Sabrina explore three primary theories about the origins of the Axe Hollow Murders:

1. Billy the Butcher

   Sabrina introduces William "Billy" Gack, a real individual whose reclusive nature may have fueled urban legends:

   "[35:18] So, that's where people say, like the farmer is looking to murder."

   Corinne reflects on his misunderstood persona:

   "[36:00] They think they're about to be Stu."

   Despite being a misunderstood figure, there's no evidence Billy committed such atrocities, suggesting his portrayal as a monster was a product of local myths.

2. Little Egypt: The Romani Influence

   The Romani community, often misunderstood and demonized, is another focal point. Negative stereotypes and unfounded rumors, such as a Romani man's violent rage, contributed to vilifying this group.

   Sabrina highlights the destructive nature of these stereotypes:

   "This is absolutely a rumor that was used to increase the fear... to demonize them in society."

   This theory underscores how societal prejudices can morph into haunting legends.

3. Mary Lynn Crotty’s Murder

   A documented crime adds a tragic layer to the legend. In 1963, Mary Lynn Crotty was brutally murdered by Daniel Vibing Couser, who attempted to associate his heinous act with the existing legend to obfuscate the truth.

   Sabrina recounts the brutal details:

   "[43:00] He then put Mary's body in his trunk before deciding to dump her body in Axe Murder Hollow..."

   This real-life tragedy likely cemented the hollow's sinister reputation.

d. Contemporary Perspectives and Changes

The hosts discuss how Axe Murder Hollow has evolved over time, especially with residential developments encroaching upon the once-remote area.

Sabrina notes the transformation:

"[45:29] Others do want to encourage the legend, wanting to uphold the oral tradition and the local lore that it has created for the town of Erie, Pennsylvania."

However, local landowners express frustration over the legend's impact, as trespassing and disruptive behaviors tarnish the area's reputation.

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4. Listener Interaction: A Personal Ghost Sightings Story

Corinne shares a poignant listener-submitted story from Ivy, detailing her father's ghostly encounter during his childhood in a haunted hotel. This segment bridges the main narrative with personal experiences, emphasizing the pervasive nature of ghost stories in Appalachian folklore.

Corinne illustrates her father's scientific skepticism juxtaposed with his inexplicable experience:

"[53:54] He said what he saw flapping outside his window looked like a Jenny Hanover... He has no idea what it could be other than something supernatural."

This story reinforces the theme that even the most rational minds can be unsettled by the supernatural.

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5. Conclusion: The Enduring Legacy of Axe Murder Hollow

Corinne and Sabrina wrap up the episode by reflecting on the dark origins and the enduring fascination with the Axe Murder Hollow legend. They emphasize the importance of respecting local traditions and the land to preserve the integrity of such haunting tales.

Corinne shares final thoughts:

"[57:25] And yeah, just keep coming back. If you want episodes one week early and ad free, you can join us on Patreon..."

Sabrina concludes with a call to action:

"[57:55] We love you all. Thank you to all of you. We will see you on the other side. Very spooky."

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Notable Quotes with Timestamps

• Sabrina [05:53]: "Spooky, scary, scary. Spooky, scary, spooky, scary is the Appalachian area."

• Corinne [02:25]: "No, Noah is Matilda. Because my mom was like, I think it's Grammy."

• Sabrina [07:32]: "This is the movie Klaus, I'm telling."

• Sabrina [08:24]: "He then went in search of the man he had driven off his land... carrying a bloody axe, looking for the man."

• Sabrina [35:18]: "So, that's where people say, like the farmer is looking to murder."

• Sabrina [43:00]: "He then put Mary's body in his trunk before deciding to dump her body in Axe Murder Hollow..."

• Corinne [36:00]: "They think they're about to be Stu."

• Sabrina [45:29]: "Others do want to encourage the legend, wanting to uphold the oral tradition and the local lore..."

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Key Insights and Conclusions

• Origins of Legends: The Axe Murder Hollow legend is a tapestry woven from real events, societal prejudices, and tragic crimes. Understanding its multifaceted origins helps in discerning fact from fiction.

• Evolution Over Time: As societal contexts change, so do legends. Residential development and modern disturbances have transformed Axe Murder Hollow from a remote haunting ground to a suburban legend.

• Impact of Prejudices: The demonization of marginalized communities, like the Romani, showcases how fear can shape and perpetuate lasting myths.

• Personal Experiences: Listener-submitted stories add depth and authenticity to the narratives, highlighting the universal nature of ghost stories.

• Respecting Traditions: Preserving the sanctity and respect for historical sites and local lore is crucial in maintaining the delicate balance between legend and reality.

---

Conclusion

In this episode, Corinne and Sabrina masterfully blend personal anecdotes with in-depth research to explore the dark and enigmatic legend of the Axe Murder Hollow. Through engaging storytelling and thoughtful analysis, they illuminate the complex interplay between history, myth, and the human psyche in shaping enduring supernatural tales.

Transcript

[Sabrina]

On WhatsApp, no one can see or hear your personal messages. Whether it's a voice call message or sending a password to WhatsApp, it's all just this. So whether you're sharing the streaming password in the family chat or trading those late night voice messages that could basically become a podcast, your personal messages stay between you, your friends and your family.

[Corinne]

No one else, not even us.

[Sabrina]

WhatsApp message privately with everyone. Hey, it's Ryan Reynolds here from Mint Mobile. Now, I was looking for fun ways to tell you that Mint's offer of unlimited Premium Wireless for $15 a month is back.

[Corinne]

So I thought it would be fun.

[Sabrina]

If we made $15 bills, but it turns out that's very illegal. So there goes my big idea for the commercial. Give it a [e-mail] Switch upfront payment of $45 for a three month plan equivalent to $15 per month. Required new customer offer for first three months only. Speed slow. After 35 gigabytes of network busy. Taxes and fees extra. See mint mobile.com.

[Corinne]

Very spooky. It's hard because I'm trying not move to where. Whoa. Try not to move to where you told me not to move to.

[Sabrina]

Where'd you come from?

[Corinne]

I don't know. He said the focus is good here, so I'm not. I'm like frozen here.

[Sabrina]

Where did you come from? Where'd you go? Huh? Oh, okay. Hi. Hello, everyone.

[Corinne]

Hi. This is Two Girls, One Ghost.

[Sabrina]

Two girls, One Ghost. And we are your ghostesses. That is Corinne.

[Corinne]

Hello.

[Sabrina]

I'm so sorry. I am Sabrina. Welcome to another episode of Two Girls, One Ghost where we are diving into some Appalachian lore. Before I get into my story, I feel like you every time you go home, you get ghost stories to come back with.

[Corinne]

Oh, I do have one. See, I knew I would have forgotten to even tell you.

[Sabrina]

Okay, please tell me.

[Corinne]

My mom is convinced that it's my grammy, but I'm convinced that Noah's telepathic. So this is love.

[Sabrina]

Okay.

[Corinne]

This is our, like, thing. Like, it's not a huge ghost story. It's basically just the night before my parents were like, we, we really want to get up when Noah gets up. And I was like, good luck. He's been getting up so early recently, and at 4:45am Noah gets up, I pluck him from the bed, and as I'm about to like, open the door, my parents television turns on in their room to the news. And they have never, ever had that happen before. So, like, that's not a normal paranormal thing. For them or just, like, electrical thing.

