Weird Island

73. FOOD: The Newport Man Who Ate… Tomatoes?

weirdrhodeisland@gmail.com (Sara Elizabeth Corben) — Sun, 27 Apr 2025 12:31:33 +0000

Episode Description:

While today, tomatoes are one of the most commonly consumed vegetables in the United States, that wasn’t always the case. For much of history, tomatoes were not only ignored, but feared. So, what changed? And is it possible a Newport man played a role in introducing the tomato into the American diet?

Episode Source Material - Michel Felice Corne

Episode Source Material - Tomato History

72. DAREDEVILS: Sam Patch

weirdrhodeisland@gmail.com (Sara Elizabeth Corben) — Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:57:59 +0000

The first famous American daredevil got his start leaping from Pawtucket Falls.

Episode Source Material

71. HOUSES: Octagon Houses

weirdrhodeisland@gmail.com (Sara Elizabeth Corben) — Thu, 19 Dec 2024 17:42:15 +0000

In 1848, a man named Orson Squire Fowler ignited a homebuilding fad when he dreamed up a bold new home design, one that might be cheaper, more efficient and even make you happier.

Inventory of Octagonal Houses in RI - One’s I’ve found to still be there:

Lemuel C Richmond Octagon House, 41 High Street, Bristol
Cranston (Battey) Octagon House, 80 Phenix Avenue. The only surviving of 3 once in Cranston. Built around 1854. Today there are four apartments in the building
East Providence Octagon House, 21 Sunnyside Avenue. Built around 1900 as a bandstand for the short-lived Boyden Heights Amusement Park, and converted to a private residence by 1916.
Providence, 36 Crescent Street. Eliza H. Dix House, built 1855.
Providence, 63 Elmwood Ave. Built 1857 for Silas M. Field, jeweler. Is now a 4 family residence.
Providence, 669 Public Street. Now a 4 family residence.
Providence, 76 Harrison Street. Modern house.
Warwick, 25 South Fair Street, Pawtuxet Village. Built in the 1830s?
Albert S. Potter House, 4 Carolina Main Street, Carolina.
Riverside, 163 Halleck Avenue. Custom built in 1990.
Smithfield, J. S. Sweet Octagon House. Built 1865. 108 Farnum Pike. Need to check this one.
Olneyville Octagon House, built in 1988

Houses that appear to have been torn down:

Bristol Octagon House, Wood Street. No longer there.
Central Falls Octagon House, built around 1877 - don’t think it’s still there
Cranston Ezra Read Octagon House, on Pontiac Avenue. Demolished in the 1970s.
Cranston Octagon House on Wayland Avenue, on a 1882 map but gone by 1895
Johnston Octagon House. Built before 1880, located at 745 Hartford Ave near Killingly St. Demolished in the 1960s.
Pawtucket Octagon House, located at 42 Park Place. Built in 1856, demolished in the 1950s.
Providence, Gano Street. 1906 newspaper article references it. Gone now. Possibly meant another one a street over on Ives.
Providence, 343 Williams Street. No longer there. Built pre 1875. Check this one again.
Providence, Stewart Street. No longer there.
Providence, 241 Ives Street. Razed in the 1980s.
Providence, Locust Street. No longer there.
Providence, 307 Knight Street. Built 1855. Thought to be the earliest octagon house built in the city. Built by Benjamin Merril Hubbard. Went looking for it, but couldn’t find it. Likely gone.
Woonsocket, Sabin Pond House. Built 1849. At 315 Grove Street. Gabled Octagon House, very interesting looking. Demolished in the mid 1980s.
Woonsocket, 21 (?) Fountain Street. No longer there.
South Kingstown, no longer there.
Block Island?
Prudence Island - Not sure of the address!

Episode Source Material

70. IDA LEWIS: The Keeper of Lime Rock

weirdrhodeisland@gmail.com (Sara Elizabeth Corben) — Wed, 6 Nov 2024 10:36:58 +0000

This week, we’ll meet Ida Lewis, the fearless lighthouse keeper of Newport, Rhode Island, who became a national hero for her daring rescues at sea.

Episode Sources:

69. GYMS: The Providence Ladies’ Sanitary Gymnasium

weirdrhodeisland@gmail.com (Sara Corben Harwood) — Sat, 5 Oct 2024 13:45:50 +0000

Episode Description:

Weird Island is back! In the first episode in over a year and a half, we’ll uncover the story of a gym for women in 1880s Providence, begun by feminist philosopher, lecturer and writer Charlotte Perkins Gilman.

Episode Sources:

68. ANIMALS: Oscar, the Cat Who Could Predict Death

weirdrhodeisland@gmail.com (sara elizabeth corben) — Tue, 28 Feb 2023 11:32:22 +0000

Oscar seemed like an ordinary kitten when he was adopted by Steere House Nursing and Rehabilitation center in Providence, RI. But the staff and residents at Steere House quickly suspected Oscar had a unique ability. He seemed to be able to predict when someone was going to die.

