The Grim: Haunted Cemeteries & Graveyard Tales

Kristin Lopes
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Welcome to The Grim, where host Kristin Lopes guides you through the world's most haunted cemeteries and forgotten burial grounds. Each week, we explore ghost stories, historical mysteries, and the art carved into centuries-old stones—from New England witch trials to European ossuaries, Victorian mourning customs to modern hauntings. Through vivid storytelling and deep research, we uncover the lives, legends, and restless spirits that refuse to stay buried. Perfect for lovers of: Haunted cemeteries & graveyard folkloreParanormal encounters & ghost storiesDark history, true crime & forgotten talesCemetery tourism & historical exploration Whether you're planning a graveyard visit or simply drawn to the shadows, The Grim blends atmosphere with meticulous research—bringing you stories that linger long after the episode ends. So pour yourself a warm cup of coffee, cozy up with the whispers of the past, and step beyond the veil. "Step carefully—it's time to descend into the hauntings of history." With over 217,000 listens, The Grim has become a beloved companion for cemetery enthusiasts and paranormal lovers worldwide. 🎧 New episodes weekly. Subscribe and join us where the past refuses to rest.

  1. A Gothic Yuletide | St. Patrick's Cathedral Crypt

    4D AGO

    A Gothic Yuletide | St. Patrick's Cathedral Crypt

    Descend beneath the marble floors of St. Patrick's Cathedral in New York City, where Gothic spires pierce the winter skyline above Fifth Avenue and Christmas lights glow against ancient stone, while twenty archbishops and cardinals rest in eternal vigil below the high altar. Host Kristin guides listeners through the crypts of America's most iconic cathedral during the season when millions gather for Midnight Mass above—unaware of the voices that linger below. Founded in 1858 on land once considered countryside, this cathedral rose through decades of struggle, its white marble walls climbing skyward as the city around it dressed itself in Yuletide splendor. Explore the stories of men who shaped Catholic life in a city swollen with immigrants, prejudice, and ambition—and one extraordinary layperson whose quiet charity during the coldest seasons earned him a place among princes of the Church. Featured Historical Figures: John Joseph Hughes – "Dagger John," New York's first archbishop, whose fiery temperament and unyielding vision drove the cathedral's construction through decades of financial struggle, Civil War interruption, and anti-Catholic hostility. He died in January 1864 with the walls still unfinished, never seeing Christmas lights along Fifth Avenue or hearing Midnight Mass echo through marble vaults—buried beneath a promise made in faith rather than stone. John McCloskey – The first American cardinal, who rowed across the frozen East River as a boy just to attend Mass and later guided construction to completion after Hughes' death. His quiet endurance transformed ambition into reality, opening the cathedral's doors on a cold November day in 1879 after decades of delay—just in time for its first Christmas season. Francis Joseph Spellman – "The GI's Cardinal," whose 28-year reign (1939-1967) transformed the archdiocese into a global center of Catholic influence. A confidant to presidents and power broker who visited troops worldwide during wartime Christmases, Spellman cast the longest shadow in the crypt—a reminder of how closely faith and political power once walked together through America's darkest winters. Pierre Toussaint – Born into slavery in Haiti in 1766, Toussaint became New York's most sought-after hairdresser and the only layperson ever buried beneath St. Patrick's high altar. Called "Saint Pierre" decades before Rome considered the name, he sheltered orphans during harsh winters, fed yellow-fever victims when others fled, and funded Catholic institutions that wouldn't admit children of his own race—practicing holiness without office in an unjust world, his charity warming lives through the coldest seasons. Fulton John Sheen – The golden-voiced broadcaster whose Christmas programs reached millions of living rooms across America and won Emmy Awards, yet clashed with Cardinal Spellman over independence and moral authority. Originally interred at St. Patrick's near the winter altar, his remains were later transferred to Peoria after legal disputes—a man who spoke to the nation during silent nights but knew the solitude of conscience. Also Featured: Terence James Cooke (Servant of God, whose compassion lit the darkest hours), John Joseph O'Connor (who confronted clergy abuse before the full crisis was known), Edward Michael Egan (whose legacy remains burdened by institutional reckoning), architect James Renwick Jr.'s white marble vision that rises pale against December skies, the 1858 cornerstone ceremony that drew 100,000 spectators in summer heat, the Christmas Day 1906 dedication of the Lady Chapel funded by Margaret A. Kelly's deferred gift, and the formal consecr Support the show Support The Grim by buying a cup of our next Grave Grind! https://buymeacoffee.com/kristinlopes Find All of The Grim's Social Links At: https://www.the-grim.com/socialmedia