[Sabrina]

But it was like, is Noah Matilda?

[Corinne]

That is exactly. I kept calling him Matilda. I was like, noah is Matilda. Because my mom was like, oh, I think it's. I think it's Grammy. Like, she knew that, like, because my dad had to leave for a day when we were visiting to go tend to some things. And my mom was like, no. Grammy knew that dad wanted to spend time with Noah, and he was, like, getting us up. I was like, I don't know. I think Noah wanted to spend time with you. And it's like, turn on the tv. Wake you up. I'm up.

[Sabrina]

I believe it. Noah's a spooky kid.

[Corinne]

I think so. I don't know. That's our ghost story from the weekend. Yeah.

[Sabrina]

Okay. So I actually weirdly watched Matilda two nights ago.

[Corinne]

Did you?

[Sabrina]

And I realized that we are all. I feel like our community. I can speak for y'. All. I feel like we. We cater to a specific type of person because we are these types of people. I think we've all become Miss Honey.

[Corinne]

I was gonna say your outfit's kind of Miss Honey vibes.

[Sabrina]

Thank you.

[Corinne]

You know, like, if you had, like, a white turtleneck on under it or something, like, I feel like it would be so Ms. Honey, because it's very, like, 90s.

[Sabrina]

Thank you. I, in my depression this past couple of weeks, spent a lot of money on new clothes that I have nowhere to wear except for our podcast recording. So I'm gonna be dressing up for you.

[Corinne]

Okay, great. I will probably still arrive in sweats, so we'll see what happens.

[Sabrina]

Anyway, I was thinking. Cause so in Matilda, Ms. Honey basically gets kicked out of her father's beautiful mansion, and she, like, rents a little cottage and plants a bunch of wildflowers and lives in this cottage. And. And I was like, that's all of us. That's all we want.

[Corinne]

That totally is. Oh, my gosh. I'm obsessed. Wait, and that reminds me that this morning, Noah and I were outside walking around, and I'm holding him, and a hummingbird came up to us and was, like, a foot away, and I was like, oh, my God. I was, like, literally saying, oh, my God. Oh, my God. Are you okay? What's wrong? Is this a miracle? Are we blessed? Like, I was, like, flustered and talking out loud because when does a hummingbird ever come and stop and flutter in front of you for multiple seconds?

[Sabrina]

Okay, so Noah's Cinderella, too, I guess.

[Corinne]

I don't know. He was like, la, la, la, la. And out and we saved a ton of animals, and this is magic. You know what? Maybe Noah does have something weird going on because we were saving frogs left and right because they kept, like, migrating to where we were. In my parents backyard, there's like a water retention pond that's just like, become a pond with all this wildlife. And never have we seen deer back there. But when my dad walked Noah out on our last morning, there was a deer, like, beautifully just resting right at the edge of the pond, just sitting there, staring at them, watching.

[Sabrina]

So Noah is a Disney princess.

[Corinne]

I guess he is.

[Sabrina]

He's beautiful.

[Corinne]

He is beautiful.

[Sabrina]

He is beautiful. You know what else is beautiful? Scary, spooky, scary. Spooky, scary, Spooky, scary, scary is the Appalachian area. The Appalachian mountains, Appalachian Trail, the horrors, the creatures, the ghosts that haunt it.

[Corinne]

And we're basically turning into an Appalachian podcast at this point because we're obsessed.

[Sabrina]

We are. But this one has a twist.

[Corinne]

Oh, okay. Okay.

[Sabrina]

Let me hair flip to get ready. As the story goes, there was once a small farm off of the woods. This farmer lived there, and he was a very sad man who found it very difficult to find joy and pleasure in life. The world calloused him, shrouding him in a darkness where laughter and joy ceased to exist. His Eeyore demeanor drew clouds overtop everyone around him. His wife became a shadow of herself. She spent her days trying to keep her husband from becoming angry. This toxic environment spread over to their children too. They went to school, they came home and worked. There was never time for play. One summer, the farmer decided to hire a man to help on the farm because it was just too much to do by himself. Apparently, he hired a drifter. And I would like to say he probably didn't do an interview process because if he had, he probably wouldn't have hired this man, because this man was. Was the complete opposite of him. Where he found no joy. This hired hand loved to smile, love to sing. Was just a happy, pleasant man, which obviously annoyed the shit out of the farmer, right?

[Corinne]

Cranky. But the hired hand, sometimes you need a little joy.

[Sabrina]

I think it was too far gone for this man. But this hired hand continued his work with a smile on his face, which became contagious. It spread across the farm to the wife, to the children. He would craft gifts for the children. He would create toys for them. He would give them flowers.

[Corinne]

This is the movie Klaus, I'm telling.

[Sabrina]

You, with a really horrific ending.

[Corinne]

Wait.

[Sabrina]

Little by little, this farmer grew to resent the hired hand. And then he began to suspect that this man was having an affair with his wife. Enraged, he fired the man, driving him off of his land.

[Corinne]

Oh, my brain filled in. Like, driving him off of. I thought you were gonna say a cliff.

[Sabrina]

Oh, I think he.

[Corinne]

Instant death. Like Game of Thrones. How many people are dying in the first two seconds of the story?

[Sabrina]

A lot. Content warning here. There is a lot of death. He then confronted his wife, and in a blind rage, he picked up an ax and he brutally murdered his wife and then his children during the confrontation.

[Corinne]

Like, did she admit to it or was he just like.

[Sabrina]

I think he was just.

[Corinne]

I think you cheated on me and I'm gonna axe my whole family to death.

[Sabrina]

Yep.

[Corinne]

Holy crap.

[Sabrina]

He then went in search of the man he had driven off his land. And he was later found by townspeople wandering the woods, still carrying the bloody axe, muttering to himself. Ever since then, people have claimed that the spirits of the entire family haunt the land and that this man is still haunting the land, carrying a bloody axe, looking for the man.

[Corinne]

Jesus.

[Sabrina]

Ever since then, this has become local legend, local lore that people have, like, dared one another to go spend time in the Axe Murder Hollow, but there are no records of this murder happening. And we're going to dive into what is called the Axe Hollow Murders or sometimes called the Axe Hollow Murder. And we're going to discover that despite this being legend in Appalachia in various regions, the real legend comes from a place technically not in Appalachia.

[Corinne]

Oh, interesting.

[Sabrina]

And I was very confused because I found it in this book, which I used for the research of when we did our three parter Appalachia Folklore Unveiled.

[Corinne]

Can I look at it? Just gently peruse as you please.

[Sabrina]

And that's how I picked this topic. I picked it for later because I was like, ooh, I definitely want to research this. But when I began my Google search, this legend takes place in Erie, Pennsylvania.

[Corinne]

Shit.

[Sabrina]

What have you.

[Corinne]

I think. I think the listener story I picked out is from Erie.

[Sabrina]

Really?

[Corinne]

And I actually had no idea.

[Sabrina]

Don't quote me on this.

[Corinne]

But I'm, like, fairly certain it is.