Heads up, this episode is more speculative than usual. And it includes a lot of talk of death. Keep that in mind while listening.

Episode Source Material - Oscar

General on Cats

Death and Diseases, further info

Predicting Death

Studies on Scents

Bio-Detection Dogs

Therapy Animals / Our Relationship with Animals

Other Animal Abilities

WEIRD ISLAND CHECK IN: Taking a (Little) Pause

weirdrhodeisland@gmail.com (sara elizabeth corben) — Tue, 24 Jan 2023 12:09:11 +0000

Hey all! I’m taking a tiny pause on new episodes for a little while to work on some other things that inspire me. I’ll be back before you know it! And, in the meantime, I still have a couple of episodes to drop. So, I hope you’ll stick around.

If you’re looking for something new to listen to while I’m taking a breather, I wanted to share some of the podcasts that I've been loving recently. Some local (see list 1!) and some that are just incredible podcasts I think will be up your alley. I have 100% forgotten some (Spotify history needs to go back farther!), so I’ll keep adding!

Local Stories:

Crimetown (If you haven’t already listened to this one, this is a MUST)
Mosaic (amazing)
The Memory Palace (One of my ALL TIME favorite writers. Not every episode is local, but you’ll stumble across many that are)
New England Legends
The Bowery Boys (New York, but lots of crossover)

Not local, but I think you love them:

Heavyweight (This is my favorite podcast of all time.)
Sidedoor
Unexplainable
Not Past It
Nice Try (highly recommend the episode on bidets)
HISTORY This Week
Ologies
Lore
Meet your Heroes

67. MILLS: From Cotton Cloth to Space Age Textiles

weirdrhodeisland@gmail.com (Sara Elizabeth Corben) — Tue, 3 Jan 2023 10:00:00 +0000

While researching RI mills, I came across this one little snippet about the Ashton Mill in Cumberland, and had to know more: “Owens-Corning Fiberglas Company bought the mill... They operated in the mill until 1983. They made tire cord, drapery, and beta cloth for spacesuits for the Apollo Moon missions.”

Episode Source Material:

If you want to know more about: Playtex and Space Suits

The Apollo 1 & the Space Race:

Ashton Mill

66. MEET ME AT THE BILTMORE: Dutee Wilcox Flint

weirdrhodeisland@gmail.com (sara elizabeth corben) — Tue, 6 Dec 2022 10:33:45 +0000

This week, I’m joined by Amanda Quay Blount, who just released her new book Meet Me at the Biltmore this October. She brought me a story I’d never heard before about this Rhode Island based Ford dealer. His name was Dutee Wilcox Flint, and he was one of the earliest and most successful Ford dealers in the world before he lost his empire, moved into the Biltmore, and largely vanished from memory.

Find Amanda's book, Meet Met at the Biltmore HERE! Meet Me At The Biltmore | Amanda Quay Blount

Episode Source Material

65. THANKSGIVING: Revisiting the Origin Story

weirdrhodeisland@gmail.com (sara elizabeth corben) — Tue, 22 Nov 2022 14:38:21 +0000

This week, as many get ready to celebrate Thanksgiving, I wanted to revisit the story of the Pilgrims and the first Thanksgiving that many of us learned as kids. Because, I found out as an adult that I didn’t really learn the full story–I learned a mythologized version of it. And I learned that while I heard a lot about the Pilgrims landing at Plymouth, I didn’t know as much about the Wampanoag people who were already in New England, many of whom were living in what is part of Rhode Island today.

Episode Source Material

64. MURDER: Amasa Sprague and the Trial of John Gordon

weirdrhodeisland@gmail.com (sara elizabeth corben) — Tue, 8 Nov 2022 10:00:00 +0000

On December 31, 1843, Amasa Sprague was found murdered near his home in Cranston, RI. An Irish immigrant named John Gordon was tried and convicted of the crime, but even at the time, many believed he may have been innocent.

Episode Source Material:

63. HAUNTED: The Conjuring House

weirdrhodeisland@gmail.com (sara elizabeth corben) — Tue, 25 Oct 2022 10:01:18 +0000

Have you seen The Conjuring, the 2013 Hollywood film so successful it spawned a franchise of supernatural horror films? Did you know it’s loosely based on the haunting of a Rhode Island family? The old colonial farmhouse in Burrillville, where they lived and experienced paranormal phenomena in the 1970s, has been described by some as one of the most active paranormal locations in the world.

Episode Source Material

62. MILLS: Ann & Hope

weirdrhodeisland@gmail.com (sara elizabeth corben) — Tue, 11 Oct 2022 10:10:40 +0000

Ann & Hope… were two women. Then the words became the name of a ship, followed by a mill, and later a store. This week, I’ll bring you along as I learn the story of the Ann & Hope Mill and the discount department store that shared its name. And along the way, we’ll even uncover a bit of a mystery.

