05
Oct
2021
Remembering the Salem Witch Trials

Remembering the Salem Witch Trials

Dedicated on August 5, 1992, the Salem Witch Trials Memorial in Salem, MA, serves as a solemn reminder of a dark piece of colonial history. Its most prominent feature is a low stone wall with 20 granite benches projecting from it. Each bench is inscribed with the name of a person whose life was taken due to the witchcraft hysteria that gripped the community in 1692. The memorial’s dignified and unassuming design allows for quiet reflection. With this in mind, let’s explore the infamous events that motivated the building of this public monument 300 years later.

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Posted by AP Sylvia in Massachusetts, Witchcraft, 0 comments
30
Aug
2021
Fossil Tracks at Dinosaur State Park

Fossil Tracks at Dinosaur State Park

On August 23, 1966, an amazing discovery was made quite by chance in the town of Rocky Hill, CT. During excavation for a state construction project, a bulldozer operator noticed some large, three-toed footprints in a slab of sandstone. It turned out that a prehistoric lakebed had been unearthed. It would ultimately yield over 2,000 fossilized tracks that were made by dinosaurs roaming the area 200 million years ago! This find would spark the beginning of what is now Dinosaur State Park.

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Posted by AP Sylvia in Connecticut, Mysterious, 0 comments
30
Jul
2021
Simon Whipple Aldrich and the Vampire’s Grasp

Simon Whipple Aldrich and the Vampire’s Grasp

In North Smithfield, RI, you’ll find a historic cemetery that contains a 19th century tombstone with a very distinct epitaph. The inscription includes some partially obscured lines at the bottom, one of which references “consumption’s vampire grasp.” Because of this captivating phrase, the grave of Simon Whipple Aldrich has entered the annals of New England vampire lore.

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Posted by AP Sylvia in Rhode Island, Vampires, 0 comments
24
Apr
2021
Bram Stoker’s Original Notes for Dracula

Bram Stoker’s Original Notes for Dracula

It’s hard to overstate Bram Stoker’s influence on the modern, fictional vampire. His groundbreaking 1897 novel, Dracula, has been adapted in various ways for film and television over the years, and this popularity has helped shape the expectations people have about the undead. While exploring the origins of modern vampire traits for my book, I found my way back to Bram Stoker a number of times. So, when I had the opportunity to see some of his handwritten notes in person, I couldn’t pass that up.

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Posted by AP Sylvia in Pennsylvania, Vampires, 0 comments
15
Feb
2021
A Fiji Mermaid in Florida

A Fiji Mermaid in Florida

Anyone who has seen a Fiji mermaid is not soon to forget it. Unlike the alluring siren imagery we are familiar with, a Fiji mermaid can be a rather disquieting sight. With a mummified and animalistic appearance, these oddities have fascinated people for years. Once thought to be authentic specimens, they are now acknowledged as artificial constructions. They can still be found on display at a variety of institutions, and I was quite pleased to happen upon one in Orlando, Florida.

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Posted by AP Sylvia in Cryptids, Florida, 0 comments
13
Dec
2020
On the Trail of the Dover Demon

On the Trail of the Dover Demon

In the 1970s, the small town of Dover, Massachusetts entered the annals of cryptozoology when multiple sightings of a mysterious creature were reported. The Dover Demon, as it came to be known, had a humanoid form with strange, otherworldly characteristics. Even decades later, a satisfactory explanation has not been reached. Continue reading →

Posted by AP Sylvia in Cryptids, Massachusetts, 0 comments
31
Oct
2020
A Vampire Killing Kit in New York City

A Vampire Killing Kit in New York City

It was October of last year that my book, Vampires of Lore: Traits and Modern Misconceptions, was released. Since then, I’ve had the privilege of discussing vampire folklore on a variety of radio shows and podcasts. In those interviews, I sometimes discuss how I got started on the path of studying vampires. My inspiration came during a trip to New York City, when I saw a vampire killing kit on display! To commemorate the one-year anniversary of the release of my book, I wanted to share a picture of this mysterious object taken on that fateful day. Continue reading →

Posted by AP Sylvia in New York, Vampires, 0 comments
12
Oct
2020
Sorcery at the Tower of London

Sorcery at the Tower of London

Many legends can be found within the formidable walls of the Tower of London. Given the castle’s long and sometimes bloody history, it’s certainly no surprise. The prophetic ravens that live at the Tower are well known to the public, and ghost stories are certainly to be expected. However, while I was walking the ramparts there, I came across a piece of history that I found particularly interesting. An extremely intricate design of mystical nature was carved into the wall of one of the tower rooms. This centuries-old graffiti was the work of a prisoner once held there. What was the accusation against him? Sorcery.

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Posted by AP Sylvia in England, Ghosts, Witchcraft, 0 comments
02
Aug
2020
The Bones of La Brea

The Bones of La Brea

In the middle of Los Angeles there is an area covered with numerous pits of bubbling black pitch. These sticky, dark pools were once deathtraps for countless prehistoric creatures. Because of this, La Brea Tar Pits became an invaluable source of fossilized remains in the modern era. In addition the wide array of extinct animal bones, the site also yielded a surprising secret – evidence of a 9000-year-old murder mystery. Continue reading →

Posted by AP Sylvia in California, Mysterious, 2 comments
14
Jul
2020
The Spirits’ Machine at High Rock

The Spirits’ Machine at High Rock

There’s a hilltop park in Lynn, Massachusetts that offers beautiful views of land and sea. Though there’s no indication of it now, it was once the site of a singular occurrence relating to the spiritualist movement of the 19th century. A former minister attempted to build a machine that would be imbued with life and serve as a savior for humanity. Continue reading →

Posted by AP Sylvia in Massachusetts, Spiritual, 0 comments

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