The Supernatural Wonders of Appalachian Folklore

Welcome to the Strange History Podcast, where we talk about the weird and the wonderful and sometimes not so wonderful history that's shaped our world into who we are today. Today, we start a new season. It's season three, and it's going to be all about folklore and fairy tales. Today we're going to talk about Appalachian folklore, or is it Appalachian folklore that's the mystery to us people here in the Northeast. Appalachian folklore refers to the traditional beliefs, customs, stories, and legends that have been passed down through generations in the Appalachian region of the eastern United States.

This region encompasses parts of thirteen states, including Alabama, Georgia, Kentucky, Maryland, Mississippi, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia, and West Virginia, so pretty much up and down the Eastern Seaboard. Appalachian folklore is deeply rooted in the cultural traditions of the people who settled the region, including Native Americans, early European settlers, and African Americans. It reflects their experiences, beliefs, and struggles in this rugged and isolated mountainous area.

There are some common themes and elements found in Appalachian folklore, such as supernatural creatures. Appalachian folklore is rich with tales of mythical creatures such as witches, ghosts, goblins, and fairies. These creatures are often believed to inhabit the forests, rivers, and mountains of the region. But let's dive into it. One such creature. It's actually new to me. I'd never heard of it before. I thought I had watched every episode of every TV show that showed every weird thing in America, but apparently I missed one.

Today, we're going to talk about the snally Gaster, Yes, I said, snally gaster. Well, what is a snally gaster. It's a mythical creature that is said to inhabit the forests of Maryland, particularly in the areas around Washington, d C. And Frederick County. Described as a half bird, half reptile creature with a metallic beak and razor sharp teeth, the snallygaster has been the subject of numerous legends and stories throughout the years. Reports of the snelly gaster, which prowls the woods of Frederick County, have been made since the seventeen thirties, making it one of Maryland's oldest legends.

The eighteenth century accounts by the early German settlers refer to the beasts as a schnellergeist, or a quick ghost that rapidly pounces upon its unsuspecting prey. More accounts and reports of this beast continued throughout the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. Some stories about the snelly Gaster they're pretty interesting. First, we have the moonshine encounter. In the early nineteen hundreds, during the height of prohibition in the United States, moonshiners and the rural areas of Maryland were producing illegal alcohol and hidden stills deep in the forest.

One moonshiner named Jake ventured into the woods late one night to check on his secret operation. As he approached the hidden still, he heard a strange rustling sown in the bushes. Suddenly, a monstrous creature emerged in the shadows, the snally Gaster, with its piercing eyes and sharp beak. The creature let out an ear piercing screech. Terrified, Jake dropped his lantern, causing the still to catch fire. In the ensuing chase. Jake managed to escape, but the snally Gaster disappeared into the night.

I believe Jake drank some strange brew that night, or perhaps he saw the infamous Turkey vulture. Google those things. They're horrifying, honestly. Or perhaps he accidentally burned down the still and needed a quick excuse to get him out of some trouble. We will never know. Then we move on to the Great train chase. In the nineteen twenties, a steam locomotive was making its regular run through the Maryland countryside. The train was carrying a precious cargo of golden jewels, guarded by armed security personnel.

As a train traveled through a remote area, the snally Gaster swooped down from the trees and attacked with its enormous wingspan and razor sharp claws. The creature tore through the trains carriages, causing chaos and panic among the passengers. The security guards fought back, firing their guns at the creature, but their bullets seemed to have no effect. Just as it seemed, all hope was lost, the train entered a tunnel and the snally Gaster, unable to navigate in the darkness, was forced to retreat.

The train emerged on the other side, battered and bruised, but the snally Gaster was nowhere to be seen. Then on February twelfth. In nineteen o nine, the Middletown Valley Register published a letter from TC Harbaugh of Casstown, Ohio, who spotted a gigantic monster, which he claimed was on the loose and headed towards Maryland. Reports of sightings and encounters and where he sit quickly flooded newspapers throughout western Maryland. Even more terrifying, other reports suggested it had laid eggs at Crampton's Gap near Burkettsville, perhaps laying the basis for even more snalling gasters.

Sightings continued for many years, including a chance encounter in nineteen twenty three with Middletown resident Charles Maine, owner of Maine's Ice Cream. He reported to a Cumberland newspaper that its wingspread appeared to be between twelve and fourteen feet. At times he set it throughout a long streamer like the arms of an octopus, but would draw them in again. Then, in December nineteen thirty two, the Hagerstown Morning Herald reported on the death of the snalling Gaster. It was reportedly lowered to a moonshine still in Frog Hollow in Washington County and was overcome by the noxious fumes and drowned in the alcohol.

Vat. That's hilarious. Apparently they are even creating an amor Kin Stanley Gaster Museum in Virginia. That's how popular the stay Gaster is. Let's move on to the wampas Cat, not to be confused with My Cat, who was often referred to as the pain in the asses cat. Wampas cat is a creature often mentioned an Appalachian folklore. It is said to be a large feline creature with glowing eyes and the ability to shape shift. Legend has it that the wampus cat is a cursed witch or a woman who transformed into a half cat half human creature as punishment for entering a forbidden ceremony.