Episode Source Material

61. WINDSWEPT: The Pain-Killer Mansion

weirdrhodeisland@gmail.com (Sara Elizabeth Corben) — Tue, 27 Sep 2022 09:33:49 +0000

Have you ever been to Scarborough Beach in Narragansett and noticed that beautiful stone ruin just beyond the sand? Well, it turns out it’s the remnants of an old carriage house that once stood beside this mansion overlooking the water. The mansion was called Windswept, but locally it was known as the house built with Painkiller money, and it was built by a family who made their fortune selling this over-the-counter medicine called “Perry Davis’s Vegetable Pain-Killer,” remembered today as the first-ever nationally advertised remedy for chronic pain.

Want to know more? Check out these other podcasts:

About Perry Davis’ Pain-Killer:

Perry Davis’ Vegetable Pain-Killer - Ads and Marketing Materials

Patent Medicines / Medicine History:

Edmund Davis’s Death - If you want to learn more about that!

60. FIRSTS: First Oyster Bar in Providence

weirdrhodeisland@gmail.com (sara elizabeth corben) — Tue, 13 Sep 2022 09:28:58 +0000

Long before the quahog became Rhode Island’s iconic shellfish, oysters dominated local waters. In this episode, I’ll be diving into the stories of black innovators and entrepreneurs who shaped the oyster industry–including Manna Bernoon, who established Providence’s first Oyster and Ale House in 1736, the year of his emancipation from slavery.

Episode Source Material:

59. CYCLEDROME: And the First New England NFL Champions

weirdrhodeisland@gmail.com (sara elizabeth corben) — Tue, 30 Aug 2022 09:00:00 +0000

In 1925, a massive bicycle racing track was built on North Main Street in Providence. Later that year, it would become home to the Providence Steam Roller, remembered today as New England’s first NFL Champions.

Episode Source Material

58. WRITERS: H.P. Lovecraft

weirdrhodeisland@gmail.com (Sara Elizabeth Corben) — Tue, 16 Aug 2022 11:00:00 +0000

So, you’ve seen his face on t-shirts and posters and on the covers of anthology books all over Providence, but who exactly is H. P. Lovecraft? Tune in to the first episode of Season 2 to find out! I cover a number of Providence locations in this episode, and you’re welcome to visit them while listening. Many are pretty close to one another. Here’s my recommended mini tour:

Lovecraft’s Birthplace Memorial (home demolished): 454 Angell Street, Providence, RI
Lovecraft’s 2nd Home: 598 Angell Street, Providence, RI
St. John’s Churchyard: 271 N. Main Street, Providence, RI
Lovecraft’s 3rd Home: 10 Barnes Street, Providence, RI
Lovecraft’s Final Home: 65 Prospect Street
Lovecraft’s Grave: Swan Point Cemetery

Episode Source Material

57. GHOST TOWN: Hanton City

weirdrhodeisland@gmail.com (sara elizabeth corben) — Tue, 24 May 2022 09:00:00 +0000

In Smithfield, Rhode Island, out in the middle of the woods, there are the remains of an old village that disappeared over 100 years ago. A ghost town known as Hanton City, sometimes called Haunted City or the Lost City.

To Visit: Walk the Hanton City Hiking Trail, starting from 70 W. Reservoir Rd in Smithfield. About 3/4 of a mile or so in (I didn't map it exactly) you'll see the remains of an old cellar on your right in a clearing.

This is my last episode before a little summer break. Thank you to everyone who continues to listen and support me on this little podcasting journey! It truly means the world to me.

Episode Source Material

56. PPAC: Providence’s Movie Palaces

weirdrhodeisland@gmail.com (sara elizabeth corben) — Tue, 10 May 2022 10:44:17 +0000

Have you ever been to see a show at the Providence Performing Arts Center and marveled at the gorgeous building? Well, you might be surprised to know that when PPAC opened in the late 1920s, the theater showed a different kind of show–movies! I’m joined by special guests Lynn Singleton and Alan Chille this week to dive into the history of Providence’s Movie Palace, these elaborately decorated movie theaters designed to make the average person feel like royalty. And Lynn and Alan will share some amazing behind-the-scenes stories that shed light on everything that goes into keeping a historic building like this one open for all to enjoy.

Episode Source Material

55. MURDER: Carter Jackson Monument

weirdrhodeisland@gmail.com (sara elizabeth corben) — Tue, 26 Apr 2022 09:00:00 +0000

In South Kingstown, there’s an odd monument hidden away in the bushes off Tower Hill Road. It’s a four-sided granite pillar covered, from top to bottom on all sides, in a written inscription. And this inscription tells a story. But not one of a famous battle or prominent leader or politician or historical landmark. It tells the story of a gruesome murder that took place here.

To Visit:

Map to Koch Eye Associates in Wakefield, at 20 Hampton Way, Wakefield, RI 02879. Park in the Koch parking lot near the business’s dumpster. The monument is directly behind the dumpster. It’s in thick brush. You won’t see it at first, but if you walk to the edge of the busy road (be safe) right in line with the dumpster, you’ll see a break in the bushes where the monument is hidden.