    33 min
  2. Blood & Marble | Chicago's Rosehill Cemetery

    DEC 16

    Blood & Marble | Chicago's Rosehill Cemetery

    Explore the snow-covered grounds of Rosehill Cemetery in Chicago, Illinois, where Gothic towers stand sentinel over 350 acres of American ambition, tragedy, and memory. Host Kristin guides listeners through Chicago's first private cemetery, founded in 1859 on the city's highest natural elevation, uncovering the lost Victorian tradition of Christmas festivities among the graves and the spirits that linger in the winter twilight. Featured Historical Figures: Richard Warren Sears & Aaron Montgomery Ward – The mail-order moguls who revolutionized American commerce now rest as eternal rivals in the Rosehill Mausoleum, where Sears allegedly haunts the marble halls in a top hat, still bitter about his competitor's proximity even in death. John G. Shedd – The Marshall Field's chairman whose mausoleum chapel features a Tiffany window designed to bathe his crypt in underwater blue light at sunset, complete with seahorse-adorned chairs—a cathedral beneath an imaginary sea. Bobby Franks – The fourteen-year-old victim of Leopold and Loeb's 1924 "crime of the century," whose quiet grave holds the weight of innocence stolen and a city forever scarred by calculated cruelty. Charles G. Dawes – The 30th Vice President and Nobel Peace Prize laureate rests among Chicago's political dynasty, including "Long John" Wentworth, whose towering obelisk ensures he rises above his fellow mayors even in death. Civil War Generals – Sixteen Union generals, including Thomas Ransom, Julius White, and John McArthur, lie beneath Leonard Volk's "Our Heroes" monument—making Rosehill the largest private burial ground of Union veterans in Illinois. Also Featured: William W. Boyington's Gothic Revival entrance (mirroring Chicago's Water Tower), the 1899 Horatio N. May Chapel with its winter vault for frozen-ground burials, victims of the 1903 Iroquois Theatre fire and 1915 SS Eastland disaster, three unidentified men from the 1929 Saint Valentine's Day Massacre, and the glass-encased statues of Frances Pearce Stone and Lulu Fellows—where ghostly mists and phantom cries reportedly linger. Perfect for: Chicago history enthusiasts, architecture lovers, true crime fans, cemetery tourists, and anyone fascinated by Gothic grandeur, Victorian mourning traditions, and the haunted intersections of capitalism, tragedy, and memory in America's heartland. Support the show Support The Grim by buying a cup of our next Grave Grind! https://buymeacoffee.com/kristinlopes Find All of The Grim's Social Links At: https://www.the-grim.com/socialmedia

    40 min
  3. Snowbound Souls | The Literary Dead of Sleepy Hollow Cemetery

    DEC 9

    Snowbound Souls | The Literary Dead of Sleepy Hollow Cemetery

    Explore the snow-covered grounds of Sleepy Hollow Cemetery in Concord, Massachusetts, where America's greatest literary minds rest among the pines. Host Kristin guides listeners through the historic 119-acre rural cemetery, uncovering the winter connections between graveyards, ghosts, and the holiday season. Featured Historical Figures: Henry David Thoreau – Discover the Walden author's winter experiments, his work with the Underground Railroad, and the rainstorm that ultimately led to his death from tuberculosis in 1862. Learn why visitors leave pencils on his grave at Author's Ridge. Louisa May Alcott – The Little Women author's life was shaped by brutal New England winters and mercury poisoning from Civil War nursing. Born on her father's birthday, she died just two days after him in 1888, fulfilling her wish to "support them in death and life." Nathaniel Hawthorne – The Scarlet Letter author carried the weight of his Salem witch trial ancestry throughout his haunted, guilt-laden works before dying mysteriously in his sleep in 1864. Ralph Waldo Emerson – The Transcendentalist philosopher who designed Sleepy Hollow Cemetery as "a garden of the living," where nature and mortality intertwine beneath his massive rose quartz gravestone. Also Featured: Daniel Chester French's Melvin Memorial sculpture, Katherine Kennicott Davis (composer of "The Little Drummer Boy"), Victorian Christmas cemetery traditions, and over 600 notable burials, including Civil War heroes, suffragists, and cultural pioneers. Perfect for: History enthusiasts, literature lovers, cemetery tourists, and anyone fascinated by the intersection of death, memory, and American cultural heritage. Support the show Support The Grim by buying a cup of our next Grave Grind! https://buymeacoffee.com/kristinlopes Find All of The Grim's Social Links At: https://www.the-grim.com/socialmedia

