Hoodoo + History = Haints (Why Is Appalachia So Haunted?)

Trans-Allegheny Lunatic Asylum, West Virginia Penitentiary,  Mothman…our region has a long list of haunts and haints.

On this week’s Front Porch podcast, we ask folklorist Gerald Milnes about the roots of our deepest fears, and why these old Appalachian stories remain so strong.

Meanwhile, Rick Wilson reveals his theory of why Appalachia has more than its fair share of scary places: Hoodoo + history = haints.

Hoodoo  – places with natural power

History – wars, disasters, murders

Haints – that which haunts

Also, Rick reveals the reflexive property of haints: If it’s haunted, it’s got a haint.

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An edited version of “The Front Porch” airs Fridays at 4:50 p.m. on West Virginia Public Broadcasting’s radio network, and the full version is available above.

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