Ep. 59 - Ghosts of The Trans-Allegheny Lunatic Asylum

My Victorian Nightmare

Genevieve Manion

History

4.6 • 900 Ratings

🗓️ 8 September 2025

⏱️ 44 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

On today’s episode, Genevieve will be taking you to the haunted Victorian era-built Trans-Allegheny Lunatic Asylum. She will discuss its horrifying history and its present-day spectral inhabitants. She will also discuss the Cock Lane Ghost story, as well as a 19th century, Groucho Marks-style mishap that occurred at a seance. Instagram post for today’s episode: https://www.instagram.com/p/DOOcJtaDtTW/?igsh=MXBmNzJ1Nml5ZnlwMw== References for today’s episode: “The Cock Lane Ghost” - The Newcastle Weekly Chronicle, May 10th, 1873. “Reichenbach at a Spirit Circle” - The Spiritualist, Dec. 3rd, 1869. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trans-Allegheny_Lunatic_Asylum https://www.roadunraveled.com/blog/trans-allegheny-lunatic-asylum/ https://www.medlink.com/news/the-evolution-of-electroconvulsive-therapy-from-controversial-beginnings-to-a-safe-and-effective-treatment https://www.uniquetravelphoto.com/trans-allegheny-lunatic-asylum/ https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cock_Lane_ghost https://usghostadventures.com/americas-most-haunted-trending/terrors-of-the-trans-allegheny-lunatic-asylum/ https://www.reddit.com/r/Paranormal/comments/xivpop/for_a_decade_i_was_a_paranormal_tour_guide_at_an/?rdt=32916 https://thelittlehouseofhorrors.com/trans-allegheny-lunatic-asylum/ https://midatlanticdaytrips.com/2021/10/what-lurks-in-the-halls-of-transallegheny-lunatic-asylum-at-night/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Transcript

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0:00.0	Hello and welcome to my Victorian nightmare. I'm your host, Genevieve Mannion,
0:09.1	and I'm here to talk about mysterious deaths, morbid fascinations, disturbing stories, and otherwise spooky events from the Victorian era.
0:19.6	Because to me, there's just something especially intriguing,
0:23.3	creepy, and oddly comforting about horror and mayhem from the 19th century. So, listener discretion
0:30.8	is advised.
0:44.5	Hello, friends, and welcome to this my 59th episode.
0:46.2	Oh, how exciting.
0:48.2	I am still amazed.
0:51.6	Literally, every time I produce one of these episodes,
0:55.7	and it actually gets out on time that is not let up in any capacity.
0:56.5	Neither has the pride.
0:58.7	I am so proud of this little show.
1:01.7	This, I think, is my favorite work that I have ever done.
1:06.1	Let that be a lesson to anyone who thinks that they're too old to do the best, most rewarding work
1:13.4	of their career. In my life before this, I did some pretty fun stuff. I worked with some
1:18.4	wonderful people, some pretty awful people too, that's for sure, but never have I had more
1:24.4	opportunities, more excitement connected to a profession in my life.
1:29.4	Never give up on your dreams.
1:31.2	I know it isn't a particularly goth thing to say, but imagine it written in like a spooky font
1:37.5	below a grayscale rainbow surrounded by bats.
1:41.5	The rainbow dripping with blood.
1:48.2	Never give up on your dreams, you gremlins.
	...

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