Haunted History 2/5

The History of May Day, Walpurgis Night, Beltane and Horror

Abby Brenker

Apr 28, 20234 min read

The History of May Day, Walpurgis Night, Beltane and Horror

Over centuries and across cultures, this date has hosted many different festivals and holidays, from Walpurgis Night to Beltane and May Day

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Abby Brenker

Apr 21, 20231 min read

The History of Washingtonville Cemetery

This is the Washingtonville Cemetery, with headstones dating back to the late 1700s. We visited on a rainy day and still encountered a...

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The Historic Buildings of Roosevelt Island

Abby Brenker

Apr 3, 20233 min read

The Historic Buildings of Roosevelt Island

One of my favorite neighborhoods of New York City is Roosevelt Island, located smack dab between Manhattan and Queens in the East River....

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The Hauntings of Connecticut's Boothe Memorial Park

Abby Brenker

Mar 30, 20231 min read

The Hauntings of Connecticut's Boothe Memorial Park

Welcome to one of the most haunted places in Connecticut. Paranormal researchers and visitors have heard strange voices, knocking noises...

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The Hauntings of New York City's East River

Abby Brenker

Mar 30, 20232 min read

The Hauntings of New York City's East River

Let’s talk about the hauntings of the East River. North Brother Island in NYC’s East River is home to an abandoned hospital and has an...

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Abby Brenker

Mar 23, 20232 min read

The Historic Sinking of The SS Arctic

On September 27th, 1854, the SS Arctic sank about 50 miles off the coast of Newfoundland. The tragedy was caused by a collision with...

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The History of Saint Mary's Church in Queens

Abby Brenker

Mar 20, 20231 min read

The History of Saint Mary's Church in Queens

This is Saint Mary’s Church in Long Island City in Queens. In 1868 the first mass had about 50 attendees and was held in a public...

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Abby Brenker

Mar 14, 20231 min read

The Grave of Saint Patrick

Photos, videos and research provided by Michael Crosa. I am beyond grateful for my incredible friends. A million shout outs to Michael...

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Dark History: The Shocking Origins of Valentine's Day

Abby Brenker

Feb 9, 20233 min read

Dark History: The Shocking Origins of Valentine's Day

Happy Valentine’s Day! Today I want to talk about the surprising history of this holiday. Despite the current…dare I say sappy traditions...

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Dark History: Famous Historical Figures Who Have Seen Their Own Doppelgängers

Abby Brenker

Feb 8, 20232 min read

Dark History: Famous Historical Figures Who Have Seen Their Own Doppelgängers

It’s Doppelgänger month here at The Lunatics Project. As we explore the subject in our multi-part series on the Lunatics Radio Hour...

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Dark History: The Cemeteries and Abandoned Hospitals of Beacon, New York

Abby Brenker

Jan 29, 20232 min read

Dark History: The Cemeteries and Abandoned Hospitals of Beacon, New York

Late in 2022 we were lucky enough to be hosted in Beacon, New York by two amazing friends. They were nice enough to bring us around to...

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The History of Astoria's Saint George's Church Cemetery

Abby Brenker

Jan 22, 20231 min read

The History of Astoria's Saint George's Church Cemetery

This Church, complete with gargoyles and stained glass windows is the historic St. George’s Church in Queens, NY. The church was...

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Abby Brenker

Jan 18, 20233 min read

The History of The Blackwell Family

One of my favorite neighborhoods of New York City is Roosevelt Island, located smack dab between Manhattan and Queens in the East River....

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Abby Brenker

Jan 14, 20232 min read

The History of Lenormand Cards

I released a series of videos this month on Lenormand Cards, which prompted me to explore the history a bit deeper here. Named for Marie...

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The Barritt-Serviss Star and Planter Finder from 1906

Abby Brenker

Jan 6, 20231 min read

The Barritt-Serviss Star and Planter Finder from 1906

This is the Barritt-Serviss Star and Planter Finder from 1906, making it 116 years old. The Barritt in the title comes from illustrator...

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Dark History: The Life and Death of Fortune Teller La Voisin

Abby Brenker

Jan 3, 20232 min read

Dark History: The Life and Death of Fortune Teller La Voisin

If you’ve listened to the most recent episode of Lunatics Radio Hour, we talk all about the history of Black Masses. While researching...

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St. Joachim's Old Cemetery in Beacon, NY

Abby Brenker

Dec 4, 20221 min read

St. Joachim's Old Cemetery in Beacon, NY

In December 2022 I had the pleasure of visiting some friends in Beacon, New York. They were gracious enough to bring us to several...

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Haunted History: The Morris-Jumel Mansion, Manhattan's Oldest Standing House

Abby Brenker

Nov 24, 20222 min read

Haunted History: The Morris-Jumel Mansion, Manhattan's Oldest Standing House

I had the honor to visit the oldest standing home in Manhattan for a candlelight ghost tour. The Morris-Jumel mansion was built in 1765...

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Haunted History: Connecticut's Velvet Road

Abby Brenker

Nov 18, 20221 min read

Haunted History: Connecticut's Velvet Road

This is Velvet Road in Trumbull, Connecticut. My sister was kind enough to journey here with me to put its haunted reputation to the...

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The Hollywood Forever Cemetery in Los Angeles

Abby Brenker

Nov 16, 20221 min read

The Hollywood Forever Cemetery in Los Angeles

This is the Hollywood Forever Cemetery, founded in 1899 as the Hollywood Cemetery in Los Angeles California. It spans 100 acres and...

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