Let's talk a little bit about the forbidden ceremony. Long ago, there was a curious Cherokee woman who wanted to witness the sacred ceremony that only men were allowed to attend. Determined to gain access, she disguised herself as a man, using a magical potion. As she snuck into the ceremony. The spirits discovered her presence and cursed her. She was transformed into a creature with the body of a large cat and the ability to shape shift. Now known as the wampus Cat, she was doomed to wander the forests and serve as a warning to others who dared defy tradition.

We also have the story of the haunting of the Moonshine Runners. In a remote part of the mountains, a group of Moonshine Runners set out on a risky nighttime operation. As they made their way through the dense forest, they noticed glowing eyes and heard eerie howls in the distance. Unbeknownst to them, they had stumbled upon the territory of the wampus Cat. The creature, disguised as a panther, stalked the Moonshiners, causing them to lose their way and become disorientated. One by one, the wampas cat picked off the Moonshine Runners until only one remained.

The last survivor, terrified and haunted by the wampest Cat's haunting cries, vowed never to return to the forbidden territory. I'm starting to see a theme here with moonshiners in these tales. Let's go on though. Next we have Cherokee Little People. The Cherokee Little People or Yunwi Sundi are supernatural beings in Cherokee mythology. They're believed to be small, forest dwelling creatures resembling miniature humans. The little People are known for the magical abilities and are said to help or harm humans depending on how they are treated.

Let's talk about some stories of the Cherokee Little People. The Lost Child is the first one. According to Cherokee legend, a young child wandered deep into the forest and became lost. As night fell, the child cried out for help. Hearing the child's cries, the Cherokee Little People emerged from the shadows. They approached the child with kindness and offered their assistance. They guided the child back to safety and returned them to their worried family. The Cherokee people believed that the little People protect children who are lost in the woods, guiding them back to safety.

Then there was the Mysterious Disappearances and another tale. A hunter ventured into the forest hoping to find game for his family. As he journeyed deeper into the woods, he encountered the Cherokee Little People. They warned him that he was trespassing on their territory and he must leave immediately. He ignored their warnings, though, and the hunter continued his pursuit. Suddenly, he found himself disorientated and lost, so no matter which direction he tried, he couldn't find his way out of the forest.

It is said that the little people were responsible for his predicament, teaching him a lesson about respecting the boundaries of the natural world. The little people liked to give gifts. There are also stories of the little people bestowing gifts upon those who show them great respect. According to legends, some Cherokee individuals who have shown reverence and respect for the little People have been gifted with great hunting skills, luck, or even the ability to heal others. These gifts were believed to be blessings from the little People, rewarded for those who honored their existence.

The stories of the Cherokee Little People emphasized the importance of respecting nature, maintaining harmony, and showing reverence for the spiritual beings that inhabit the world. They serve as a reminder of the deep connection between humans in the natural world and the consequences that may arise from disregarding this connection. These tales continue to be passed down through generations, preserving the rich folklore and wisdom of the Cherokee people. Another amazing tale from Appalachia is the Bell Witch, which I'm sure you've all heard of.

The Bell Which is a very famous legend in American folklore that originated in the early nineteenth century. It revolves around a series of supernatural occurrences and hauntings that took place in Adams, Tennessee, particularly in the Bell family home. The events were said to have lasted from eighteen seventeen to eighteen twenty one and gained widespread attention and notoriety. The story begins with John Bell, a farmer and a landowner who encountered strange phenomena on his property. It started with unexpected knocking sounds on the walls and doors of his house, but as soon escalated to include physical attacks on his family members.

The entity responsible for these occurrences became known as the Bell Witch. The Bell Witch was described as a benevolent spirit or entity that demonstrates its power through a range of eerie activities. It had a knowledge of the past, present, and future, and would often engage in conversations with the Bell family and visitors, using various voices and exhibiting a sharp wit. The entity seemed to have a particular disdain for John Bell and targeted him relentlessly, often leaving him a state of physical and mental distress.

Word of the Bell which his presence spread, attracting curious visitors from the surrounding area. Many people witnessed the paranormal activities firsthand, including objects being thrown, disembodied voices, and even physical assaults. The entity displayed an uncanny ability to imitate voices and shapeshift, adding to the fear and mystery surrounding it.

Over time, the Bell Witch's antics became widely known, and the story attracted the attention and the media and paranormal enthusiasts. Numerous accounts and publications documented the event, including the book Authentic Story of the Bell Witch by Martin Van Buren Ingram, which was published in eighteen ninety four. The haunting came to an end in eighteen twenty one, after John Bell's death. The Bell Witch supposedly announced it would return every seven years but it never did. However, the legend of the Bell Witch has endured and continues to captivate people's imaginations today.