    34 min
  4. Legacy Within Trinity | Trinity Churchyard, New York City

    DEC 2

    Legacy Within Trinity | Trinity Churchyard, New York City

    In this episode of The Grim, Kristin guides you through the historic shadows of Trinity Churchyard in New York City—the final resting place of Alexander Hamilton, Eliza Hamilton, Angelica Schuyler, Robert Fulton, Albert Gallatin, John Peter Zenger, and the mysterious James Leeson. Step beyond Wall Street’s noise and into a world where America’s early history and lingering hauntings intertwine. Discover the stories etched into these stones, from Revolutionary heroes to whispered legends said to wander the grounds after dark. A haunting, heartfelt walk through one of America’s most iconic cemeteries. Support the show Support The Grim by buying a cup of our next Grave Grind! https://buymeacoffee.com/kristinlopes Find All of The Grim's Social Links At: https://www.the-grim.com/socialmedia

    20 min
  5. The Pumpkin Patch Burying Ground | King's Chapel, Boston MA

    NOV 25

    The Pumpkin Patch Burying Ground | King's Chapel, Boston MA

    The Pumpkin Patch Burying Ground | King's Chapel, Boston MA Step through the wrought-iron gates with The Grim as host Kristin explores King's Chapel Burying Ground—Boston's oldest cemetery and one of the most actively haunted sites on the Freedom Trail. Once a humble pumpkin patch, this colonial burial ground has held nearly four centuries of grief, history, and restless spirits. From John Winthrop and Mary Chilton Winslow to William Dawes, the "other" midnight rider, extraordinary figures rest here—but not all rest quietly. Discover the Headless Madam, the man buried alive, Captain Kidd's hidden grave myth, and the spectral children who wander after Victorian grave rearrangements moved headstones—but not bodies. A chilling journey through one of Boston's most storied, spectral sites—where the dead never rest quietly. 📍 King's Chapel Burying Ground, Boston MA (Freedom Trail)  👻 Actively haunted Perfect for: Ghost hunters, history lovers, Freedom Trail tourists 🎧 Step through the veil with The Grim. Support the show Support The Grim by buying a cup of our next Grave Grind! https://buymeacoffee.com/kristinlopes Find All of The Grim's Social Links At: https://www.the-grim.com/socialmedia

    19 min
  6. Eternal Enemies | Old Gray Cemetery, Knoxville TN

    NOV 18

    Eternal Enemies | Old Gray Cemetery, Knoxville TN

    Step into Old Gray Cemetery with The Grim as host Kristin explores Knoxville's most atmospheric Victorian burial ground—where feuds, tragedy, and restless spirits linger beneath ancient trees. Founded in 1850 and named for poet Thomas Gray, this 13-acre garden cemetery holds the stories of Tennessee's most influential figures: Governor William "Parson" Brownlow, diplomat Horace Maynard, suffragist Lizzie Crozier French, and General Lawrence D. Tyson. But tragedy also marks these grounds—from the 1854 cholera epidemic to the devastating 1904 New Market train collision. Discover the haunting legends: the Lady in White, the ominous Black Aggie, dueling gunmen whose spirits never made peace, and the restless dead of Knoxville's most notorious feuds. A journey through Appalachian ghost lore, Civil War conflict, and Victorian mourning art—where history and haunting walk hand in hand. 📍 Old Gray Cemetery, Knoxville TN  ⚰️ Founded: 1850  👻 Haunted by: The Lady in White, Black Aggie, feuding spirits Perfect for: Southern Gothic enthusiasts, Tennessee history lovers, Civil War buffs, Victorian cemetery tourists 🎧 Enter the gates with The Grim. Support the show Support The Grim by buying a cup of our next Grave Grind! https://buymeacoffee.com/kristinlopes Find All of The Grim's Social Links At: https://www.the-grim.com/socialmedia

