Content Warning: Today's episode details the abuses experienced at Pennhurst State School and Hospital. Listener discretion is advised.

In 1908, Pennhurst opened as the Eastern Pennsylvania State Institution for the Feeble-Minded and Epileptic. It was a place for mentally and physically disabled individuals, with 10,500 people were institutionalized at Pennhurst throughout its history. These people were trapped, hidden away from the rest of the world, and subject to devastating abuses. Today, visitors try to communicate with the spirits of former residents, to give them a space to tell their stories.

Have you experienced something paranormal? If you have an encounter you'd like to share, send a message to mirrorspod@gmail.com.

If you loved the episode, please consider subscribing to the Patreon, leaving a rating & review, and following my social media.

Sources:

http://www.eoutcome.org/Uploads/COAUploads/PdfUpload/PennhurstLongitudinalStudyScannedV3Optimized.pdf

http://www.preservepennhurst.org/default.aspx?pg=93

https://thelittlehouseofhorrors.com/pennhurst-state-school-and-hospital/

https://youtu.be/Bh2VkhhXjSA?si=E8cj2B6fxpqcP-Zj

https://youtu.be/Bh2VkhhXjSA?si=hOeMahRR17-MYOuS

Produced and hosted by Gabby Hope Frye.

Music by Jonathan Downs. Cover art by Kerry Mullen.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Join the Patreon HERE

As a thank you for listening to Mirrors: Horrors, History & Hauntings (and a recognition that today is a Friday the 13th), I'm bringing you a Patreon bonus episode!

I spent my last semester of college living and interning in Los Angeles. During my time there, I visited a few of its many haunted locations. Listen to hear about the history & hauntings of The Queen Mary, the Millennium Biltmore, The Comedy Store and more.

I'll definitely be back to LA, so this is just an intro to a few of its hauntings, based on my initial observations of the spaces. Part of the Patreon is the BTS planning of my trips & investigations, so let me know if there are any other places you think I should check out!

Have you experienced something paranormal? If you have an encounter you'd like to share, send a message to mirrorspod@gmail.com.

If you loved the episode, please consider subscribing to the Patreon, leaving a rating & review, and following my social media.

Produced and hosted by Gabby Hope Frye.

Music by Jonathan Downs. Cover art by Kerry Mullen.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Harrisburg State Hospital was Pennsylvania's first public asylum. When it opened in 1851, the primary treatment was occupational therapy to keep the mind busy. Throughout its history, new treatments were developed and used, from hydrotherapy to insulin shock therapy to lobotomies. While Harrisburg State is seen as a progressive institution, and it influenced positive change in the mental health space, it's undeniable that its treatments have left a sort of sadness. Today, the hospital is known as one of the most haunted places in Pennsylvania, as many have reported intense poltergeist activity when on campus.

Have you experienced something paranormal? If you have a Pennsylvania-based encounter you'd like to share, send a message to mirrorspod@gmail.com.

If you loved the episode, please consider subscribing to the Patreon, leaving a rating & review, and following my social media.

Sources:

https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61557996003359

https://www.uphs.upenn.edu/paharc/timeline/1751/tline7.html

https://hsh.thomas-industriesinc.com/

https://www.amazon.com/Harrisburg-State-Hospital-Pennsylvanias-America/dp/0738598275

https://www.travelchannel.com/shows/ghost-nation/episodes/murder-at-the-asylum

https://www.discovery.com/shows/ghost-lab/episodes/the-morgue

Produced and hosted by Gabby Hope Frye.

Music by Jonathan Downs. Cover art by Kerry Mullen.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Eastern State Penitentiary opened in 1829, establishing itself as the world's largest and most expensive prison, as well as the first true "penitentiary." All eyes were on Eastern State and its Quaker-inspired system of solitary confinement; it drew admiration and influenced over 300 other prisons around the world. However, the devastating mental, physical and spiritual effects of isolation are undeniable, facilitating a darkness within the prison walls today. Listen to hear Eastern State's history, as well as some of its many stories, such as the haunting of Al Capone and the prison's connection to the Battle of Gettysburg.

Have you experienced something paranormal? If you have a Pennsylvania-based encounter you'd like to share, send a message to mirrorspod@gmail.com.

If you loved the episode, please consider subscribing to the Patreon, leaving a rating & review, and following my social media.

Sources:

https://www.easternstate.org/sites/easternstate/files/inline-files/ESP-history-overview.pdf

https://ghostcitytours.com/philadelphia/haunted-philadelphia/eastern-state-penitentiary/

https://omgfacts.com/article/1202#

https://thoughtcatalog.com/jeremy-london/2018/09/eastern-state-penitentiary/

https://www.easternstate.org/explore/exhibits/al-capones-cell

https://philadelphiaencyclopedia.org/essays/eastern-state-penitentiary/

https://www.travelchannel.com/shows/ghost-adventures/articles/eastern-state-haunted-history

https://www.smithsonianmag.com/arts-culture/the-daring-escape-from-the-eastern-state-penitentiary-180947688/

https://www.amphilsoc.org/museum/exhibitions/children-archives/humanizing-eastern-state-penitentiary-records#:~:text=The%20data%20shows%20us%20that,%2C%20larceny%2C%20rioting%20and%20murder.

