Kentucky Deceased: Hauntings of Frankfort

“That’s a sorryful tale and as sorryful a tune as ever was.” In the decades following the assassination of Governor Goebel , the tale of his life and death was passed around by word of mouth… and, occasionally, with fiddle accompaniment. In this finale episode for season 5 of Kentucky Deceased, Dr. Eleanor Hasken-Wagner presents a 1937 recording of a ballad memorializing Governor Goebel’s assassin...

Opportunity knocks... and so does Bigfoot. In this episode, Dr. Eleanor Hasken-Wagner interviews Gabe, and 11-year-old author who shares his extensive knowledge of Kentucky cryptids and his mission to make spine-tingling tales accessible to young readers.

What makes a good ghost story? In this special episode, recorded live at the Paul Sawyier Public Library as part of the Frankfort Heritage Lecture Series, Dr. Hasken-Wagner presents some of Frankfort's odd phenomena from the historical record and invites consideration for how to approach these bizarre occurrences as a folklorist and historian. Not strictly storytelling, not strictly debunking, and...

Discover why some gardeners swear by planting beans “in the arms” and how the stars may favor your green thumb - or even determine the best day to get a haircut. Dr. Eleanor Hasken-Wagner speaks with Berea College's Dr. Sarah Hall, author of Sown in the Stars , about the practice of agricultural timing based on lunar and astrological cycles. Dr. Hall reveals how generations of farmers and gardener...

Can you measure your future by the palm of your hand? What exactly does "The Man Who Knows" know? Do ghosts have to pay taxes? In this special episode, recorded live at Paul Sawyier Public Library, Dr. Eleanor Hasken-Wagner explains the practice of palmistry, the prolific history of palmists in Frankfort, and how the esoteric practice was embraced... and legislated.  - - - PALMISTS NAMED Madam Wat...

Do you feel that chill in the air? Not yet? Well, one can dream. Nonetheless! Spooky season is fast approaching, and Kentucky Deceased is preparing to release its fifth season! Prepare for stories about palmistry, moon phases, and murder ballads - all centered right here in your backyard of Frankfort, Kentucky. UPCOMING MUSEUM EVENTS Wednesday October 1, 6-9 pm: Second annual Museum After Dark. Jo...

The Capital City Museum is proud to announce its newest book will be available this week - Russ Hatter’s Franklin County Reference !   It's the product of years of work that former city historian Russ Hatter has completed at the Capitol City Museum for a grant funded by the Franklin County fiscal court. Join us for the release party at the Capital City Museum (325 Ann Street in Frankfort, KY) from...

Dr. Eleanor Hasken-Wagner chats with Frankfort author Luke Hosley about his approach to crafting strange - yet familiar - worlds. Enjoy snippets of Hosley's sci-fi, small-town horror, and audio drama work in this season's finale episode of Kentucky Deceased. LINKS Time Before Crime Into the Wallwood The Lost Art Of Podcast Author Facebook

From 1947 to 1969, the U.S. Air Force investigated unexplained aerial phenomena in a study known as Project Blue Book. Join Dr. Eleanor Hasken-Wagner as she explores a range of UFO sightings recorded in and around Frankfort - including during a national uptick in January, 1967.  - - - CONTENT WARNING Medical abuse of disabled people, eugenics

Dr. Eleanor Hasken-Wagner brings together a collection of stories gathered from around Frankfort. Encounter vanishing hitchhikers and ghostly cries, hear about end-times prophecies and legends of river monsters, and visit the city landmarks of Devil’s Umbrealla... and the Capital City Museum herself.  - - - STORIES The Vanishing Hitchhiker Crybaby Lane “Apocalypse Reviewed” The Loch Four Monster O...

Join Dr. Eleanor Hasken-Wagner on a journey through the haunting history of Liberty Hall Historic Site with curator John Walker. Hear tales of a mysterious Spanish opera singer, a peeping-Tom British soldier, and - of course - the famous Gray Lady herself.  

Kentucky Deceased is back for season four with the story of Franklin County's resident witch. Host Dr. Eleanor Hasken-Wagner guides listeners back to 1913 to meet the family of Lily Harp, whose death was attributed to a curse. Discover the bizarre story of stockings hidden in a pillow, a grieving family's desperate search for answers, and the chilling rituals they believed could unveil the witch's...