Episode Source Material

54. DINERS: Modern Diner

weirdrhodeisland@gmail.com (sara elizabeth corben) — Tue, 12 Apr 2022 10:14:46 +0000

The history of the classic American diner started right here in Rhode Island. It began as something called a Night Lunch Wagon. But over time the diner grew and changed, following trends in the workforce, the American family, and food culture to become the uniquely American restaurant we know and love today. And one of my favorite diners around is Modern Diner–which also happens to be the first diner ever listed on the National Register of Historic places.

To Visit: 364 East Ave, Pawtucket, RI 02860

Episode Source Material:

53. DINERS: Haven Brothers

weirdrhodeisland@gmail.com (sara elizabeth corben) — Tue, 5 Apr 2022 09:45:12 +0000

If you’ve been to Kennedy Plaza, you’ve probably seen the big, shiny stainless steel piece of Providence late-night culture that is Haven Brothers diner. Maybe you’ve even eaten one of their famous Murder Burgers. But did you know that Haven Brothers traces its origin back to 1893, making it one of the oldest restaurants on wheels in America?

To Visit: 12 Dorrance St, Providence, RI 02903

Episode Source Material:

52. WEIRD NEWS: When the Wright’s Chicken Farm Kids were Kidnapped

weirdrhodeisland@gmail.com (sara elizabeth corben) — Tue, 22 Mar 2022 09:00:00 +0000

When a friend said to me, “What about an episode about that time the Wright’s Chicken Farm kids were kidnapped?” I had to know more. Today’s episode comes right from the newspaper archives, from March of 1979.

Episode Source Material:

51. STRANGE STREETS: The Mystery of Ridge St. and Pidge Ave.

weirdrhodeisland@gmail.com (sara elizabeth corben, paul parker) — Tue, 15 Mar 2022 09:00:00 +0000

Episode Description:

On the border of Providence and Pawtucket, there’s a strange intersection. One single road changes its name from Ridge Street to Pidge Avenue. With Ridge and Pidge being just one letter apart, it always seemed like a mistake. With the help of Providence Journal reporter Paul Parker, we get to the bottom of the mystery. And uncover another one along the way.

To Visit:

Intersection of Pidge Avenue and East Avenue, Pawtucket, RI
Pidge Tavern was at 586 Pawtucket Avenue

Episode Source Material

50. SUMMER MEMORIES: RI’s Historic Carousels

weirdrhodeisland@gmail.com (sara elizabeth corben) — Tue, 8 Mar 2022 10:00:00 +0000

Carousels are playful and whimsical, bright and colorful. They evoke memories of childhood and innocence. Here, in Rhode Island, they’re not only time capsules of happy summer moments, but museums of folk art from the golden age of the American carousel.

To Visit:

Looff Carousel | Crescent Park | 700 Bullocks Point Ave, Riverside, RI 02915

Looff Carousel | Slater Park | 825 Armistice Blvd, Pawtucket, RI 02861

Flying Horse Carousel | Westerly, RI 02891

Episode Source Material:

49. WEIRD ANNIVERSARY: Part 2 | Fun Facts

weirdrhodeisland@gmail.com (sara elizabeth corben) — Tue, 1 Mar 2022 11:17:40 +0000

Sometimes when I’m researching, I waste a bunch of time researching something only slightly related to the episode topic. Like the time I read an entire book about apples while researching the Tree Root that Ate Roger Williams. Today, instead of a regular episode, for each topic I’ve covered, I’m going to share one fun or interesting fact I learned while researching that didn’t make its way into the podcast.

48. WEIRD ANNIVERSARY: One Year of Weird Island

weirdrhodeisland@gmail.com (sara elizabeth corben) — Tue, 22 Feb 2022 10:39:29 +0000

I've been making this podcast for a year! So instead of bringing you a normal story, I thought I'd tell you my own.

47. WEIRD FOOD: Cuffy Cockroach’s Sea Turtle Soup

weirdrhodeisland@gmail.com (sara elizabeth corben) — Tue, 15 Feb 2022 10:44:39 +0000

People began eating turtle soup in the 1700s, and they kept eating it through the early 1900s. Companies like Campbell’s and Heinz made canned turtle soup (and something called mock turtle soup). And it wasn’t just available. It was a real culinary obsession. In the early days, there would be these big, elaborate parties, called Turtle Frolics, where people would get together to enjoy it. Including a notable Turtle Frolic in Newport, prepared and served by a talented chef named Cuffy Cockroach.

Episode Source Material:

46. FIRSTS: First Oval-Track Auto Race

weirdrhodeisland@gmail.com (sara elizabeth corben) — Tue, 8 Feb 2022 10:43:25 +0000

In 1896, the very first auto race on an oval track took place at the Rhode Island State Fair, just one year after the first city-to-city auto race in the world took place. Cars were so new, no one knew what to call them. Horseless wagons? Motor wagons? Motocycles? Electric Traps?