    28 min
  7. Bones of the Risorgimento | The Ossuaries of San Martino & Solferino, Italy

    NOV 11

    Bones of the Risorgimento | The Ossuaries of San Martino & Solferino, Italy

    Step beyond the veil with The Grim as host Kristin explores the haunting ossuaries of San Martino and Solferino in Lombardy, Italy—where thousands of bones rest in solemn tribute beneath cypress groves. The Battle of Solferino and San Martino (1859) was a brutal clash that forged modern Italy and inspired the creation of the Red Cross. Here, in sacred charnel houses, skulls and bones are arranged in silent testimony to war's cost and Italy's fight for unity. Discover how Jean-Henri Dunant's compassion amid the carnage gave rise to humanitarian law, and how the Tower of San Martino now watches over fields once soaked in blood. No ghost stories echo here—only bones that remember the Risorgimento's price. 📍 Ossuaries of San Martino della Battaglia & Solferino, Lombardy, Italy  ⚰️ Battle: June 24, 1859  🕊️ Silent testimony to war and unity Perfect for: Italian history enthusiasts, ossuary visitors, Red Cross history buffs, bone chapel tourists 🎧 Descend with The Grim into Italy's most solemn monuments. Support the show Support The Grim by buying a cup of our next Grave Grind! https://buymeacoffee.com/kristinlopes Find All of The Grim's Social Links At: https://www.the-grim.com/socialmedia

    14 min
  8. The Dead Watch | Tolomato Cemetery, St. Augustine FL

    NOV 4

    The Dead Watch | Tolomato Cemetery, St. Augustine FL

    Step through the haunted gates of Tolomato Cemetery with The Grim as host Kristin explores one of St. Augustine's most historic and ghost-filled burial grounds. Beneath ancient oaks and Spanish moss rest displaced Guale Indians, Spanish settlers, Menorcan refugees, Cuban priests, and restless souls who never found peace. Once a Franciscan mission site, this cemetery holds over a thousand souls—victims of yellow fever, premature burials, and dark colonial history. Discover the hauntings: The Rebel Bishop Augustin Verot—whose explosive funeral left the dead refusing to restVenerable Félix Varela—Cuban priest and freedom fighter whose spirit lingersThe Lady in White—saved from premature burial, still wandering the groundsLittle James Morgan—a child ghost in the branches of his favorite oakOpen to the living only hours each month—but the spirits appear far more often. 📍 Tolomato Cemetery, St. Augustine FL  ⚰️ Founded: 1777  👻 Open once a month—haunted every day Perfect for: St. Augustine tourists, paranormal seekers, Spanish colonial history enthusiasts, ghost hunters 🎧 Descend with The Grim into America's oldest city's most haunted cemetery. Support the show Support The Grim by buying a cup of our next Grave Grind! https://buymeacoffee.com/kristinlopes Find All of The Grim's Social Links At: https://www.the-grim.com/socialmedia

    15 min
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About

Welcome to The Grim, where host Kristin Lopes guides you through the world's most haunted cemeteries and forgotten burial grounds. Each week, we explore ghost stories, historical mysteries, and the art carved into centuries-old stones—from New England witch trials to European ossuaries, Victorian mourning customs to modern hauntings. Through vivid storytelling and deep research, we uncover the lives, legends, and restless spirits that refuse to stay buried. Perfect for lovers of: Haunted cemeteries & graveyard folkloreParanormal encounters & ghost storiesDark history, true crime & forgotten talesCemetery tourism & historical exploration Whether you're planning a graveyard visit or simply drawn to the shadows, The Grim blends atmosphere with meticulous research—bringing you stories that linger long after the episode ends. So pour yourself a warm cup of coffee, cozy up with the whispers of the past, and step beyond the veil. "Step carefully—it's time to descend into the hauntings of history." With over 217,000 listens, The Grim has become a beloved companion for cemetery enthusiasts and paranormal lovers worldwide. 🎧 New episodes weekly. Subscribe and join us where the past refuses to rest.

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