[Sabrina]

That would be spooky. Okay, Well, I think it is. So it's interesting because then I was looking on Reddit and I went on a deep dive and people were asking, what's your local Appalachian legend? And multiple people from the Lake Erie area were like, oh, the legend of Axe Hollow murders. But it's technically 30 miles north of the Appalachian region, so it's not.

[Corinne]

If he's wandering through the woods, I bet he, like a classic wander Onto the trail.

[Sabrina]

So it's not part of the technical Appalachian region. This takes place in Erie, Pennsylvania. And I think its legend has become so prominent that it has spread through multiple regions in Appalachia. And also, unfortunately, there have been a lot of. What are you saving for later?

[Corinne]

There's a bigfoot like creature in Appalachia called the wood booger. We'll learn about it at a later date.

[Sabrina]

You can keep the book if you would like.

[Corinne]

Okay, I will.

[Sabrina]

Okay. So, yes, this legend has become so prominent, and unfortunately, there are a lot of acts involved, Murders and attacks that have taken place throughout this whole region. And keep in mind, this region is what it traverses, like, 13 states and multiple countries. So it's massive. It's been around. It predates us humans. It is ancient. There have been a lot of deaths and a lot of murders.

[Corinne]

But I want people hiding out on the trail for nefarious activities. Exactly. They're so scary.

[Sabrina]

It's very scary.

[Corinne]

It's a love hate. Love to be scared. Hate that it's real.

[Sabrina]

Yeah. Hate to be scared by real humans.

[Corinne]

Right.

[Sabrina]

Because ghosts are just doing their ghoulshit. You know, they can't help it. But I wanted to dive deep into this story because we love a hometown legend. A like story that you grow up with that haunts you and that all the kids spread and that people talk about in school. The doorbell that they dare you to go ring late at night. Yes.

[Corinne]

Sticky house at the end of the street. Mine was Emily's bridge, which we covered in an early episode. We drive out to Emily's Bridge. Like, dare you to go across the bridge.

[Sabrina]

Mine was my next door neighbor.

[Corinne]

Yours is real close to home.

[Sabrina]

We called him Mr. Milk. I think his name was Milton. I don't know. He was. He was a very old man. And I looking back, I feel really sad because he was clearly a sad, lonely old man. But he gave pennies on Halloween, and his backyard was a fricking jungle. Like, when I think about it from my childhood perspective, I think of the movie Disturbia. Like, that's what his vibe was to us as children. And we would dare each other to ring the doorbell or to jump over the fence and run through his backyard.

[Corinne]

Oh, my gosh.

[Sabrina]

I know. I feel really bad for him.

[Corinne]

Maybe he was just ahead of his time. And it was actually a pollinator habitat that he was keeping for the birds and the.

[Sabrina]

He just liked nature.

[Corinne]

Yeah.

[Sabrina]

Yeah. Anyway, I feel like we all grew up with that, so I wanted to do a story similar to that. But also dive deep into where the legend came from. So this is part true crime, part ghost story. And full. Chilly Willies.

[Corinne]

Chilly Willies.

[Sabrina]

This is the story of Axe Hollow Murders, also called the Axe Murder Hollow. Before we dive into the supposed murders and the undeniable hauntings, let's set the scene. It's the fall of 1945 in Mill Creek, which is in Erie, Pennsylvania. Erie, Pennsylvania, sits along the southern shore of Lake Erie, which is known for its beauty, its beaches, the wintry snow dunes. We have some pictures in the YouTube video if you'd like to look at them. But just beyond the shoreline, a short drive to Mill Creek, the landscape shifts, and so too does the energy. These woods feel older, like they're carrying something heavy, historic. It's because they are. And while not exactly in Appalachia, this land does share many similarities to Appalachia. There's deep history with indigenous people who have lived upon this land and creating a deep harmony and understanding with Mother Nature. And it is also rich with oral tradition, ghost stories and warnings whispered between neighbors. The Pennsylvania region is known for stories of ghostly soldiers, killers in the woods, ghost brides, strange lights in the trees. And Mill Creek itself has always been a quieter town with evidence of indigenous tribes habitating all the way back to 3700 BC. It was a community shaped by hard labor. Picture lots of farmland, two lane roads, a close knit community, and a path of woods that everyone knows to stay away from. So now that we have the scene, we're in Mill Creek. You heard the legend in the very beginning of this story. The farmer. Well, where did it come from? I took to the local archives.

[Corinne]

Ooh.

[Sabrina]

And I was searching newspaper articles for hours. But I found some. I found lots.

[Corinne]

Dang.

[Sabrina]

And there's some discrepancy here because there was one article that I found, not newspaper article, but one like article about this topic that said that the very first mention of the Axe Hollow murders was in 1945. Like the fall of 1945. And I'll tell you the story, but I couldn't find that specific newspaper article. And I think someone else deserves credit. And I'll get there in a second. So according to this one article, the very first mention of Axe murder Hollow being called, that was in 1945. Erie, Pennsylvania. The Harbor Creek High School's football season was in full swing. Pep rallies, bonfires, teenage bonding, all in an effort to root the Huskies to victory. A championship. Woof, woof, woof.

[Corinne]

Woof.

[Sabrina]

Huskies.

[Corinne]

This feels like a TV show to me. Or like A movie. Because we didn't. I didn't grow up with, like, football.

[Sabrina]

Being, you know, my high school had had football for one year and then got. We were like, we suck. So they.

[Corinne]

Yeah, yeah, yeah. It wasn't the spectator sport of Vermont.

[Sabrina]

For sure, but in all reality, these kids were just looking for some fun. And that is why, on one chilly fall night, the entire football team loaded into cars and drove out to Thomas Road and stepped into the eerie woods. Wordplay there is intended. Call it a dare hazing, some kind of teenage ritual. But there they stood, a gaggle of teenage boys who thought themselves men invincible. Nothing could scare them. They'd heard the rumors of the horrific axe murders that took place in these woods. They'd heard of the hauntings left behind. And they thought that they could go into these woods unscathed, as you do.

[Corinne]

When you're a teen.

[Sabrina]

But as they approach the remnants of. Of the stone fireplace, the wind whipped through the trees, icing their veins. And they became aware of another presence, if that's what you can even call. Felt like eyes on them. The way that their parents watched them hawkeyed as they brought girls over to study.

[Corinne]

Study.

[Sabrina]

It felt like they had interrupted a gathering. But they were in the middle of the woods with no one else around. That feeling turned into horror when all of a sudden, it was accompanied by a laugh. High pitched, short, then fading away.

[Corinne]

That is not what I was expecting.

[Sabrina]

Then crescendoing into a maniacal, maddening cackle that would not cease.

[Corinne]

Don't look at me. I'm scared.

[Sabrina]

I knew I'd get you. The entire team hightailed it out of the woods faster than they'd ever run sprints in practice. But not fast enough for them to miss the flashes of light and the appearance of a silhouette standing in the woods watching them go. A ghost. Horrified but grateful to escape with their lives, the football team quickly grew infamous. Not for their fall record, but for their encounter with the ghost of Axe Murder Hollow. And that is a dramatized version of what I imagine happened to them in those woods. But that. So basically, when tracing back the legend, a lot of people are like, this is the first time it was written in newspapers and given the term Axe Murder Hollow. I feel like it's very hard to feel 100% these days.