We are one week out from MUSEUM AFTER DARK and Kentucky Deceased release party!!!   Kentucky Deceased is an 8x10 hardcover book written by Zack Poehlein and designed by Katherine O’Dell of Derby City Midnight. The book dives into four stories from the annals of the award-winning Kentucky Deceased podcast, presenting legends and folklore from around the Capital City and Franklin County in a new lig...

To sign up for pre-order notifications visit here: https://mailchi.mp/1df65e5c46ef/kydeceased   We're releasing a book of new and familiar stories just in time for Halloween! Kentucky Deceased is an 8x10 hardcover created in collaboration with Derby City Midnight. Inside are four tales of the strange and supernatural, complete with supporting documents and photographs. All beautifully written and...

It's Halloween and we're proud to offer a very special treat for this year's season finale - a vintage WFKY broadcast featuring a moderated discussion between a Satanic priest and a Christian seminary professor. Grab a warm drink, a flickering fireplace, and some pearls to clutch as you hear tales of "nameless rites and unspeakable orgies". Episode notes: This episode includes an in-depth conversa...

[Re-uploaded due to file issue] The Shakers at Pleasant Hill are most often remembered for their material practicality, spiritual asceticism, and unique song tradition; however, firsthand accounts of the Shakers reveal an apocalyptic religion which often veered into the esoteric and occult. Join your host Dr. Eleanor Hasken-Wagner as she welcomes Derby City Midnight's Zack Poehlein who guides list...

A decade ago, a carful of people saw something strange in the skies over Anderson county. Join your host Dr. Eleanor Hasken-Wagner as she welcomes, Jennifer, who tells a story of lost time, recovered memories, and otherworldly strangers. Episode notes: This episode contains references to forced abductions, missing time, religious trauma associated with spontaneous healing, cancer, chemotherapy, an...

Join special guest host Hannah Hutcherson on a monstrous tour of Fort Hill. From the eponymous Mangler to the Rougarou, learn which creatures you may want to keep an eye out for in our neck of the woods. The Beasts of the Bluegrass tour is a night walking tour offered every Wednesday night in October. Tours start at the Sullivan House Visitor's Center at 7 PM. Get your tickets at https://capitalci...

In November of 1825, a Kentucky legislator is murdered in his home - but it's far from a standard political assassination; rather, the killing of Solomon Sharp by Jereboam Beauchamp was motivated by a wicked and tragic love story which inspired works by Edgar Allan Poe and Robert Penn Warren. Episode notes: This episode contains the description of a murder, suicide and self harm, and the reference...

A special follow-up to the premiere episode of our first season, this episode takes a deep dive into one of the most fascinating finds to come out of the archival collection at the Capital City Museum!   Join us as we learn more about how one man's experience with a Ouija board led him to the potential solution to an unsolved crime and a deep-dive into the world of the occult.    Episode notes: th...

In August 1974, a woman is found strangle in her family's newly opened restaurant. Less than one month later the restaurant is burned to the ground. The owner, and accused murderer, is rumored to have mob connections, murdered his previous wives, and been an all-around scoundrel (while also being a great cook!). Jack Pagato's trial for murder left many wondering: just how safe is Frankfort?  This...

In February of 1992, a prominent Frankfort woman, Peggy King, goes missing. A well-known librarian at the Legislative Research Commission and an involved folk-dancer, King's body isn't found for nine days. This episode looks at the attempts to solve the murder and the trials of the three men convicted of the crime. 

On January 30, 1900, the potential Kentucky governor is shot--leading to a divided government with two active parties of leadership. A militia is called in. 16 suspects are indicted. It's a madhouse worthy of several episodes but we condensed it down to one!  

One a cold, January night an elderly woman is found lying at the base of her cellar stairs. What follows is a trial which pits family against family and questions the role of motive & physical evidence in guilty convictions. 

Brought to you by the Capital City Museum, this episode takes a look at a haunted home, with an even more haunted history. Join host, Eleanor Hasken-Wagner on an exploration of historic events, a salacious trail, and the ghostly wailings of a mourning woman.