Summary
The White Mountains of New Hampshire, known for their breathtaking beauty, also harbor a dark history filled with tragedy and legend. The episode recounts the tale of Nancy Barton, a young servant who perished in the frigid wilderness while searching for her fiancé, Jim Swindell, who absconded with her life savings. After a desperate journey through the snow, Nancy's body was discovered frozen at a brook that now bears her name. Local lore suggests that her spirit still wanders the woods, with hikers reporting eerie sounds echoing through the trees during winter.
The narrative continues with the story of the Willey family, who established an inn in Crawford Notch. In 1826, a catastrophic mudslide struck, claiming the lives of Samuel Willey, his wife, and two of their children. The tragedy became infamous, drawing curious visitors to the site, where ghostly encounters have been reported, including sightings of a spectral dog searching for its lost family.
Additionally, the episode highlights the dangers of Mount Washington, where two hikers, Alan Ormsby and William Buckingham Curtis, met their fate in a storm in 1900. Their memorial at Lake of the Clouds Hut has become a site of supernatural occurrences, with reports of a mysterious presence haunting the area. The stories serve as a reminder of nature's power and the lingering spirits of those who have faced its wrath in the White Mountains.
Show Notes
Humans have a special ability to create a lot of tragedy, and history is marked with many examples. But the natural world has always done its best to keep up, as these stories show. Narrated and produced by Aaron Mahnke, with writing by Molly Quinlan Artwick and research by Jamie Vargas. ————————— BUY EXHUMED TODAY: aaronmahnke.com/exhumed ————————— Lore Resources: Get Ad-Free Lore: lorepodcast.com/support Episode Music: lorepodcast.com/music Episode Sources: lorepodcast.com/sources Official Lore Merchandise: lorepodcast.com/shop ————————— Sponsors: HomeServe: Your next costly home repair is already coming. Act now and get protected with a plan through HomeServe. For 50% less your first year, go to HomeServe.com/lore. SimpliSafe: Secure your home with 24/7 professional monitoring. Sign up today at SimpliSafe.com/Lore to get 50% off a new SimpliSafe system. Quince: Premium European clothing and accessories for 50% to 80% less than similar brands. Visit Quince.com/LORE for free shipping on your order and 365-day returns. Gusto: Online payroll and benefits software built for small businesses. Try Gusto today at Gusto.com/LORE, and get 3 months free when you run your first payroll. ————————— To report a concern regarding a radio-style, non-Aaron ad in this episode, reach out to ads @ lorepodcast.com with the name of the company or organization so we can look into it. To advertise on this podcast please email: [email protected]. Or go to: https://advertising.libsyn.com/lore ————————— ©2026 Aaron Mahnke. All rights reserved.
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