[Corinne]

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[Sabrina]

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[Corinne]

Yes, I was putting them in my drinks, but then you told me that you just squeeze the patches right into your mouth. So I've started doing that now too. Now I'm a squeezer.

[Sabrina]

You're a squeezer. What are you? How do you take your Symbiotica supplements? They have so many different amazing supplements. This one that we have right here is the shilajit liquid complex that truly tastes like yummy chocolate goodness. It's hazelnut, Coca Cola flavored. It's great for sustained energy, muscle recovery, and brain health, which I need all of those. It just makes taking your supplements so much easier and convenient. And also they taste good, which is the best part.

[Corinne]

Go to symbiotica.com TGOG for 20% off plus free shipping. That's symbiotica.com TGOGfor 20% off plus free shipping.

[Sabrina]

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[Corinne]

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[Sabrina]

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[Corinne]

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[Sabrina]

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[Corinne]

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[Sabrina]

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[Corinne]

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[Sabrina]

Yeah, we're getting hungry.

[Corinne]

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[Sabrina]

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[Corinne]

Wait, so it was written in. You said 1945. 5. And then when did it say the murders happened?

[Sabrina]

So that's what we're trying to figure out. So there's no mention in the, like, legend. What. When it happened.

[Corinne]

Okay. So we don't know if it was, like, fresh or if this was, you know, 1901 farmer slaughter.

[Sabrina]

I definitely think it was, like, past, like, not fresh.

[Corinne]

Yeah.

[Sabrina]

Cause then you would be able to.

[Corinne]

Know to actually go into the archives a bit. Yeah.

[Sabrina]

But so then I was, like, looking for that newspaper article about the football team going to Axe Hollow murder, and I couldn't find it. But I could find something that was indeed from Harbor Creek High School. But I think we need to give credit to our queen of the tea, Sue Richardson, because each week, sue and this other woman, Suzanne. Suzanne Blackwood, would write for this column called Student Social Scribblings, and they would spill the gossip from all around school. And this was in the local paper.

[Corinne]

Oh, my God.

[Sabrina]

Yep. And I'll read, like, just a little.

[Corinne]

Blurb of I love it and other hating.

[Sabrina]

This is, like, some other things that are in.

[Corinne]

Like, how salacious was the gossip? Was this, like. Not that it didn't hurt anyone.

[Sabrina]

No, no.

[Corinne]

Like.

[Sabrina]

Okay, I'll just give you an example. The halls of the Academy certainly smelled like a flower shop on Monday. So many of the girls were wearing their corsages from the Try High dance. Get well wishes. Go to Beverly Bonin, the cute band twirler who is in Lakeview Hospital. Like, it's all of these little tidbits of things that are happening.

[Corinne]

Tiny little.

[Sabrina]

A little more news about the Try. Who. Who was the meanie who started that engagement rumor? It was most embarrassing for all concerned. Drama. Yeah.

[Corinne]

Oh, my gosh. So this is the little bit Gossip Girl.

[Sabrina]

Yeah, but there's no, like, hidden identity behind it. It's sue and Suzanne. So the article I could find. This is the very first record of what I could find in the archives of it being called Axe Murder Hollow is from October 27, 1945. Student social scribblings posted the following. And I think it's Suzanne who wrote this, because she says Sue Richardson, who writes Academy news for us, came into the office the other day and asked, do you remember the axe murders which caused so much talk around 34 or 35? Of course, sue thinks that's way back in the dark ages. Well, sue went on to tell me that they're the main topic of conversation of the young set these days. It seems quite the fad to go out to the Axe Murders Hollow around midnight. There's supposed to be a man dressed in white wearing a Miner's hat with a flashlight on top, who carries a gun and chases all comers. This dismal place says sue is out by West Library, and after a rainstorm is just like a mud puddle. I was out there Friday night after a dance, said Sue. But the ghost didn't show up. There was almost a full moon, and everyone said he only comes out when it's pitch dark. Maybe he didn't come out because of the crowd. I counted 10 cars and at least 50 boys and girls. Whether this is true or not, it certainly is causing a lot of excitement. So, Sue.

[Corinne]

I'm just now realizing sue is also a teenager. I thought these were adult women writing about kids in a newspaper. And that's why I was like, this is so bizarre.

[Sabrina]

No, no. Sue is in high school. That's how she knows all the tea.

[Corinne]

Okay, this makes a lot more sense.

[Sabrina]

Yeah. All it took was me reading her.

[Corinne]

Yes.

[Sabrina]

Yeah. You're like, oh, I get it. Maybe Suzanne is an adult because Suzanne wrote, so if your children come home awfully late some night and tell you that they've been out to the Hollow, just chalk it up as an evening spent waiting for a ghost, which has been seen by only a few. And then sue said, I'm going out there again for one more try on a night where there is no moon.

[Corinne]

Oh, my God. So daring. Of course she's daring. She's gossiping openly about people.

[Sabrina]

Yeah. This is like the spot where also lovers go and make out. And there's like, rumors that if you stop there, you'll be attacked by the ex murderer.

[Corinne]

Why is that? Why do you choose a make out spot that.

[Sabrina]

Well, I think that's like the legend, the lover's lane legend.

[Corinne]

Yeah.

[Sabrina]

There's so many iterations.

[Corinne]

There's just like the heightened emotion of, like, will we die tonight? Do you want to make out with me?

[Sabrina]

Yeah. Or, like, getting scared together.

[Corinne]

Yeah.

[Sabrina]

It's probably like the guy who doesn't believe in ghosts, and he's like, let's go to the Axe Hollow murder spot. And then the girl's like, oh, I'm scared. And he's like, come here, baby.

[Corinne]

Yeah, gross.

[Sabrina]

I'd be such a good dude.

[Corinne]

As I'm saying gross, like, in response to it.

[Sabrina]

Well, because I wouldn't do that icky stuff. So sue and the local teens continue to visit the Hollow, but clearly from this article, it's stated that this has been happening. This is the hotspot. A lot of kids are going, this is not the first time people are hearing about it. It's a popular thing for people to do.

[Corinne]

Yes.

[Sabrina]

The football team goes one night they encounter some astral form, ghostly sounds. At some point it goes in the paper. I don't know when because I couldn't find that article. But then on November 23rd of 1945. So like a month after that first article I read, there's another mention of the Hollows in the student social scribbling. And this time it sounds like a lot had been stirred up over the last month because this one stated. Also, I love the way that this is written because it goes. It's like a bunch of thoughts. So it goes. Irv is really proud of the way the football team showed up so well in the all county lineup period. Next paragraph. The spooks involved in this Axe Murder Hollow affair has caused some real excitement around school. The kids seem to be turning one and all into determined but shaking. Spook chasers, hatchets, knives, guns and what have you. Accompanied by students are making nightly trips out to Grub Road. Ed Hanson is making it his life's work to solve the mystery. Like, who's Ed Hanson? A student.

[Corinne]

Wait, Ed Hanson? No, I'm thinking about the Hanson brothers. The band. Never mind.

