Author: Steve Gilly

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The Three Ghostly Sisters of Christiansburg

It’s said that evil haunts Christiansburg, Virginia, in the form of the ghosts of three sisters dressed in black, bringing death and destruction trailing behind.

This week on our YouTube channel, discover the eerie tale of the Wardlaw sisters, who brought order and prestige to educational institutions only to leave them in ruins, surrounded by rumors of insanity, witchcraft, and murder. From their mysterious rituals in cemeteries to the suspicious deaths that followed them, the legend of these sinister siblings continues to haunt the region.

Sweet dreams…

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Madness at Rocky Ravine: The Witch Diggers’ Tale


A man returned from the Civil War to help his siblings on their farm, only to spiral into a madness that turned them all into witch diggers.

Discover the eerie tale of the Bichler family, whose descent into insanity led them to believe they were surrounded by witches. From mysterious figures in the moonlight to relentless digging in Rocky Ravine, this story reveals a chilling blend of ghostly apparitions and mental torment.

Are the sightings of a wild man in the ravine the restless spirit of Nick Bichler, forever hunting witches?

Be sure to like, comment and subscribe to our YouTube channel. Thanks for listening!

Sweet dreams, y’all…

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The Woman In The Blue Polka Dot Dress

Stories are told of a mysterious woman wearing a blue polka dot dress trying to hitch a ride along the roads around Logan, West Virginia. This particular tale, though, is about a real person who was murdered in the coal fields.

Today on our YouTube channel, discover the chilling tale of Mamie Thurman, a woman who led a double life—quiet churchgoer by day and a flashy socialite by night. Her murder in 1932 sparked a scandal involving prominent men in Logan, a dubious trial, and a haunting that lingers to this day.

Is Mamie’s spirit trapped in the hills of Appalachia, forever searching for justice?

Sweet dreams…

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Jack and the Cat: An Appalachian Jack Tale

Come on over to our YouTube channel and catch this famous Jack Tale!

There was once a clever young man named Jack, who befriended a cat he met on the road. This cat was special, helping him through some daring adventures, only to reveal a secret that changed Jack’s life forever. This Jack tale is another one of our tales from Appalachia.

If you like our stories, please let us know down in the comments. Give us a thumbs-up, too, and be sure to subscribe so you don’t miss any of our tales.

Sweet dreams…

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The Unexplained Appalachian Mystery of Bouncing Bertha

Join us each week on our YouTube channel as we present one of our podcast episodes for your listening pleasure!

This week we tell the tale of a nine-year-old girl named Bertha Marie Seibert, whose life was shattered by a series of terrifying events in Lee County, Virginia in 1938. Known as “Bouncing Bertha,” she became the center of a media frenzy as her bed shook violently every night, seemingly possessed by spirits. Today we tell the eerie tale of Bertha’s supernatural ordeal, the local and national attention it garnered, and the various explanations offered by experts and skeptics alike.

If you like our stories, please give us a thumbs-up, subscribe and leave a comment below.

Sweet dreams, podcast listeners…

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A Goodbye To Our Podcast

Gena and I have been bringing you the MountainLore podcast since May, 2018. During that time, we’ve told hundreds of authentic Appalachian folktales and Jack tales and a handful of original stories.

Six years is the same as a century in the podcast world. During that time there have been millions of podcasts started around the world and millions that have shut down.

It’s now our turn to say goodbye.

It has become harder and harder to find new stories to tell you. In addition, starting in late 2019 and continuing through the Covid lockdown, here was a surge in new podcasts, many based right here in Appalachia, who do what we’ve been doing, but much, much better than we can. (Hats off to Old Gods of Appalachia, started at the end of 2019 and the best and most popular Appalachia folklore/scary story podcast out there!)

I’ll be taking any future stories we do over to the Stories of Appalachia podcast, which I co-host with Rod Mullins. Gena will come along as needed to provide voices, too.

Thank you all for listening to our tales from Appalachia over the years…y’all are much appreciated by both of us.

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Granny Weiss And The Cursed Money

In the 1820s, a man named Johnson from North Carolina fell gravely ill after stealing money from a cattle buyer. With the help of a wise granny woman, he discovered a remedy, but it came at a great cost.

Discover the tale of Johnson’s theft, his mysterious illness, and the supernatural wisdom of Granny Weiss, who guided his wife to the truth that would lift his affliction, but not without consequences that altered their lives forever.

Sweet dreams, podcast listeners…

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The Haunting of Walsingham Manor

In Georgia, the Walsingham place, haunted by restless spirits and terrifying phenomena, drove a brave man to madness after a night of unspeakable horrors.

Discover the chilling tale of the Walsingham family and their encounter with the supernatural, where eerie sounds and ghostly apparitions led to their hasty departure and about the man who later took a bet to stay in the haunted house.

He was never the same again.

You can subscribe to the MountainLore podcast on Spreaker, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or your favorite podcast app.

Sweet dreams, podcast listeners…

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Andrew Jackson and the Bell Witch

In the hills of Tennessee, General Andrew Jackson’s encounter with the supernatural connects that famous man with the famous entity that haunted the Bell family 200 years ago.

Discover the eerie tale of the Bell Witch, the spirit that tormented the Bells and had a spine-tingling encounter with none other than Andrew Jackson.

You can subscribe to the MountainLore podcast on Spreaker, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or your favorite podcast app.

Sweet dreams, podcast listeners…

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The White Feather

In the mountains of Appalachia, a grieving widow named Rhodey experiences an eerie omen before her husband’s tragic hunting accident, leading her to a profound belief in the supernatural.

Discover the haunting tale of Rhodey and Alamander, where a white feather becomes a symbol of impending doom and a connection to the otherworldly.

You can subscribe to the MountainLore podcast on Spotify, Spreaker, Apple Podcasts, YouTube Music, or on your favorite podcast app.

Sweet dreams, podcast listeners…

Podcast: Play in new window | Download