Episode Source Material:

45. ARCHITECTURE: Turk’s Head Building

weirdrhodeisland@gmail.com (sara elizabeth corben) — Tue, 1 Feb 2022 12:20:31 +0000

How did the Turk’s Head building get its name? Well, it’s actually built on the site of a colonial house and a store that had an unusual sign mounted outside--a wooden carving of an Ottoman Sultan. The store became known as "at the Sign of the Turk's Head."

To visit: 1 Turk’s Head Place, Providence, RI 02903

Episode Source Material:

44. BUBBLERS: Cogswell’s Infamous Fountains

weirdrhodeisland@gmail.com (sara elizabeth corben) — Tue, 18 Jan 2022 10:28:24 +0000

In the middle of downtown Pawtucket, there’s an old, no longer functioning drinking fountain that most people assume is just a statue. But it’s one of only a handful of remaining Temperance Fountains, donated to the city by a man who believed that the solution to drunkenness might just be a glass of fresh, cold water.

To Visit: Corner of Roosevelt Ave and Main Street, Pawtucket RI | You can map to 175 Main Street, Pawtucket, RI 02860

Episode Source Material:

43. WRITERS: Edgar Allan Poe in Providence

weirdrhodeisland@gmail.com (sara elizabeth corben) — Tue, 11 Jan 2022 12:30:30 +0000

Episode Description:

While he never lived in Rhode Island, Edgar Allan Poe famously spent time here at the end of his life. He courted a Providence writer, Sarah Helen Whitman, and spent time at her East Side home, Swan Point Cemetery and the Athenaeum.

Episode Source Material:

Virginia Clemm | History of American Women

42. ANIMAL ESCAPE: Frosty The Polar Bear

weirdrhodeisland@gmail.com (sara elizabeth corben) — Tue, 4 Jan 2022 10:00:00 +0000

A mini episode this week, with another animal escape. Frosty the Polar Bear escaped from the now-closed Slater Park Zoo, twice!

Episode Source Material:

41. WATERFIRE: In the Renaissance City

weirdrhodeisland@gmail.com (sara elizabeth corben) — Fri, 31 Dec 2021 16:35:12 +0000

WaterFire is the quintessential Providence experience, centering around a series of nearly 100 bonfires along the three rivers that pass through the middle of downtown Providence. But just 40 years ago, you might not have even known that those rivers existed. If you think WaterFire isn’t weird, well, maybe it isn't. But the fact that, at one point, Providence completely covered its rivers, is.

Episode Source Material:

40. HOLIDAY MAGIC: The Polar Express

weirdrhodeisland@gmail.com (sara elizabeth corben) — Fri, 24 Dec 2021 14:42:14 +0000

The Polar Express has become a Christmas classic, but did you know it was written right here in RI by author Chris Van Allsburg?

Episode Source Material:

39. RHODESIDE ATTRACTIONS: The Big Blue Bug

weirdrhodeisland@gmail.com (sara elizabeth corben) — Tue, 14 Dec 2021 11:27:37 +0000

The star of this week’s episode is a 58 foot long, 9 foot tall, 4,000 pound termite named Nibbles Woodaway. But you might know him better as the Big Blue Bug.

Episode Source Material:

38. FIRSTS: The First Presidential Phone Call

weirdrhodeisland@gmail.com (Sara Elizabeth Corben) — Tue, 30 Nov 2021 11:10:25 +0000

The first presidential phone call took place in Rhode Island, when Alexander Graham Bell called 19th President Rutherford B. Hayes as he attended a clambake at Rocky Point Park.

To Visit: Rocky Point Ave. | Nothing to see but a sign, but you can stand where the first Presidential phone call took place, if that’s a thing you want to do.

Episode Source Material:

37. ANIMAL ESCAPE: Rhoda the Sea Lion

weirdrhodeisland@gmail.com (sara elizabeth corben) — Tue, 23 Nov 2021 10:00:00 +0000

Could a rumor that a sea lion escaped Roger Williams Zoo and made it all the way to the bay possibly be true?

To Visit: Roger Williams Zoo | 1000 Elmwood Ave, Providence, RI 02907

Episode Source Material:

Roger Williams History

Sea Lions

Zoo History

36. ABANDONED: The Railroad that Went Down with the Titanic

weirdrhodeisland@gmail.com (Sara Elizabeth Corben) — Tue, 16 Nov 2021 10:00:00 +0000

We’re heading to Woonsocket this week to check out a mural painted on what was an unassuming concrete wall you wouldn’t think twice about. But this concrete wall actually has an incredibly interesting backstory, one with ties to the Titanic.

