INSIDE THE REAL ARKHAM ASYLUM: Danvers State Hospital’s Terrifying Legacy
Weird Darkness: Stories of the Paranormal, True Crime, Legends, Lore, Mysterious, Macabre, Unsolved
Darren Marlar
4.6 • 4K Ratings
🗓️ 21 May 2025
⏱️ 45 minutes
🧾️ Download transcript
Summary
FREE Word Search and Crossword Puzzle for this episode: https://weirddarkness.com/ArkhamDanvers
Join the DARKNESS SYNDICATE: https://weirddarkness.com/syndicate
ABOUT WEIRD DARKNESS: Weird Darkness is a true crime and paranormal podcast narrated by professional award-winning voice actor, Darren Marlar. Seven days per week, Weird Darkness focuses on all thing strange and macabre such as haunted locations, unsolved mysteries, true ghost stories, supernatural manifestations, urban legends, unsolved or cold case murders, conspiracy theories, and more. On Thursdays, this scary stories podcast features horror fiction along with the occasional creepypasta. Weird Darkness has been named one of the “Best 20 Storytellers in Podcasting” by Podcast Business Journal. Listeners have described the show as a cross between “Coast to Coast” with Art Bell, “The Twilight Zone” with Rod Serling, “Unsolved Mysteries” with Robert Stack, and “In Search Of” with Leonard Nimoy.
DISCLAIMER: Ads heard during the podcast that are not in my voice are placed by third party agencies outside of my control and should not imply an endorsement by Weird Darkness or myself. *** Stories and content in Weird Darkness can be disturbing for some listeners and intended for mature audiences only. Parental discretion is strongly advised.
IN THIS EPISODE: Mother Shipton was known for her prognostication skills – but she was even more well known for her grotesque appearance. So much so that she was nicknamed The York Witch, and the Devil’s Daughter. But others have another name for her… hoax. (The Devil’s Daughter) *** A family heirloom begins acting strange when a woman moves into her deceased grandmother’s home. (I Moved Into My Dead Grandmother’s House) *** Is it possible that ghosts, visions, and other paranormal experiences are not only real – but also good for your mental health? (Therapeutic Ghosts) *** After it closed, the old hospital site became a popular destination for thrill-seeking kids looking for the scare of a lifetime. Why does Danvers State Hospital rank among history’s most infamous asylums? (The Infamy of Danvers State Hospital) *** Attend any amateur magic show and most assuredly you will hear a certain word at least once. Why do illusionists use this word? What does it mean – if anything? We’ll look at the very interesting history behind the word “Abracadabra.” (Say The Magic Word)
CHAPTERS & TIME STAMPS (All Times Approximate)…
00:00:00.000 = Lead-In, “Arkhams’ Dark Past”
00:03:36.808 = Show Open
00:05:36.569 = The Devil’s Daughter, Mother Shipton
00:11:29.548 = I Moved Into My Dead Grandmother’s House
00:17:34.047 = The Infamy of Danvers State Hospital
00:24:25.409 = Therapeutic Ghosts
00:34:29.402 = Say The Magic Word
00:40:26.739 = Show Close
SOURCES AND RESOURCES FROM THE EPISODE…
“Arkham’s Dark Past” was written by Darren Marlar
“I Moved Into My Dead Grandmother’s House” by Kelsey for Your Ghost Stories: https://tinyurl.com/rjcvecr
“The Devil’s Daughter” by Marc Hartzman for Weird Historian: https://tinyurl.com/vp6vlo4
“Therapeutic Ghosts” by Andreas Sommer for Aeon: https://tinyurl.com/r7xcv2v
“The Infamy of Danvers State Hospital” by William DeLong for All That’s Interesting: https://tinyurl.com/rd223yu
“Say The Magic Word” from Ancient Origins: https://tinyurl.com/sl9nlzm
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"I have come into the world as a light, so that no one who believes in me should stay in darkness." — John 12:46
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WeirdDarkness® is a registered trademark. Copyright ©2025, Weird Darkness.
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Originally aired: September 2020
EPISODE PAGE at WeirdDarkness.com (includes list of sources): https://weirddarkness.com/ArkhamDanvers
Danvers State Hospital, Hathorne Hill, Arkham Asylum inspiration, haunted asylums, abandoned mental hospitals, Danvers Massachusetts history, creepy places in Massachusetts, haunted hospitals, Kirkbride building, real Arkham Sanitarium, Salem Witch Trials connection, lobotomy history, Danvers State ghost stories, Avalon Danvers Apartments, paranormal Massachusetts, dark history of Danvers, insane asylum horror, gothic architecture asylum, haunted Kirkbride institutions, Massachusetts haunted locations
Transcript
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| 0:00.0 | They've been here for thousands of years, making their presence known in the shadows. |
| 0:06.0 | They might be seen by a lonely motorist on a deserted road late at night, or by a frightened |
| 0:12.0 | and confused husband in the bedroom he's sharing with his wife. |
| 0:16.0 | Perhaps the most disconcerting part of this phenomenon boils down to this question. |
| 0:21.9 | Has the government been aware of their presence all along and is covertly working with |
| 0:27.3 | them towards some secret end? |
| 0:30.7 | In the audiobook, Rungs of Disclosure, what once was fringe is now reality. |
| 0:36.7 | While listening, you'll meet regular people just like you who have encountered something beyond |
| 0:41.5 | their ability to explain. |
| 0:43.7 | You'll also hear from people of great faith and deep religious belief who continue to |
| 0:48.4 | have these strange and deeply unsettling encounters. |
| 0:52.8 | Author L.A. Marzuli explores these ongoing incidents to discover the answers |
| 0:56.9 | to these questions. Who are they? What do they want? And why are they here? Can you handle the |
| 1:06.9 | truth? Listen to this audiobook, if you dare. Rungs of Disclosure, following the |
| 1:13.3 | Trail of Extraterrestrials and the End Times by L.A. Marzuli, narrated by Darren Marler. |
| 1:20.2 | Here are a free sample on the audiobooks page at weirddarkness.com. Now, there's a new way to share |
| 1:26.5 | weird darkness with the weirdos in your life. |
| 1:29.0 | It's a skill on your Amazon Echo device. |
| 1:31.4 | Just say, play Weird Darkness, and you'll immediately start hearing the newest episode. |
| 1:35.8 | With your Amazon Echo or Smart Device, you can let me keep you company all day and all night. |
| 1:41.1 | And it's easy to tell your friends how to tune in, too. |
| 1:43.8 | Just tell your |
... |
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