16: The Bell Witch

Explicit content warning

09/25/23 • 50 min

The tale of the Bell Witch began in the early 1800s in the very rural area of Northwest Tennessee called Red River near the town of Adams. The legend states in American folklore, that from 1817 to 1821, there was an invisible entity terrorizing farmer John Bell and his family and their small community. At first, it was only relatively harmless occurrences that kept happening in the Bell family home, such as knocking on walls, pulling blankets from the beds and etc. Not too long though, the occurrences became more violent as time went on. The Bell’s youngest daughter, Betsy seemed like she was maybe the target, as she would receive scratches and welts in the shape of handprints all over her body. With reports of strange apparitions, and then a visit from a famous American General, the tale of the Bell Witch attracted visitors far and wide. Was the entity merely a poltergeist of a disgruntled neighbor named Kate? Or was it the spirit of the town Witch with a wicked reputation amongst the townsfolk? In any case, the Bell Witch has made such an impact on American culture, that she inspired the 1999 cult classic, the Blair Witch Project. Sit, down, relax, and join us for this spooky tale!
Thank HUGE shout-out to Sean, our amazing and talented producer, for whom we can not live without!
SOURCES:
Bell Witch, The Spirit That Haunted A Tennessee Family In The 1800s (allthatsinteresting.com)

The Elusive, Maddening Mystery of the Bell Witch - Atlas Obscura

The Mystery Of The Bell Witch Haunting | Boogeymen | Real History - Bing video

Bell Witch Legend | Witch Legends | Famous Witches (homespunhaints.com)

10 Scary Facts About The Bell Witch Legend (ranker.com)

The Official Home Of The Bell Witch (bellwitchcave.com)

Bell Witch - Wikipedia
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The Elusive, Maddening Mystery of the Bell Witch - Atlas Obscura

The Mystery Of The Bell Witch Haunting | Boogeymen | Real History - Bing video

Bell Witch Legend | Witch Legends | Famous Witches (homespunhaints.com)

10 Scary Facts About The Bell Witch Legend (ranker.com)

The Official Home Of The Bell Witch (bellwitchcave.com)

Bell Witch - Wikipedia
To Stay Up To Date On Future Episodes:
Instagram: InsomniacsThePodcast
Facebook: Insomniacs: The Podcast Discussion Group
Tik Tok: Insomniacs.Pod

To Stay Up To Date On Future Episodes:
Instagram: InsomniacsThePodcast
Facebook: Insomniacs: The Podcast Discussion Group
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Previous Episode

15: Jazz, Murder, and Mystery: The Axeman of New Orleans

On the night of March 18th, 1919, nearly every resident of New Orleans was awake, and jazz music blared through open windows from homes, restaurants, and bars. The mood wasn't upbeat like you might imagine, but rather, everyone seemed afraid and on edge.
In this episode, Char and Ashley dive into the chilling true crime story of the Axeman of New Orleans. Active from 1918-1919, this serial killer terrorized the streets of New Orleans, leaving a trail of mystery and fear. Join them as they discuss the gruesome details, the unanswered questions surrounding this case, and the absolutely wild nature of these old-timey crimes. Who was responsible for these attacks? Were they human or some demonic entity? WHAT was their obsession with jazz music?!
So grab your headphones, lock your doors (you never know who might chisel their way in), and join us for another thrilling episode of Insomniacs: The Podcast! Stay spooky, my friends, stay safe, and sweet dreams!
And as always- this show would not be possible without our absolutely INCREDIBLE producer, Sean. THANK YOU! Seriously- the jazz music in this episode is the ICING on the cake.
Sources:
Wikipedia- Axeman of New Orleans
Legends of America- The Axeman
NOLA Ghosts- The Axeman of New Orleans
Country Roads- The Axeman
WBUR.org- The Axeman Serial Killer
Ghost City Tours- The Axeman New Orleans
LSU Reveille- Louisiana True Crime

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Next Episode

17: Vampire Lore and the Case of Mercy Brown

IT'S SPOOKY SEASON, WITCHES!
Dracula. Buffy the Vampire Slayer. Damon and Stephan Salvatore. Edward Cullen.
Vampires have played a role in human culture for quite some time. In this episode, we discuss the origin of Vampire lore and how beliefs evolved over time to give us the vampires we know today. Ashley even gets to let her nerd flag fly when talking about how science and different diseases played a role in how the belief in vampires spread.
Finally, we discuss the case of Mercy Brown. A young woman in 1800s Rhode Island who, after her death, was believed to be a vampire consuming the life-force of her family members. What was the Vampire Panic of New England, how did Tuberculosis play a role, and what does all of that have to do with poor Mercy? You'll have to listen to this episode to find out more.
As always, a big thank you to Sean for producing this episode.
Stay safe, stay spooky, and please, for the love of GOD don't be out there consuming the life forces of your friends and families THANKS!
Sweet Dreams!
Sources:
Britannica Vampire
Britannica Pellagra
Vampire Myths Originated with Real Blood Disorders
The Horrors of History: Vampires
3 Real Diseases that Influenced Vampire Lore
Mercy Brown Vampire Incident
New England Vampire Panic
Vampire Mercy Brown Rhode Island
Mercy Brown: Rhode Island's Resident Vampire
The Last American Vampire