In the late 1800s, the people of Yazoo City, Mississippi believed a woman living just beyond the edge of town was a witch.

They said she watched them. They said trouble followed her. And when they confronted her, legend claims she left them with a warning.

Years later, a massive fire tore through the heart of Yazoo City — destroying nearly everything in its path.

And suddenly, the town remembered her words.

Did a woman truly curse Yazoo City? Or did fear create a story powerful enough to survive for generations?

In this episode of History’s Dark Corners, we step into Mississippi’s most infamous legend — a story of accusation, fire, memory, and the grave that still draws visitors today.

Because sometimes the most unsettling stories aren’t about magic.

They’re about what people are willing to believe.

—

🎙️ New episodes every Tuesday Follow History’s Dark Corners wherever you listen.

Instagram: @historysdarkcorners Email: historysdarkcornerspodcast@gmail.com

And remember — every state has a dark corner. I’ll meet you there.

In the late 1800s, something strange began appearing in the forests of northern Wisconsin.

Men working in the logging camps outside Rhinelander reported sightings of a creature that didn’t behave like any animal they knew. It wasn’t aggressive. It didn’t flee. It simply appeared — long enough to be recognized, and long enough to be remembered.

Soon, the stories spread. Then the explanations followed. And eventually, someone claimed the creature had been captured.

In this episode of History’s Dark Corners, we trace the legend of the Hodag — how it emerged, how it took hold, and why it refused to disappear.

Because some stories don’t survive on evidence alone.

They survive on belief.

Follow & Connect Instagram: @historysdarkcorners TikTok: @historysdarkcorners

Have a story suggestion, local legend, or dark corner you think deserves exploring? Email me at historysdarkcornerspodcast@gmail.com

Along a quiet stretch of road in southeastern Kansas, travelers once stopped for food, rest, and shelter.

Most never suspected it would be the last decision they would ever make.

In the years after the Civil War, a family calling themselves the Benders settled along a busy trail, offering meals and supplies to those passing through. On the surface, nothing about them seemed unusual. A small cabin. A shared table. A warm welcome.

But as travelers began to vanish without explanation, suspicion slowly crept in. When the truth was finally uncovered, it revealed one of the most unsettling crimes in American frontier history.

In this episode of History’s Dark Corners, we explore the story of the Bloody Benders. What actually happened inside that cabin. Who the victims were. How the family disappeared without consequence. And how rumor and sensational headlines blurred the line between documented history and legend.

This is the dark history of Kansas. A story about trust, isolation, and how easily people could vanish when the road stretched farther than anyone could follow.

Follow History’s Dark Corners for more episodes exploring America’s most unsettling stories, one state at a time. Instagram and TikTok: @historysdarkcorners YouTube: History’s Dark Corners Podcast