[Sabrina]

One of the Hansen brothers. Yep.

[Corinne]

He's here to solve the murder mystery, of course.

[Sabrina]

Okay. Then a couple days later, on November 29, 1945, there's a statement being made, Basically being like, hey, the police are now really mad at all of us. Like, we need to cut it out. So it said, by the way, there's been quite a little discussion about axe murders Hollow again, the state police have asked me to tell you not to go out there anymore. So like, the police literally came to sue and Suzanne and was like, hey, can you just let all the students know to not go? And it said, there has been too much disruption. And if it doesn't stop immediately, they will see that there is something done about it.

[Corinne]

Oh, a light threat.

[Sabrina]

But then the story seems to go cold for like 15 years. So after I read these articles, I was like, okay. The first thing I see is there's reference to like 1935, 1934, that there were these axe murders that happened in this area. So I tried to look it up. No record. Never happened. So clearly this has been around for a long time. Maybe in the 1930s, kids were saying, oh, it happened back in the 1920s, you know.

[Corinne]

Right.

[Sabrina]

Yeah. But then I kept looking into Axe Murder Hollow and I found an article from Dec 18, 1960. The Erie Times published an article called Axe Murder. Does a ghost roam along Thomas Road?

[Corinne]

Ooh.

[Sabrina]

And this is the first article that kind of dives into where it originated from, because I think there were Times news reporters who actually spent several months trying to get to the origin of this with not much luck. But this article dives into it. It's written by Tom McCormack and the article begins. Chill winds marking the death of autumn rip through Axe Murder Hollow. Twigs snap, Dry leaves rattle and an unseen dog howls in the distance. The last rays of daylight fade, a final warning that no living thing has a right to remain here. This is the most remote corner of Mill Creek and the most forbidding for generations. Axe Murder Hollow, also called Little Egypt, has been the setting for countless wide eyed, whispered tales of the Romani, of hermits, ghouls, missing persons, murders and the revenge of the undead. It restates the legend talking about how this is the least traveled road in Mill Creek that the farmer craves with jealousy, will not rest until he cleaves the lover's skull that got away. And then the reports of strange going ons have happened and persisted for years. In this article I found that like drivers would park there and they'd find messages written in like the dust or dew on their car, which I imagine is other like teens pulling pranks. But how creepy what was found it might be. A potential origin story is a story told by Harper G. Resterholtz, who was a retired interior decorator at the time of this article being published in 1960. Him and his family owned a dairy farm not too far from where the farmer and his family were said to live. But he grew up with a different story. Growing up, Harper knew that there was but one permanent resident in the Hollow, an old recluse named Billy. Billy was said to be the son of one of the earliest colonizers of the area. But Billy was so disappointed in his love life that he moved into the woods and spent his life in a small hut deep in the woods. Once a month, Billy would venture into the town to get provisions. But he was cruel, unhappy, mighty cross. And Harper stated that we kids were scared to death of him and avoided him all we could. So this talks now about a different legend where Harper grew up with the legend of Billy the Butcher, this like terrifying man who lived in the woods. So you're like, oh, there's just like, you can see how the game of telephone has evolved over time. But there's also two hilarious photos in this article that we need to talk about because it's 1960, the Internet doesn't exist. Ghost photos are not easily accessible to find.

[Corinne]

But this one I, the photography team, did some creative.

[Sabrina]

I don't know how they did this, and it's questionable. I'll show it to you in a second. But basically, it says Times New photographer Ken Ziegler hid in the Axe murder Hollow woods in an attempt to photograph its legendary ghost. When a brief wind rustled the branches near an old dead log, Ziegler saw nothing, yet he fired his camera in that direction on a hunch. This, he says, is the image that appeared when he developed his super sensitive infrared film.

[Corinne]

Super sensitive ghost hunting camera. That's hilarious.

[Sabrina]

Like, come on.

[Corinne]

Do people believe it?

[Sabrina]

I think that they did.

[Corinne]

Oh, my God, let me see it again.

[Sabrina]

It's so bad. It's also funny because Tom McCormack, who wrote this article, put in parentheses. He says, like, as he clearly doesn't believe him, Right?

[Corinne]

This is like, what's he holding in his other hand?

[Sabrina]

I think it's supposed to be like an ax.

[Corinne]

Well, he's holding an ax, but what's in these in his other hand?

[Sabrina]

Let me see.

[Corinne]

Looks like he's dragging around like a owl or something.

[Sabrina]

Oh, it might be a head.

[Corinne]

Oh.

[Sabrina]

Because there's one legend that we'll get into that dang, like, where there's a bloody head.

[Corinne]

But I can't imagine, like, reading the newspaper that morning where you haven't been exposed to anything else because you're supposed to take it all as fact, right? What's reported in the news, you're supposed to believe, right?

[Sabrina]

And then there's a map that's included in this article, and it says, reproduced above is an old map that reportedly was found clutched in the hand of a skeleton unearthed at Axe Murder Hollow. Look at this map because it's hilarious. It has bats and, like, a woman.

[Corinne]

In a witch, a witch in a cauldron.

[Sabrina]

And it was supposedly found in the clutches of a corpse.

[Corinne]

Is this, like. Is this newspaper? The Onion, like, early days. The Onion, Right. This doesn't feel. This is.

[Sabrina]

Well, Tom McCormack. It's a mockery, but Tom McCormack is basically trying to, like, expose the whole story and how it doesn't really have a true origin.

[Corinne]

Okay.

[Sabrina]

And how it has fantasy. Right.

[Corinne]

Well, once you make your way around the 12th giant bat and I come with a bubbling cauldron and a cackling.

[Sabrina]

Witch, bury me with a weird fucking map. Photo and map aside, we're still trying to find the origin story. And what we have right now is the Name Billy and loose ends with axe murderers that potentially occurred in 1934 or 1935. Again, couldn't find anything about those axe murders that happened in 1934 or 1935. So we're going to discuss three theories. Number one is Billy the Butcher. Number two is Little Egypt. And number three is the murder of Mary Lynn Crotty. Again, content warning, there is a lot of violence and murder that happens specifically in theories two and three. Okay, but theory one, let's start with Billy the Butcher, who we heard about briefly from Harper in this article. Billy was just a name. Just Billy. Like, beware of Billy, Billy the Butcher. But who is Billy? There is a real Billy that lived in this area. And there is also in the woods, the remnants of a old stone fireplace, like the rest of the house, has fallen or been burnt down. So that's, like, another reason that people are like, oh, the farmer lived here because, look, there's remnants of a home.

[Corinne]

Yeah. Which, I mean, that exists all over the place.

[Sabrina]

Right.

[Corinne]

Like in Vermont. Sometimes my dad will, like, I've been with him in the woods looking for, like, original Bigfoot. No, like the original, like, foundations, like the prints of the. Of homes that once existed.

[Sabrina]

The truth is that, yes, Billy did live in this land, in the woods, on a farm. He was a farmer, but his name was William Gack, nicknamed Billy. He was born in Germany and moved to Mill Creek as a child with his mother and father. And I think this was like the 18. Like late 1800s. Unfortunately, his father died shortly after they immigrated, leaving William and his mother to fend for themselves. William dropped out of school. I think the furthest he went is, like, third grade. And then he went and found a job to basically provide for him and his mom. He supported his aging mother until she died of psoriasis of the liver. And for a very long time, he was, in fact, that guy in the woods. The recluse, the quiet, somewhat scary because he was different man who didn't really talk to people, who wasn't very happy.

