Welcome to lore legends, a subset of lore episodes that explore the strange tales we whisper in the dark,

even if they can't always be proven by the history books.

So if you're ready, let's begin. It's been called the most toxic ghost town in America.

In the late 19th century, lead and zinc were discovered in northeast Oklahoma,

largely around a river called Tar Creek.

Mining operations expanded in the early 20th century, when more minerals were uncovered in the

surrounding area. Soon, the region underwent a population boom as more and more miners moved into

Oklahoma. Along with its population boom came the genesis of an entire town. It was called

Pitcher, and during its peak in the 1920s, Pitcher boasted nearly 20,000 residents. But nothing gold

can stay. Over the decades, people got greedy, and they cut corners. Proper excavation practices

were ignored in favor of quick,

brutal mining methods. Pitcher soon suffered from massive cavens and contaminated groundwater.

After a number of studies came out showing that a huge percentage of the town's children were

born with lead poisoning, the EPA and state of Oklahoma agreed to a mass evacuation of its residents.

By the mid-2000s, most of Pitcher's buildings were on the brink of collapse, with more and more

falling into sinkholes each day. The groundwater became acidic, and the risk of cancer skyrocketed.

Even so, the last of the town's residents didn't leave for years.

In the mid-2010s, six households and one business remained, firm in never leaving their home,

no matter how dangerous it was for them to stay. The rest of the buildings were destroyed in 2015,

and as it stands, no one knows if the land will ever be usable again. Some scars

will never go away. Whether those are from a relationship or an accident, our wounds

tend to stick around, reminding us of the pain and the past. Nowhere is this more evident that

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