To Visit: Cass Ave, Woonsocket, RI - across from Woonsocket High School

Episode Source Material:

35. GIANT PUMPKINS: And the RI Grower Who “Squashed” World Records

weirdrhodeisland@gmail.com (sara elizabeth corben) — Sun, 31 Oct 2021 23:45:10 +0000

In 2006, Rhode Islander Ron Wallace grew the first 1,500 lb. pumpkin--something no one thought was possible. Then in 2012, he became the first person in the world to grow a pumpkin weighing 2,000 lbs. Now his goal is to be the first to grow a 3,000 lb. pumpkin…

Hear about what it takes to grow a giant pumpkin, then try for yourself: Giant Pumpkin Seeds Wallace's Whoppers

Episode Source Material:

34. HAUNTED: Ramtail Mill

weirdrhodeisland@gmail.com (sara elizabeth corben) — Tue, 26 Oct 2021 09:55:48 +0000

Out in Foster, Rhode Island a ghost is rumored to haunt the place of his death. A factory that once stood along the Ponaganset river. And his presence has been noted so often and for so long in this place that it actually became Rhode Island’s only officially documented Haunted location.

To Visit: In the woods off Route 6 and Ramtail Road, Foster, RI

WARNING: This episode includes talk of death and suicide. Please take care when listening.

Episode Source Material:

33. CUMBERLAND LIBRARY: Wednesday, October 20 at 6:30PM

weirdrhodeisland@gmail.com (sara elizabeth corben) — Sun, 17 Oct 2021 12:54:46 +0000

Come meet me! I’ll be telling stories at the Cumberland Library on Wednesday, October 20th at 6:30PM. Check out this mini episode to learn the unique history of the Cumberland Library and its past life as a Trappist Monastery.

Event Details:

Wednesday, October 20th at 6:30PM

Cumberland Public Library, 1464 Diamond Hill Rd, Cumberland, RI 02864

Episode Source Material:

32. HAUNTED: Newport’s Belcourt Castle

weirdrhodeisland@gmail.com (sara elizabeth corben) — Tue, 12 Oct 2021 09:39:53 +0000

Belcourt Castle, the third biggest mansion in Newport, was built as a bachelor pad for Oliver Belmont and his many horses. Over the years, it developed a reputation for its paranormal activity.

To Visit: 657 Bellevue Ave, Newport, RI 02840 - Tours on Weekends

Episode Source Material:

31. BARNABY CASTLE: Part 2 | A Murder Mystery

weirdrhodeisland@gmail.com (sara elizabeth corben) — Tue, 5 Oct 2021 09:35:26 +0000

Don't just listen, see inside Barnaby Castle yourself at this years HALLOWEEN PARTY! Tickets at: http://www.kaitlyn-alyece-events.com/barnaby-castle

Last week we explored the story of Barnaby Castle and the first person convicted of committing murder via the mail. This week, we’ll dive deeper into that murder mystery and ask, what if the man who was convicted didn’t do it?

Plus, hear from one of the tenants living in Barnaby Castle about what it’s like to live in such a unique historical building.

Episode Source Material:

30. BARNABY CASTLE: First Murder by Mail

weirdrhodeisland@gmail.com (sara elizabeth corben) — Tue, 28 Sep 2021 10:10:07 +0000

Barnaby Castle, on Broadway in Providence, is this unusual looking building designed to suit its original owner, this larger-than-life personality and self-made millionaire named Jerothmul Bowers Barnaby. But while the story of J.B. Barnaby is interesting enough on its own, it’s actually his death that launches the most fascinating and odd part of this story - because his death set off a series of events that resulted in the very first murder committed via the mail.

Don't just listen, see Barnaby Castle yourself at this years HALLOWEEN PARTY! Tickets at: http://www.kaitlyn-alyece-events.com/barnaby-castle

Episode Source Material:

29. MINI EPISODE: Pawtucket’s Hollywood Walk of Fame

weirdrhodeisland@gmail.com (sara elizabeth corben) — Tue, 14 Sep 2021 12:05:18 +0000

Pawtucket has it’s very own, tiny little “Walk of Fame” that Roadside America has dubbed “either the saddest or most optimistic Hollywood Walk of Fame.”

I've got a Live Episode coming up on Monday, September 20th at 7:30pm! It's on Zoom, and if you wish to attend please email info@eghps.org and the East Greenwich Historic Preservation Society will send you the Zoom link!

Episode Source Material:

28. TAYLOR SWIFT: The Story of Her Rhode Island Home

weirdrhodeisland@gmail.com (sara elizabeth corben) — Tue, 7 Sep 2021 09:00:00 +0000

In 2013, singer Taylor Swift showed up in Rhode Island with $17.7MM in cash and purchased a summer home called High Watch. Then, she wrote a song about it (see: “the last great american dynasty”). This is the real history behind Taylor Swift’s Rhode Island home.

Episode Source Material:

27. GETTYSBURG GUN: A Cannonball Trapped in Time

weirdrhodeisland@gmail.com (Sara Elizabeth Corben) — Tue, 31 Aug 2021 09:00:00 +0000

In the entrance of the Rhode Island state house there is a cannon with a cannonball stuck in its muzzle. And for 100 years, no one checked to see if that cannon was filled with explosive gunpowder.

