INSIDE THE REAL ARKHAM ASYLUM: Danvers State Hospital’s Terrifying Legacy

Weird Darkness: Paranormal & True Crime Stories

Perched atop Hathorne Hill, the real-life inspiration for Arkham Asylum hides a history of madness, cruelty, and restless spirits buried beneath its polished brick facade.
FREE Word Search and Crossword Puzzle for this episode: https://weirddarkness.com/ArkhamDanvers
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ABOUT WEIRD DARKNESS: Weird Darkness is a true crime and paranormal podcast narrated by professional award-winning voice actor, Darren Marlar. Seven days per week, Weird Darkness focuses on all thing strange and macabre such as haunted locations, unsolved mysteries, true ghost stories, supernatural manifestations, urban legends, unsolved or cold case murders, conspiracy theories, and more. On Thursdays, this scary stories podcast features horror fiction along with the occasional creepypasta. Weird Darkness has been named one of the “Best 20 Storytellers in Podcasting” by Podcast Business Journal. Listeners have described the show as a cross between “Coast to Coast” with Art Bell, “The Twilight Zone” with Rod Serling, “Unsolved Mysteries” with Robert Stack, and “In Search Of” with Leonard Nimoy.
DISCLAIMER: Ads heard during the podcast that are not in my voice are placed by third party agencies outside of my control and should not imply an endorsement by Weird Darkness or myself. *** Stories and content in Weird Darkness can be disturbing for some listeners and intended for mature audiences only. Parental discretion is strongly advised.
IN THIS EPISODE: Mother Shipton was known for her prognostication skills – but she was even more well known for her grotesque appearance. So much so that she was nicknamed The York Witch, and the Devil’s Daughter. But others have another name for her… hoax. (The Devil’s Daughter) *** A family heirloom begins acting strange when a woman moves into her deceased grandmother’s home. (I Moved Into My Dead Grandmother’s House) *** Is it possible that ghosts, visions, and other paranormal experiences are not only real – but also good for your mental health? (Therapeutic Ghosts) *** After it closed, the old hospital site became a popular destination for thrill-seeking kids looking for the scare of a lifetime. Why does Danvers State Hospital rank among history’s most infamous asylums? (The Infamy of Danvers State Hospital) *** Attend any amateur magic show and most assuredly you will hear a certain word at least once. Why do illusionists use this word? What does it mean – if anything? We’ll look at the very interesting history behind the word “Abracadabra.” (Say The Magic Word)
CHAPTERS & TIME STAMPS (All Times Approximate)…
00:00:00.000 = Lead-In, “Arkhams’ Dark Past”
00:03:36.808 = Show Open
00:05:36.569 = The Devil’s Daughter, Mother Shipton
00:11:29.548 = I Moved Into My Dead Grandmother’s House
00:17:34.047 = The Infamy of Danvers State Hospital
00:24:25.409 = Therapeutic Ghosts
00:34:29.402 = Say The Magic Word
00:40:26.739 = Show Close
SOURCES AND RESOURCES FROM THE EPISODE…
“Arkham’s Dark Past” was written by Darren Marlar
“I Moved Into My Dead Grandmother’s House” by Kelsey for Your Ghost Stories: https://tinyurl.com/rjcvecr
“The Devil’s Daughter” by Marc Hartzman for Weird Historian: https://tinyurl.com/vp6vlo4
“Therapeutic Ghosts” by Andreas Sommer for Aeon: https://tinyurl.com/r7xcv2v
“The Infamy of Danvers State Hospital” by William DeLong for All That’s Interesting: https://tinyurl.com/rd223yu
“Say The Magic Word” from Ancient Origins: https://tinyurl.com/sl9nlzm
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"I have come into the world as a light, so that no one who believes in me should stay in darkness." — John 12:46
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Originally aired: September 2020
EPISODE PAGE at WeirdDarkness.com (includes list of sources): https://weirddarkness.com/ArkhamDanvers
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