[Corinne]

It is interesting because we started this episode being like, we all just want to be in a cottage in the woods with wildflowers and peace. And he was getting maybe a sliver of it.

[Sabrina]

Yeah, There's, I think, a little bit of a difference of, like, a woman living in the woods doing that and, like, a scary big man doing that.

[Corinne]

Gabby, who's taking care of his dying mother.

[Sabrina]

I understand that, but I'm saying even, like, women in the woods get bad reps, too. And then this man he stopped being a farmer and became a butcher. Billy the Butcher. Quickly, word spread of Billy the Butcher. Don't go near his house. You'll never come back. And then in 1922, two 14 year old boys decided to sneak into the woods and rob the old man who lived there.

[Corinne]

Oh my gosh.

[Sabrina]

They thought that Billy had gone into town and they snuck into the farmhouse only to be greeted by Billy Large towering over them. Billy held these two boys in his house for hours until the police could arrive because he lived far from town.

[Corinne]

Yeah.

[Sabrina]

So imagine the horror as these two 14 year old boys who clearly we can all agree they were the ones in the wrong.

[Corinne]

Right.

[Sabrina]

But now here they are with a scary large.

[Corinne]

Well, the rumors are he kills you.

[Sabrina]

Right.

[Corinne]

So they're thinking they're about to be Stu.

[Sabrina]

Right. And they're alone with him in his house. And he's angry, rightfully so. And his home is surrounded by butcher items. Cleavers, axes, knives, blood. They were letting go.

[Corinne]

But he kept the intruders until they were appropriately apprehended by official law enforcement. We can agree Billy did everything right. We can agree that Billy's image was scary to children.

[Sabrina]

Absolutely.

[Corinne]

That situation to anyone would be scary.

[Sabrina]

And now imagine these two 14 year old boys, they survive this, but they go off and tell the horrors of what they face. And like we barely escaped with our lives, like he was gonna kill us. This rumor spreads even more. The truth is Billy lived a long life. He eventually married and had a family and then died in 1954 of natural causes. So the true pieces here is that Billy did live in the Hollow. His home did burn down and all that remains now is the fireplace that still stands in the woods this day. Which, here's the picture.

[Corinne]

Oh, it's pretty.

[Sabrina]

So that's where people say, like the farmer is looking to murder.

[Corinne]

I do understand how creepy it is though, because there are some hiking trails in Vermont that I've been on that have that same sort of thing where it's like you hike and then you're like almost at the top when you see the just like the fireplace still just remaining standing on its own. And it is a little eerie. It's eerie.

[Sabrina]

It is eerie. So I feel like I can understand how this Billy the Butcher urban legend could evolve into the Axe Murder Hollow legend. But I feel like it's missing the murder part. Right?

[Corinne]

Yeah.

[Sabrina]

Hey, Corinne, you know what doesn't belong in our epic summer plans?

[Corinne]

What?

[Sabrina]

Getting burned by your old wireless bill.

[Corinne]

Oh, no thanks.

[Sabrina]

Nope. That's why I made the switch to Mint Mobile. With Mint, you can get the coverage and speed you're used to, but for way less money. And for a limited time, Mint mobile is offering three months of unlimited premium wireless service for 15 bucks a month.

[Corinne]

Yeah, you can say bye bye to your overpriced wireless plans monthly bills because Mint Mobile is here to rescue you. All plans come with high speed data and unlimited talk and text delivered on the nation's largest 5G network, which is so great because we live in some pockets that have notoriously in the past not had great service. So it's nice to be on the nation's largest 5G network. You can use your own phone with any Mint Mobile plan and bring your phone number along with all of your existing contacts.

[Sabrina]

Ditch overpriced wireless and get three months of unlimited service from Mint Mobile for 15 bucks a month. We love it. And this year you can skip breaking a sweat and breaking the bank. Get this new customer offer and your three month unlimited wireless plan for just 15 bucks a month at mintmobile.com TGOG that's mintmobile.com TGOG upfront payment of $45 required, equivalent to $15 a month limited time new customer offer for first three months only. Speeds may slow above 35 gigabyte on unlimited taxes and fees extra. See Mint Mobile for details. With summer in full swing, I feel like that urge to completely refresh my closet. I don't know about you, Corinne, but I just want to throw everything out. But I don't want to spend a bunch of money on pieces that I'll only wear once or just for one season. Which is why we're very grateful for quints.

[Corinne]

Their clothes are so timeless. They feel luxurious. They look so elevated. Think like 100% European linen top starting at $30. Washable silk dresses and skirts and soft cotton sweaters. Their quality is way beyond what you would expect for the price. And it's the kind of wardrobe upgrade that just, you know, it clicks. And with summer, I have been. I've been redoing all of the beds with like lighter, airy linen and breathable cotton. So I love their home collection so much.

[Sabrina]

Their towels, their duvets. Yeah, everything.

[Corinne]

By working directly with top artisans and cutting out the middlemen, Quint gives you luxury without the markup. And Quint only works with factories that use safe, ethical and responsible manufacturing practices and premium fabrics and finishes.

[Sabrina]

Give your summer closet an upgrade with quince. Go to quince.com TGOG for free shipping on your order and 365 day returns. That's Q-U-I-N-C-E.com TGOG to get free shipping and 365 day returns. Quince.com TGOG so let's get into theory number two. This story I do hesitate sharing because it's a very clear example of a group of people being demonized and villainized because they are different and not understood by society. And again, there's no record of it actually happening. But back in the early 1900s, this area that is now the Axe Murder Hollow was nicknamed Little Egypt because a lot of Romani people camped out here and would travel town to town. Their lifestyle was considered different. And so a lot of people would create unfavorable stories about them to portray that negative narrative. Yeah, that they were criminals, thieves, etc. There's a story that spread around the area of Erie, Pennsylvania that one of the Romani men discovered his wife had been cheating on him and in a rage took an ax, beheaded her and hid her head in the library building. Which is why that image has like, I think holding ahead. Again, there is no evidence of this actually ever happening. And I'm going to go ahead and say this is absolutely a rumor that was used to increase the fear, like fear mongering and negative opinion of these people and to demonize them in society. But I think if that story is created plus the Billy the Butcher over time with a game of telephone, it becomes the legend we heard in the very beginning. Theory number three, this is a very true murder that happened and is very devastating. And I think if anything it perpetuated the narrative of this legend rather than created it. So in 1963, Mary Lynn Crotty was a sophomore at Edinburgh College and she went on a blind date with a 21 year old man named Daniel Vibing Couser, who unbeknownst to Mary, was married with a son. But Mary went on this date and apparently it's hard to know actually what happened, but Daniel tried to make a move on her, she said no. He continued to make advances. And it is believed that when Mary resisted, Daniel bound her, assaulted her, strangled her to death and then stabbed her 15 times.

[Corinne]

Oh my God.