To Visit: Rhode Island State House | 82 Smith St, Providence, RI 02903

Episode Source Material:

26. MINI EPISODE: The Madman of Jerimoth Hill

weirdrhodeisland@gmail.com (sara elizabeth corben) — Tue, 17 Aug 2021 10:04:56 +0000

Some people spend months or years trying to visit the highest point in every state. Rhode Island’s is Jerimoth Hill, and it’s the 5th lowest highest point in the U.S. But if you think that means it’s always been easy to get to, think again.

To Visit: The trailhead is right on Route 101/Hartford Pike, approximately 0.8 miles east of the Connecticut state line. Parking is across the road from the trailhead. Be careful crossing Rt.101/Hartford Pike.

Episode Source Material:

25. MINI EPISODE: Tombstone Tourism at Precious Blood

weirdrhodeisland@gmail.com (sara elizabeth corben) — Tue, 10 Aug 2021 09:00:00 +0000

Precious Blood Cemetery in Woonsocket is one of Rhode Island’s most haunted cemeteries, after a natural disaster left spirits searching for their loved ones--and even their own body parts! In addition to its paranormal activity, this cemetery features interesting graves, including that of Marie Rose Ferron, America’s first stigmatic.

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24. SISTINE CHAPEL OF NEW ENGLAND: St. Ann Arts and Cultural Center

weirdrhodeisland@gmail.com (sara elizabeth corben) — Tue, 3 Aug 2021 09:00:00 +0000

Hidden away in Woonsocket, RI is a church that has been called the Sistine Chapel of New England. Inside is one of the largest collections of frescoes in the United States. While the artwork is incredible, it’s only the beginning. After the paintings draw you in, what you find are stories--because all 475 people painted into the frescoes are real people who lived in Woonsocket in the 1940s. And some of these stories will make you say, “Wow, I’ve never heard something like that before.”

To Visit: 84 Cumberland Street, Woonsocket, RI 02895 - Tours Sunday 1-4

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23. MINI EPISODE: Woonsocket’s Hachikō Statue

weirdrhodeisland@gmail.com (sara elizabeth corben) — Tue, 27 Jul 2021 10:30:09 +0000

Have you heard the story of Hachiko, Japan’s most loyal dog? Find out why there’s a statue of Hachiko hidden in Woonsocket, RI.

To Visit: 1 Depot Square, Woonsocket, RI 02895

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22. SLATER THE TRAITOR: Father of the American Industrial Revolution

weirdrhodeisland@gmail.com (sara elizabeth corben) — Tue, 20 Jul 2021 10:00:34 +0000

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21. MINI EPISODE: What the heck is Cumberlandite?

weirdrhodeisland@gmail.com (sara elizabeth corben) — Tue, 13 Jul 2021 10:19:08 +0000

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20. ABANDONED: It’s a Bird… It’s a Plane.. It’s the Superman Building!

weirdrhodeisland@gmail.com (sara elizabeth corben) — Tue, 6 Jul 2021 10:10:50 +0000

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19. DIRTY DRIVE-IN: The Forgotten History of Rhode Island’s Drive-Ins

weirdrhodeisland@gmail.com (sara elizabeth corben) — Tue, 22 Jun 2021 10:05:10 +0000

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18. ABANDONED: The East Side Train Tunnel

weirdrhodeisland@gmail.com (Sara Elizabeth Corben) — Tue, 15 Jun 2021 09:30:00 +0000

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17. FORGOTTEN HISTORY: The First Violence of the American Revolution

weirdrhodeisland@gmail.com (sara elizabeth corben) — Tue, 8 Jun 2021 10:37:31 +0000

Controversy and Opinions on the Gaspee Affair:

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16. MINI EPISODE: Most Donut Shops Per Capita

weirdrhodeisland@gmail.com (sara elizabeth corben) — Tue, 1 Jun 2021 10:01:26 +0000

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15. WEIRD BEARD: The First Set of Sideburns

weirdrhodeisland@gmail.com (sara elizabeth corben) — Tue, 25 May 2021 10:32:34 +0000

Check this out! 130 years of facial hair trends, in one chart

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14. WEIRD WEATHER: That Time it Rained Fish

weirdrhodeisland@gmail.com (sara elizabeth corben) — Tue, 18 May 2021 10:20:53 +0000

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13: INDEPENDENT MAN: Who is that guy on the State House?

weirdrhodeisland@gmail.com (sara elizabeth corben) — Tue, 11 May 2021 09:56:40 +0000

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12: ELEPHANT BRIDGE: Wonder, Cruelty, and the First Elephants in America

weirdrhodeisland@gmail.com (sara elizabeth corben) — Tue, 4 May 2021 10:00:00 +0000

Episode Source Material:

(Research for this episode turned up a lot of inconsistent dates and references to elephants by different names, ages, heights, weights, etc.--there doesn’t seem to be a consensus on where the Crowninshield elephant ended up or if Old Bet was the first or second elephant in America. I did my best to reference only the most apparently legitimate sources in my storytelling, but recognize that opinions differ on some details.)

