Weird Island Weird Rhode Island
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- Storia
Small state, big on the weird! Weird Island brings you some of the strangest stories you probably haven’t heard before, all originating in little Rhode Island.
Maybe you’re a true crime fan, but you’re burning out on the binges and looking to shake things up. Well, look no further! We’ll bring you unsolved mysteries, conspiracy theories, weird history and even some MURDER (no need to completely leave your comfort zone). Join us as we uncover some strange stories from the smallest state.
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68. ANIMALS: Oscar, the Cat Who Could Predict Death
Oscar seemed like an ordinary kitten when he was adopted by Steere House Nursing and Rehabilitation center in Providence, RI. But the staff and residents at Steere House quickly suspected Oscar had a unique ability. He seemed to be able to predict when someone was going to die.
Heads up, this episode is more speculative than usual. And it includes a lot of talk of death. Keep that in mind while listening. -
WEIRD ISLAND CHECK IN: Taking a (Little) Pause
Hey all! I’m taking a tiny pause on new episodes for a little while to work on some other things that inspire me. I’ll be back before you know it! And, in the meantime, I still have a couple of episodes to drop. So, I hope you’ll stick around.
If you’re looking for something new to listen to while I’m taking a breather, I wanted to share some of the podcasts that I've been loving recently. Some local (see list 1!) and some that are just incredible podcasts I think will be up your alley. I have 100% forgotten some (Spotify history needs to go back farther!), so I’ll keep adding!
(Mostly) Local Stories:
Crimetown (If you haven’t already listened to this one, this is a MUST)
Mosaic (amazing)
The Memory Palace (One of my ALL TIME favorite writers. Not every episode is local, but you’ll stumble across many that are)
New England Legends
The Bowery Boys (New York, but lots of historical crossover)
Not local, but I think you love them:
Heavyweight (This is my favorite podcast of all time.)
Sidedoor
Unexplainable
Not Past It
Nice Try (highly recommend the episode on bidets)
HISTORY This Week
Ologies
Lore
Meet your Heroes -
67. MILLS: From Cotton Cloth to Space Age Textiles
While researching RI mills, I came across this one little snippet about the Ashton Mill in Cumberland, and had to know more: “Owens-Corning Fiberglas Company bought the mill... They operated in the mill until 1983. They made tire cord, drapery, and beta cloth for spacesuits for the Apollo Moon missions.”
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66. MEET ME AT THE BILTMORE: Dutee Wilcox Flint
This week, I’m joined by Amanda Quay Blount, who just released her new book Meet Me at the Biltmore this October. She brought me a story I’d never heard before about this Rhode Island based Ford dealer. His name was Dutee Wilcox Flint, and he was one of the earliest and most successful Ford dealers in the world before he lost his empire, moved into the Biltmore, and largely vanished from memory.
Find Meet Me at the Biltmore at your local bookstore! -
65. THANKSGIVING: Revisiting the Origin Story
This week, as many get ready to celebrate Thanksgiving, I wanted to revisit the story of the Pilgrims and the first Thanksgiving that many of us learned as kids. Because, I found out as an adult that I didn’t really learn the full story–I learned a mythologized version of it. And I learned that while I heard a lot about the Pilgrims landing at Plymouth, I didn’t know as much about the Wampanoag people who were already in New England, many of whom were living in what is part of Rhode Island today.
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64. MURDER: Amasa Sprague and the Trial of John Gordon
On December 31, 1843, Amasa Sprague was found murdered near his home in Cranston, RI. An Irish immigrant named John Gordon was tried and convicted of the crime, but even at the time, many believed he may have been innocent.