The Bill legend remains a popular subject of books, movies, and ghost tours at Adam's Tennessee. The story has actually become an integral part of American folklore, illustrating the enduring fascination with supernatural phenomena and the unexplained. Let's move on to the Brown Mountain Lights. This I find fascinating because you can actually see these. The Brown Mountain Lights is another intriguing phenomenon steeped in folk or. It's located in Lynnville, Georgia, near the Brown Mountains in North Carolina, United States.

These lights have puzzled and fascinated observers for many years. The Brown Mountain Lights are described as mysterious glowing orbs of lights that appear above the Brown Mountains. Witnesses have reported seeing various colors such as white, yellow, blue, and red. The lights are said to move, hover, and vanish, sometimes appearing in groups or in sequential patterns. They have been observed from different vantage points and at various times, although they are most commonly seen on a clear, dark night, The phenomenon has a long history, which reports dating back to the early twentieth century.

Legends and stories have emerged to explain the lights. One popular tale suggests that they are spirits of Native Americans or Civil War soldiers who died in the area. Another suggests that they are the lanterns carried by the ghost of a long lost love. Over the years, numerous estigations have been conducted to determine the source of the lights. Skeptics proposed explanations ranging from natural phenomenon like atmosphere gases, mirages, or ball lightning, to more mundane causes like car headlights and distant fires.

However, no definitive scientific explanation has been agreed upon. The Brown Mountain lights have become a popular attraction. They drop tourists, paranormal enthusiasts, and researchers to the area. People gather at overlooks or hike advantage points and hopes of catching a glimpse of the mysterious lights. There have been efforts to capture the phenomenon on film or video, but the lights prove elusive, often appearing and disappearing too quickly to be documented conclusively. But now with the use of cell phones.

Right, everybody's got a camera on their phone. I'm sure somebody has captured light the lights on the video. So a little backstory on the Brown Mountain Lights where we're going to talk about the disappeared hunters. One storytells of a group of hunters who decided to camp near the Brown Mountains in the early nineteen hundreds. As night fell, they witnessed the mysterious lights dancing in the distance. Intrigue, they followed the lights deeper into the forest. However, they never returned. A search party was sent out to find them, but all they discovered with the abandoned campsite and the remnants of a fire.

The hunters were never seen or heard from again, leading to speculation that the Brown Mountain Lights had lured them to the unknown. We're going to talk a little bit about the Morning ghosts. According to local legend, the Brown Mountain Lights were the spirit of Cherokee and Kataba Native Americans who died in a great battle centuries ago. The lights are said to represent the torches carried by these morning souls as they searched for their fallen comrades. Some witnesses claimed to have heard faint whispers or distant cries as they observed the lights, adding to an airy element of the phenomenon.

Regardless of their origin, the Brown Mountain Lights continued to spark curiosity and speculation. They remain an enduring mystery that adds to the rich tapestry of folklore and paranormal phenomenon in North Carolina. Next, we're going to talk about the Flatwoods Monster, also known as the Braxton County Monster or the Green Monster. This is an infamous creature as part of American folklore. The incident involving the Flatwood Monster occurred on September twelfth, in nineteen fifty two in the town of Flatwoods, West Virginia.

On that evening, a group of local children witnessed a bright, fiery object streaking across the sky and landing on a nearby farm owned by the May family. Excited and curious, the children, accompanied by a couple of adults, made their way to the site to investigate. As they approached the area, they claimed to have encountered a tall, menacing creature described as approximately ten feet tall, with large, round, glowing red face and fiery eyes. The Flatwood Monsters had a spade shaped head and a body that appeared to be covered in a metallic suit of armor.

Witnesses also reported a strange metallic odor in the air. Startled and frightened, the group quickly retreated from the scene and reported the sighting to local authorities.

News of the encounter spread rapidly, attracting the attention of media outlets and prompting an investigation by the US Air Force. The Air Force conducted interviews with witnesses and examined the site, but could not find any conclusive evidence to support the existence of the creature. Some skeptics suggest that the incident may have been misrepresentation. May have been a misrepresentation of a meteor or a barn owl perched in a tree branch. The Flatwoods Monster incident has become a well known and debated case in ufology and cryptozoology.

Numerous theories have emerged to explain the sightings, ranging from extraterrestrial beings to misidentified natural phenomenon, or even an elaborate hoax. Regardless of the explanation, the Flatwoods Monster has become a part of local folklore, and the encounter is commemorated with a roadside marker near the site. Of Flatwoods, West Virginia. Overall, Appalachian folklore reflects the cultural diversity, resilience, and deep connection to the land and nature found in the region. It continues to be an important part of cultural identity of the Appalachian people and serves as a window into their history and traditions.

I was going to go into Bigfoot because Bigfoot is a huge part of American folklore culture, but that is going to be its own episode. So this has been another episode of Strange History. If you like this podcast, please subscribe on Apple's Spotify or wherever you're listening to your favorite podcasts these days. This episode has been produced by Dead to Me Productions and I your host, Amy Domestico, had much fun making this month. Thank you Darkcast Network, and thank you Spreaker for being the most amazing podcast host ever.

It's free to use and you can make money. Check it out spreaker dot com, Pisa,

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