[Sabrina]

He then put Mary's body in his trunk before deciding to dump her body. But Mary was reported missing and everyone knew that she had gone on this date with Daniel. So Daniel was apprehended and arrested and he confessed to the murder pretty quickly and led the investigators to her body. He had dumped Mary's body in Axe Murder Hollow in the hopes that when her body had been discovered in the hollow, it would confuse officials and make them think it was connected to the urban legend. Okay, so we can agree on this. The legend originates with tragedy. Whether it's a man who was just trying to live his life in the woods being turned into the Monster Butcher, a group of people demonized for their ways of life, or an innocent woman violently and unjustly murdered by angry men. This legend comes from darkness, sadness. And we can also agree that regardless of this origin story, these woods are haunted. Because countless people have heard and seen all kinds of things. The writing in the cars, the sounds of laughing, lights in the woods, apparitions roaming this area. And it is still a place that people go to visit. But over time, this area has rapidly changed. Back in 1960, this road was like the least traveled, the most dense woods area. But now most of the woods have been cleared for residential developments. It's now surrounded by homes and parks, and the hollow is not as abandoned and as remote as it once was. But the legend continues, and it's one of Pennsylvania's most infamous legends and vastly known. So much so that it spread through the Appalachian region and that its location is now confused. Is it in the Appalachia area or not? It's close to, but it's not. Some locals are okay with the fact that the legend is continuing. But in 1985, I found another news article from a landowner named Lynn Perry Alstot, who wrote an exasperated plea in the newspaper begging people to stop perpetuating the legend and care about the land if they visit. What happened in Axe Murder Hollow? Nothing. Exclaimed exasperated landowner. And I'll put a picture of it if you guys want to pause and read it. But I'm not going to read the whole article. But it's very. I understand.

[Corinne]

They're probably so sick of people trespassing.

[Sabrina]

Yeah. And I think a lot of it is teenagers going probably with alcohol and leaving trash behind. And I think that was the part that pissed people.

[Corinne]

Just being noisy, too.

[Sabrina]

Right. It's like we're all about a local legend. If you respect the land and the people who live here.

[Corinne]

Right.

[Sabrina]

Like, if you go, you sit there quietly, no one's gonna have a problem with it. But if you go and you're drinking a bunch of beers and leaving all your trash behind late at night, waking up the neighbors. Yeah. People are going to be pissed off.

[Corinne]

And I feel like there's like, certain days where even if you are the person that doesn't want this to happen, like you have to understand that sometimes every once in a while something is and I feel like a specific day like Halloween. Like I would understand if I live next to a cemetery or something like that that like maybe there's going to be noise until 4am and it just is what it is for that one day.

[Sabrina]

Totally.

[Corinne]

But yeah. For it to be just like a constant cycle and rotation of.

[Sabrina]

Yeah.

[Corinne]

Shenanigans, hooligan activities which actually you talking.

[Sabrina]

About a cemetery on Halloween. I've been going to the beach as much as possible just because it's been so nice and this is summer and I just walk over there and I had the most like I was just like. I love Marblehead so much. My walk to the beach is less than 10 minutes. I pass tons of homes that are older than our country. I walk through a cemetery and a walk past a pond that is dedicated to a woman who was falsely accused of being a witch in the Salem witch trials. Like then I walk to a beach. Yep. That has an island that at low tide you can walk to.

[Corinne]

Yeah. And has like a group of people that go do like cold plunges and stuff together.

[Sabrina]

Yeah. The wolf pack.

[Corinne]

It's magical. Nice. It is magical.

[Sabrina]

But others do want to encourage the legend, wanting to uphold the oral tradition and the local lore that it has created for the town of Erie, Pennsylvania. And to wrap up this story of the axe murder Hollow. I'm going to read the latest rendition of the legend and story that goes around. Written by S.C. sclosser, the author of Spooky Pennsylvania and the author of like all the spooky blank books. We've definitely read their books before.

[Corinne]

Oh yeah.

[Sabrina]

Settle in. This is going to be like a scary story told in the dark.

[Corinne]

Ooh.

[Sabrina]

Susan and Ned were driving through a wooded empty section of highway. Lightning flashed, thunder roared. The sky went dark in the torrential downpour. We'd better stop, said Susan. Ned nodded his head in agreement, stepped on the brake and suddenly the car started to slide on the slick pavement. They plunged off the road and slid to a halt at the bottom of an incline. Ned quickly turned to check if Susan was alright. When she nodded, Ned relaxed and looked through the rain soaked windows. I'm going to see how bad it is, he told Susan and went out into the storm. She saw his blurry figure in the headlight walking around the front of the car. A moment later he jumped in beside her, soaking wet. The car's not badly damaged, but we're wheel deep in mud, he said. I'm going to have to go for help. Susan swallowed nervously. There would be no quick rescue here. So he told her to turn off the headlights and lock the doors until he returned. Axe Murder Hollow. Although Ned hadn't said the name aloud, they both knew what he had been thinking when he told her to lock the car. This was a place where a man had once taken an axe, hacked his wife to death in a jealous rage over an alleged affair. Supposedly, the axe wielding spirit of the husband continues to haunt this section of the road. Outside the car, Susan heard a shriek, a loud thump, and a strange gurgling noise. But she couldn't see anything in the darkness. Frightened, she shrank down in her seat. She sat in silence for a while, and then she noticed another sound. Bump, bump, bump. It was a soft sound, like something being blown by the wind. Suddenly, the car was illuminated by a bright light. An official sounding voice told her to get out of the car. Ned must have found a police officer, right? So Susan unlocked the door and stepped out of the car. As her eyes adjusted to the bright light, she saw it. Hanging by his feet from the tree next to the car was the dead body of Ned. His bloody throat had been cut so deeply he was nearly decapitated. The wind swung his corpse back and forth so that it thumped against the tree. Bump. Bump. Bump. Susan screamed and ran toward the voice in the light. And as she drew close, she realized that the light was not coming from a flashlight. Standing there was the glowing figure of a man with a smile on his face and a large, solid, definitely real axe in his hands. She backed away from the glowing figure until she bumped into the car. Playing around when my back was turned, the ghost whispered, stroking the sharp blade of the axe with his fingers. You have been very naughty. The last thing she saw.

[Corinne]

It makes me feel like now we're in like a smut weird novel situation.

[Sabrina]

Naughty, naughty. The last thing she saw was a glint of the axe blade in the eerie incandescent light. Susan blinked. I'm just kidding. Going to the blinks. If you don't know where that's from. My dad wrote a porno. Highly suggest hilarious podcast.

[Corinne]

One of the first podcasts we ever listened to. It was like my favorite murder. And my dad wrote a porno.

[Sabrina]

Yeah, but no, Susan did not blink again.

[Corinne]

Dang.

[Sabrina]

And that's the legend that goes around town now. And that's the ghost story people tell at campfires.

[Corinne]

That is very creepy. And I totally understand why kids would keep it going. Yeah, especially if there's like that much history and like you actually have Newspaper clippings of people talking about this.

[Sabrina]

It just perpetuates for generations, right? In different iterations, but over time, it's evolving.

[Corinne]

Ingrained.

[Sabrina]

Yeah.

