Episode 53: When Tuberculosis Bred Vampires in the Heart of America

Smarticus Tells History

Unearth the chilling truths that lurk in the shadows of history as we recount the New England Vampire Panic, where the dread of disease transformed into a fear of the undead. Together with expert folklorists Michael Bell and Paul Barber, we uncover how 18th and 19th-century communities were ensnared in a web of superstition, leading them to disturb the eternal rest of their dearly departed. This is not mere fiction; it's a stark revelation of the lengths to which fear can drive humanity, a journey through an era where tuberculosis's pall cast a much more sinister specter across the New England countryside.
Gather 'round as we share the poignant account of Mercy Brown, a symbol of an epidemic's grip on the human psyche, and how her community's desperate acts may have sparked the imagination of none other than Bram Stoker. The tenebrous practices of the past, designed to protect the living from the clutches of those thought to feast upon them from beyond the grave, are brought to light, painting a vivid picture of the battle between an invisible killer and the visceral response it provoked. Join us for this excursion into a time when the fear of the unknown fanned the flames of dark folklore, and discover how the vampire myth we know today is deeply rooted in the misfortunes of a bygone era.

Support the Show.

פרקים

1. New England Vampire Panic History (00:00:00)

2. New England Vampire Panic Lore (00:07:31)