Back in the summer of 1944, the tiny village of Peninsula, Ohio, was surprised to find itself under the spell of a very large—and out of place—serpent. This story originally appeared as Premium-only Episode 43.

Hosted and Written by Laurah Norton

Researched by Anna Luria and Laurah Norton

Produced and Engineered by Maura Currie

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Works Cited

Robert Bordner, “The Peninsula Python. . .” The Atlantic, 1945.

Albert C. Andrews, “Keep the Kids. . .” The Plain Dealer, 1994.

Gina Mace, “Legend of the Peninsula. . .” The Akron Beacon Journal, 2015.

Ken Zapinski, “Mystery Python Once. . “ The Plain Dealer, 1994.

N/A, UP, “Big Python on. . .” The Lexington Herald-Leader, 1944.

N/A, “Posses Formed for. . “ The Coshocton Tribune, 1944.

N/A, “Peninsula’s Publicist Sticks. . .” The Akron Beacon Journal, 1944.

N/A, AP, “Peninsula Python Still. . .” The Journal Herald, 1944.

N/A, UP, “Snake Hunters Alter. . .” The News-Journal, 1944.

N/A, “Peninsula’s Python Sighted. . “ The Akron Beacon Journal, 1944.

N/A, “Python Gets Around. .” The Akron Beacon Journal, 1944.

N/A, “Where’s the Python? “ The Akron Beacon Journal, 1944.

N/A, “Peninsula Python Visits. . .” The Troy Daily News, 1944.

N/A, “Robert Bordner Obituary,” The Akron Beacon Journal, 1974.

Boston Township Official Website

“Helltown, Ohio.” Atlas Obscura

“Boston Mils, Hell Town.” The Ghosts of Ohio.

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The Crescent Hotel in Eureka Springs, Arkansas bills itself as "America's Most Haunted Hotel"— complete with ghost tours, Victorian spirits, and enough paranormal activity to employ a full-time ghost-tour manager. But when guests started mysteriously fainting during tours? Well. The hotel’s history revealed itself to be darker than a few unsettled spirits in the guest rooms.

Hosted and Written by Laurah Norton

Researched by Anna Luria and Laurah Norton

Engineered and Produced by Southern Gothic Media/Rachel Boyd

Get 20% off your DeleteMe plan when you go to joindeleteme.com/STRANGE and use promo code STRANGE at checkout!

We work with Amplitude Media Partners (AMP) to power our advertising and grow with the right sponsors. Contact AMP with any ad inquiries; sales@amplitudemediapartners.com.

Sources on our website: https://www.onestrangethingpodcast.com/

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episodes: https://www.patreon.com/OneStrangeThing

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Your holiday fun is here: for the first time on the main feed, we present The Yule Cat (premium episode 68). The holiday season has its fair share of critters, cryptids, and lore. Some of it is meant to frighten children into good behavior. In Iceland, the Yule Cat falls into the latter camp — but is a giant, child-eating cat monster actually as old, or as frightening, as it sounds?

Hosted by Laurah Norton

Research by Melissa Gold and Maura Currie

Written, Engineered & Produced by Maura Currie

Works Cited:

Christopher Mother, "Forget Santa and..." The Boston Globe, 2022.

NA, "Its Satan's..." Daily Star, 2021.

NA, "We wish you a..." Daily Star, 2019.

Danny Lewis, "Each Christmas, Iceland's..." Smithsonian Magazine, 2016.

Sue Weaver, "The Yule Goat," Hachette Book Group, ND.

Lauren Oster, "Meet the Yule..." Travel Channel, 2019.

Regína Hrönn Ragnarsdóttir, "Grýla and Leppalúði..." Guide To Iceland, ND.

NA, "All welcome when..." Reykjavik.is, 2024 (TRANSLATED)

Haukur S. Magnússon, "The Christmas Cat," The Reykjavik Grapevine, 2008.

Dustin Jones, "You've heard of Santa..." NPR, 2023.

Áki Guðni Karlsson, "The Yule Cat," University of Iceland/Icelandic Folklore, 2020.

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