[Corinne]

Okay, I lied. This is. It's not from Eerie, but it is from Pennsylvania, which in the tracker, I.

[Sabrina]

Did not mention Pennsylvania, so I. Yeah.

[Corinne]

I did not know. And I did Google it is Eerie. Ooh, Snaps for Sabrina. Sorority snaps.

[Sabrina]

I feel bad. Anyone who's from Erie, how many times have you heard that?

[Corinne]

Well, it's fun. Be more fun.

[Sabrina]

It's pretty there. It's very pretty there.

[Corinne]

I've never been. Okay. Hi, current and Sabrina. This story is about my father, and he recently shared this story with me after I sent him one of your episodes on an Appalachian ghost story for context. My dad is a skeptic. He's a biologist and strictly believes in science and will always try to justify the supernatural with scientific evidence.

[Sabrina]

Okay. Can I just say, though, like, I literally saw a video on TikTok the other day where it's a scientist who talks about how he, like, studied water and, like, feeding frequencies and information to water.

[Corinne]

Yeah.

[Sabrina]

And water retains more information on a full moon, which is why people make moon water.

[Corinne]

Whoa.

[Sabrina]

Under a full moon.

[Corinne]

Oh, I didn't know that. In that wild, like, the structure.

[Sabrina]

So you whisper your intentions and, like, good, positive energy into water before putting it under a full moon and.

[Corinne]

Okay, help me.

[Sabrina]

Deep blow.

[Corinne]

Do you drink the moon water?

[Sabrina]

You can. You can also use it in, like, any ritual. You can water your plants with it. You can. Yeah, Mine's just sitting on my table, and I have not done anything with it yet.

[Corinne]

Oh, don't leave it in the jar too long. Right. Well, then it will grow sea monkeys or something.

[Sabrina]

I'll bathe in it.

[Corinne]

Oh, wow. But I do love this, too, because I feel like this is, like, a classic where it's always like, a skeptic story, but specifically when a dad has their child send it in a story, you know that this is, like, rocked their world.

[Sabrina]

Yes.

[Corinne]

Okay. He's a biologist. He strictly believes in science and will always try to justify the supernatural with scientific evidence. But when I had asked him if he had any spooky stories from his time growing up in West Virginia and southern central Pennsylvania, he said he had one that he will never forget. He has never shared it before in his life. A little background to my dad's childhood. He grew up in a very rural part of southern Pennsylvania in a hotel called the Grand View Ship Hotel on Lincoln.

[Sabrina]

That sounds amazing.

[Corinne]

The hotel was an actual Ship. My grandparents owned it in the 70s and called it Noah's Ark, where they had a zoo and a restaurant as well. And the hotel itself is pretty famous. Many presidents and notable historical figures have stayed there, so it is old as fuck. The hotel is haunted and my dad knew this because he also lived there while his family owned it. This specific part of Pennsylvania is deep in history due to it being relevant during the Revolutionary War having multiple Native American tribes local to the area. And the Underground Railroad went through this area and my grandparents house. So lots of ground for folklore to take place. The one night my dad was sitting in his room in the hotel. I think he said he was 7 or 8 and he had a window open, but the screen was still there. He described to me what he saw and it was something he'd never seen before in his life. This is a man who literally studies biology, zoology and entomology for a living. He said what he saw flapping outside his window looked like a Jenny Hanover, which is basically like a dried out stingray skeleton that people used to have in their house as decor in the 70s, like his grandma did. Which is why he knew what this was. He said. And they showed a picture because I was like, what the fuck is this? I've never even heard of that. He said this creature flapped in front of the window for five seconds before flying away. And then he never saw it again. He told me that even 50 some years later, he has never encountered something that has looked like that. He has no idea what it could be other than something supernatural. And he's a very reserved and private man. So I knew that this wasn't him just bullshitting me. I'm hoping maybe you could help discover what this creature might be as I have no idea myself and I am very into Appalachian folklore. Thank you so much for your time. I hope you enjoy the story. And this is from Ivy.

[Sabrina]

Can I see the picture?

[Corinne]

Yeah. We've seen this in like different cryptozoology museums. It's a dried out stingray. I feel like they used to call them like mermaids sometimes too, but solid.

[Sabrina]

Did you know that stingrays are sharks?

[Corinne]

No.

[Sabrina]

Yeah.

[Corinne]

What?

[Sabrina]

I'm watching all the sharks on Netflix. I don't know why, because I love sharks and Shark Week is my vibe. But yeah, stingrays are flat sharks.

[Corinne]

So I swam with sharks in the Cayman Islands. Basically I hugged and kissed and touched a shark. Can't say every species. I'll do that too. That's crazy.

[Sabrina]

In that wild, I was. I had no Idea. But there's a woman on the show who is like a expert in stingrays and she is. She keeps saying flat sharks are sharks too.

[Corinne]

That's so funny. Okay. And here's a postcard of the hotel. That is a ship, but it's also a hotel.

[Sabrina]

That would be so cool to grow up on that.

[Corinne]

Yeah.

[Sabrina]

I have no idea what the heck he saw.

[Corinne]

I don't know either.

[Sabrina]

Well, part of me is like Appalachia, right? Ghost of the corpse that his grandmother.

[Corinne]

Had appear like flying and flapping through the sky.

[Sabrina]

I don't know if I'm a ghost of a water species, I'd be like, hey, I'm not restricted to the water.

[Corinne]

Now, but in a shriveled form. I feel like if it were spectral, it would be like its full stingray body.

[Sabrina]

Oh, I thought it was.

[Corinne]

No, it was a shriveled, dried up, mummified version of the stingray flapping through the sky.

[Sabrina]

Maybe it was a fairy.

[Corinne]

Can owls lose all of their feathers? But then how do they fly? Never mind. I'm trying to think.

[Sabrina]

They can lose their feathers, right? Oh, yeah. But.

[Corinne]

But then how do they fly without their feathers?

[Sabrina]

Awesome. We have no answers.

[Corinne]

Sorry, we have zero answers.

[Sabrina]

But your dad should not be a skeptic is basically all we have to say.

[Corinne]

Yeah, he can't figure it out. Guess what? Neither can we.

[Sabrina]

And we are professionals. Yeah.

[Corinne]

So tell your dad to. Ned's really saying that this is. This is an authentic paranormal experience.

[Sabrina]

Damn. Okay.

[Corinne]

Wow.

[Sabrina]

Well, tell us your local urban legend. Tell us all the weird things that you've seen out your window. Tell us your parents stories, even if they say they're skeptic. We know the truth.

[Corinne]

We know the truth. We know the truth.

[Sabrina]

And yeah, just keep coming back. If you want episodes one week early and ad free, you can join us on Patreon where we have plenty of other bonuses like bonus episodes. Book club. I almost said bookstory, but campfire stories.

[Corinne]

And stories about paranormal. Yes, there's things.

[Sabrina]

There's things. And rate and review us. Follow us on social media, tell all of your friends about us and. Yeah, that's it.

[Corinne]

And shout out to Jamie Ryan, who edits and produces our podcast. Thank you, Jamie.

[Sabrina]

We love you all.

[Corinne]

Thank you to all of you. We will see you on the other side. Very spooky.