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September 19, 2021 60 mins

Today Alaina decided to take it to a vampiric place. During the 17th, 18th and 19th centuries New England was struggling with severe outbreaks of Consumption.  To better explain this plague that caused severe pain, bloody hacking coughs and the victim to seemingly waste away without explanation, they turned to the supernatural. When entire families began falling victim to its brutal clutches, it simply had to be vampires who had taken host in their loved ones ailing bodies to suck the life from the remaining members. Come on in for a dive into a world where eating the ashes of an exhumed family member's decomposing heart was considered medicine.


Great resources used:



Mercy: The Last New England Vampire by Sarah L. Thomson
 




Food For the Dead: On the Trail of New England's Vampires by Michael E. Bell
 




A History of Vampires in New England by Thomas D A'gostino
 



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Cowritten by Alaina Urquhart, Ash Kelley & Dave White

Produced & Edited by Mikie Sirois

Research by Dave White, Alaina Urquhart & Ash Kelley

Listener Correspondence & Collaboration by Debra Lally

Listener Tale Video Edited by Aidan McElroy


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