Produced and hosted by Gabby Hope Frye.

Music by Jonathan Downs. Cover art by Kerry Mullen.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Arcadia University ranks among one of the most haunted colleges in Pennsylvania. From a trickster spirit named Max to a haunted bridge and a room of mirrors, Arcadia has many unsettling tales to tell. Most of the hauntings center around The Grey Towers Castle, which was built in 1893 for the Harrison Family. The family has seemingly never left their home, as the beauty and history of The Grey Towers Castle has held onto the stories of the past.

Have you experienced something paranormal? If you have a Pennsylvania-based encounter you'd like to share, send a message to mirrorspod@gmail.com.

If you loved the episode, please consider subscribing to the Patreon, leaving a rating & review, and following my social media.

Sources:

https://www.arcadia.edu/about-arcadia/our-history/grey-towers-castle/

https://www.mainlinemedianews.com/2014/05/04/the-ghosts-of-arcadia-and-grey-towers-castle/

https://www.arcadia.edu/news/haunted-history-arcadia-university/

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=byKYszTV1m8

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rvp021dYBZI

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S7WJI8u2TH0&t=169s

Produced and hosted by Gabby Hope Frye.

Music by Jonathan Downs. Cover art by Kerry Mullen.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Abandoned places illustrate how the past persists, even in an ever-changing, ever-moving world. Centralia and Concrete City are two abandoned towns in Pennsylvania's anthracite region, where they were once at the center of the thriving coal industry. Centralia is now a near-ghost town, as it sits atop a mine fire that has been burning since 1962. A group of concrete structures, known as Concrete City, once housed a community of mine workers. Now, they sit abandoned in the woods of Nanticoke. Listen to hear the history of those towns, as well as what it's like walking around them today.

Have you experienced something paranormal? If you have a Pennsylvania-based encounter you'd like to share, send a message to mirrorspod@gmail.com.

If you loved the episode, please consider subscribing to the Patreon, leaving a rating & review, and following my social media.

Sources:

https://www.centraliapa.org/

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qj5LjacccJ0

https://uncoveringpa.com/visiting-centralia

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0smgua_yW-g

https://www.centraliapa.org/molly-maguires-centralia-pennsylvania/#google_vignette

https://uncoveringpa.com/concrete-city

https://pabucketlist.com/exploring-concrete-city-in-luzerne-county-pa/

https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/concrete-city

Produced and hosted by Gabby Hope Frye.

Music by Jonathan Downs. Cover art by Kerry Mullen.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The hauntings of Gettysburg stretch far and wide, telling the story of a vast history. However, there are two spots that are frequently visited for their paranormal activity, and are known to house consistent, named spirits. The first is the Jennie Wade House, where the only civilian killed in Gettysburg, Jennie Wade, was shot while baking bread for soldiers. The other, which lies across the street, is the National Soldier's Orphans' Homestead, where disturbing stories of abuse towards children originated. Listen to hear the history of these locations, as well as what happened while investigating these spaces.

Have you experienced something paranormal? If you have a Pennsylvania-based encounter you'd like to share, send a message to mirrorspod@gmail.com.

If you loved the episode, please consider subscribing to the Patreon, leaving a rating & review, and following my social media.

Sources:

https://www.gettysburgbattlefieldtours.com/jennie-wade-house/

https://www.battlefields.org/learn/biographies/mary-virginia-jennie-wade

https://agreatbighunkofworld.com/2018/02/03/the-haunted-orphanage-of-gettysburg-pennsylvania-ft-jennie-wade-house/

https://civilwarghosts.com/hauntings-childrens-orphanage/

https://youtu.be/pyW9LaPW40A?si=bxVkA-TRizFXHzee

Produced and hosted by Gabby Hope Frye.

Music by Jonathan Downs.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Farnsworth House stood amongst The Battle of Gettysburg in 1863. The attic was a Confederate stronghold, the dining room a makeshift hospital. The home's owner, Harvey Sweeny, along with other Gettysburg residents, were in the cellar, listening in horror as war raged on around them. Today, the Farnsworth House is a bed and breakfast, and it is the center of many haunting tales. We'll be spending the night in the Sara Black Room, the most popular guest room, known for its frequent paranormal activity.

Have you experienced something paranormal? If you have a Pennsylvania-based encounter you'd like to share, send a message to mirrorspod@gmail.com.

If you loved the episode, please consider subscribing to the Patreon, leaving a rating & review, and following my social media.

If you ever find yourself in the very haunted town of Gettysburg, visit the Farnsworth House Inn: https://farnsworthhouseinn.com/

Sources:

https://farnsworthhouseinn.com/about/

https://civilwarghosts.com/the-farnsw...

https://www.hauntedrooms.com/pennsylv...

https://civilwartalk.com/threads/farn...

Produced and hosted by Gabby Hope Frye.

Music by Jonathan Downs. Cover art by Kerry Mullen.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.