September 25, 1998. A hot and humid Friday in Mebane, North Carolina. With the sun bearing down, a landscaping crew worked to cut grass next to a billboard near the intersection of interstates 85 and 40. One of the workers noticed something that looked out of place under the billboard. As he approached, he discovered…
In 1833 Frankie Silver was hanged in Morganton, North Carolina for the gruesome ax murder of her husband Charlie Silver in their mountain home in Kona, North Carolina. The story of the murder has lived on for generations through the southern murder ballad of Frankie Silver. Ballads keep tragic stories of the past alive. But…
The only successful coup d’etat in American history happened in Wilmington,North Carolina in 1898. White supremacists, backed by the Democratic party, overthrew the local, biracial government. This event reversed the course of civil rights in North Carolina for generations.
If you’re new here, my name is Shannon Ballard and I’m the host of Southern Mysteries Podcast. Apart from the kind comments people have shared about the historical mysteries and folklore they’ve heard on Southern Mysteries, I also hear time and time again: “I just love a southern accent!” I love the accents too! That’s…
From 1955 – 1972, Robert Harrill was known as The Hermit of Fort Fisher Island, North Carolina. He spent his life inviting in strangers and teaching them about living a life free of social norms. And in the end, the strangers he welcomed in, may have killed him. More about this episode Watch Documentary: The…