11. THE PYRAMID OF PAWTUCKET: Apex Department Store

weirdrhodeisland@gmail.com (sara elizabeth corben) — Tue, 27 Apr 2021 10:58:27 +0000

Episode Source Material:

Andrew Geller / Raymond Loewy

Downtown Pawtucket

10. HAUNTED HOTEL: The Biltmore

weirdrhodeisland@gmail.com (sara elizabeth corben) — Tue, 20 Apr 2021 10:11:43 +0000

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Rumors:

History:

9. BOOKS IN HUMAN SKIN: Anthropodermic Bibliopegy

weirdrhodeisland@gmail.com (sara elizabeth corben) — Tue, 13 Apr 2021 10:46:02 +0000

Episode Source Material:

Anthropodermic Books:

Hans Holbein:

Andreas Vesalius:

M. Adolphe Belot:

Burke and Hare:

The Worlds of Burke and Hare

James Allen

Narrative of the life of James Allen : alias George Walton, alias Jonas Pierce, alias James H. York, alias Burley Grove, the highwayman : being his death-bed confession, to the warden of the Massachusetts State Prison. - Rare Books -

History of Anatomy

8. ONE PROVIDENCE PLACE: The Secret Apartment in the Mall

weirdrhodeisland@gmail.com (Sara Elizabeth Corben) — Tue, 6 Apr 2021 11:00:00 +0000

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History of the Providence Place Mall:

History of American Malls:

The People Living in Providence Place:

7. ROGER WILLIAMS: and the Man-Eating Tree

weirdrhodeisland@gmail.com (Sara Elizabeth Corben) — Tue, 30 Mar 2021 10:00:00 +0000

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6. WEIRD FOOD: Jonnycakes, Quahogs and Pizza Strips

weirdrhodeisland@gmail.com (Sara Elizabeth Corben) — Tue, 23 Mar 2021 10:15:03 +0000

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Jonnycakes:

Quahogs:

Pizza Strips:

5. WEIRD FOOD: Hot Wieners, Coffee Milk and Del’s

weirdrhodeisland@gmail.com (Sara Elizabeth Corben) — Tue, 16 Mar 2021 14:34:20 +0000

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Hot Wieners:

Coffee Milk:

Del’s Lemonade:

4. PIRATES: Buried Treasure on Block Island

weirdrhodeisland@gmail.com (Sara Elizabeth Corben) — Tue, 9 Mar 2021 11:15:00 +0000

To Visit:

Whydah Pirate Museum: 674 MA-28, West Yarmouth, Massachusetts
Palatine Graves: 18 Old Town Road, Block Island, RI

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3. ABANDONED: The Ladd School

weirdrhodeisland@gmail.com (Sara Elizabeth Corben) — Tue, 2 Mar 2021 13:30:00 +0000

To Visit a Similar Spot: Medfield State Hospital, 45 Hospital Road, Medfield, MA 02052

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INTRODUCING: Weird Island

weirdrhodeisland@gmail.com (Sara Elizabeth Corben) — Mon, 1 Mar 2021 16:00:00 +0000

Small state, big on the weird! Weird Island brings you some of the strangest stories you probably haven’t heard before, all originating in little Rhode Island.

2. VAMPIRE PANIC: Mercy Brown

weirdrhodeisland@gmail.com (Sara Elizabeth Corben) — Wed, 24 Feb 2021 19:15:00 +0000

Episode Source Material:

Have Mercy
The Great New England Vampire Panic | History
Food for the Dead: On the Trail of New England’s Vampires by Michael Bell
Vampires, Bural, and Death: Folklore and Reality by Paul Barber
Food For the Dead Website
New England's Vampire History | Legends and Hysteria
UNCOVERING A THERAPY FROM THE GRAVE

1. VIKING RUINS in Rhode Island?

weirdrhodeisland@gmail.com (Sara Elizabeth Corben) — Mon, 22 Feb 2021 17:30:00 +0000

To Visit:

Newport Tower: 5 Touro Park St W. Newport, Rhode Island, 02840
Hours: Always available for viewing
Newport Tower Museum: 152 Mill St, Newport, RI 02840
Dighton Rock: 3rd Avenue, Berkley, MA. 02779
Museum Hours: By appointment only; open daily at 9:00

SOURCES:

The Controversy Touching the Old Stone Mill in the Town of Newport: https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=mdp.39015089568243&view=1up&seq=53
The Archaeology of the Old Stone Mill in Newport, Rhode Island, by William S. Godfrey Jr.: https://www.jstor.org/stable/277246?seq=1
The Enigma Of Dighton Rock: https://www.americanheritage.com/enigma-dighton-rock#5
Dighton Rock, a Study of the Written Rocks of New England, by Edmund Delabarre: https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=uc1.$b542245&view=1up&seq=32
Britannica, Vinland: https://www.britannica.com/place/Vinland
The Newport Tower, by Jason Colativo: http://www.jasoncolavito.com/the-newport-tower.html
The Newport Tower Museum: http://www.newporttowermuseum.com/styled-4/index.html

Music:

Swimmey Texture Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)
Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/
Thunderbird Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)
Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/