Lore

Legends 62: The Little Things

September 15, 2025

Key Takeaways Copied to clipboard!

  • The Phelps General Store in Palmyra, New York, is considered the most haunted building in the Finger Lakes District, with multiple family members believed to be lingering spirits. 
  • The legend of the Angola Pigman on Holland Road is likely a way for the community to process collective trauma and violence, rather than a literal supernatural entity. 
  • The 'North Tonawanda Ghost' was a fabricated hoax orchestrated by the Chamber of Commerce to encourage a town merger, highlighting how local legends can be manipulated for political purposes. 

Segments

Phelps General Store Haunting
Copied to clipboard!
(00:03:07)
  • Key Takeaway: The Phelps General Store in Palmyra, NY, became a site of paranormal activity after its abrupt closure in 1940, with numerous family spirits reportedly lingering.
  • Summary: This segment details the history of the Phelps General Store, its unexpected closure by Julius Phelps, and the subsequent belief that the building is haunted by multiple members of the Phelps family, including Sybil, who was a spiritualist.
The Angola Pigman Legend
Copied to clipboard!
(00:09:57)
  • Key Takeaway: The legend of the Angola Pigman on Holland Road is likely a manifestation of collective trauma and violence in the community, rather than a literal ghost.
  • Summary: This section explores the lore of the Angola Pigman, discussing various theories about its origin, including a butcher, a deformed farmer, and a victim of a train wreck, while ultimately suggesting it serves as a coping mechanism for local tragedies.
North Tonawanda Ghost Hoax
Copied to clipboard!
(00:16:50)
  • Key Takeaway: The ‘North Tonawanda Ghost’ was a manufactured hoax by the Chamber of Commerce to pressure the town into a merger with its sister city, Tawanda.
  • Summary: This segment recounts the series of ‘angel’ and ‘ghost’ sightings in North Tonawanda, revealing how it was a deliberate ploy by local officials to influence a town merger vote, which ultimately failed.
Black Dog of Lake Erie
Copied to clipboard!
(00:28:51)
  • Key Takeaway: The Black Dog of Lake Erie is a spectral entity believed to be an omen of death for sailors, possibly stemming from the tragic death of a Newfoundland dog on a ship in the Welland Canal.
  • Summary: This part of the podcast discusses the folklore of black dogs as omens of death, focusing on the legend of the Black Dog of Lake Erie, its origins tied to a ship accident, and its reported appearances before maritime disasters.