11. The Great Vampire Panic of New England: Fear, Folklore, and the Undead

Did you know New England was once gripped by vampire hysteria? In the 19th century, communities across the region exhumed their dead, fearing that the undead were spreading a mysterious illness. This week, we’re diving into the bizarre history of New England’s vampire panic. From spine-tingling graveyard rituals to the tragic tales of families driven to desperation, we’re uncovering the truth behind this eerie chapter in folklore. Was it just superstition, or could there be more to the story? Join the gang as we dig up the chilling details—because it always gets weirder, after dark. Instagram: @WeirderAfter Dark Have weird New England Stories? Email us: [email protected] Reddit & Facebook Community: Weirder After Dark Sources: Tucker, A. (2012, October). The great New England vampire panic. Smithsonian Magazine. Retrieved from https://www.smithsonianmag.com/history/the-great-new-england-vampire-panic-36482878/ Bills, J. (2022, January). New England's vampire history: Legends and hysteria. Yankee Magazine, NewEngland.com. Ponti, C. (2019, October). When New Englanders blamed vampires for tuberculosis deaths. History.com. Retrieved from https://www.history.com Chandle, N. (2024, July). The New England vampire panic was very real and very deadly. HowStuffWorks. D'Agostino, T. (2010). A history of vampires in New England. [Publisher if known]. Charles River Editors. (2022, August). The Mercy Brown incident: The controversial history of the search for vampires in 19th-century Rhode Island.