The Peninsula Python

One Strange Thing: True Paranormal Mysteries

Laurah Norton

Paranormalpodcast, History, True Crime, Paranormal, Mystery

4.6 • 763 Ratings

🗓️ 27 January 2026

⏱️ 25 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

Back in the summer of 1944, the tiny village of Peninsula, Ohio, was surprised to find itself under the spell of a very large—and out of place—serpent. One Strange Thing: True Paranormal Mysteries explores the archives of the unexplained, blending rigorous historical research with a wry, skeptical wit to investigate true supernatural stories and baffling mysteries that made headlines. Dive into our Episode Mystery Archive — a curated, topic-organized source for documented hauntings, UFO sightings, cryptids, folklore, and bizarre true mysteries. Check it out here! https://www.onestrangethingpodcast.com/episodes-by-topic-mystery-archive This story originally appeared as Premium-only Episode 43. Hosted and Written by Laurah Norton Researched by Anna Luria and Laurah Norton Produced and Engineered by Maura Currie Get 20% off your DeleteMe plan when you go to joindeleteme.com/STRANGE and use promo code STRANGE at checkout! We work with Amplitude Media Partners (AMP) to power our advertising and grow with the right sponsors. Contact AMP with any ad inquiries; sales@amplitudemediapartners.com. Sources on our website: https://www.onestrangethingpodcast.com/ Join us on Patreon for early release and ad-free episodes, exclusive stories, and bonus episodes: https://www.patreon.com/OneStrangeThing Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/onestrangethingpod/ Facebook https://www.facebook.com/One-Strange-Thing-114307627035607 Subscribe to our Substack: https://substack.com/@onestrangething Works Cited Robert Bordner, “The Peninsula Python. . .” The Atlantic, 1945. Albert C. Andrews, “Keep the Kids. . .” The Plain Dealer, 1994. Gina Mace, “Legend of the Peninsula. . .” The Akron Beacon Journal, 2015. Ken Zapinski, “Mystery Python Once. . “ The Plain Dealer, 1994. N/A, UP, “Big Python on. . .” The Lexington Herald-Leader, 1944. N/A, “Posses Formed for. . “ The Coshocton Tribune, 1944. N/A, “Peninsula’s Publicist Sticks. . .” The Akron Beacon Journal, 1944. N/A, AP, “Peninsula Python Still. . .” The Journal Herald, 1944. N/A, UP, “Snake Hunters Alter. . .” The News-Journal, 1944. N/A, “Peninsula’s Python Sighted. . “ The Akron Beacon Journal, 1944. N/A, “Python Gets Around. .” The Akron Beacon Journal, 1944. N/A, “Where’s the Python? “ The Akron Beacon Journal, 1944. N/A, “Peninsula Python Visits. . .” The Troy Daily News, 1944. N/A, “Robert Bordner Obituary,” The Akron Beacon Journal, 1974. Boston Township Official Website “Helltown, Ohio.” Atlas Obscura “Boston Mils, Hell Town.” The Ghosts of Ohio.

Transcript

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0:00.0	Fiscally responsible, financial geniuses, monetary magicians.
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0:46.1	I'm Lauren Norton, and this is one strange thing, the show where we search the nation's news archives for stories that can't quite be explained. Strangerous? Strangers, we are back to Ohio this episode, and we are glad of it.
1:03.2	As you may remember, we are staunch defenders of any place that is easy to spell
1:08.8	and is home to a variety of unexplained events.
1:12.6	So, as you might imagine, we are rather fond of the Buckeye State.
1:17.6	It is home to a veritable embarrassment of riches in mystery form, the Circleville Letters,
1:23.6	UFO debris at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, the Loveland frogs. Lake monsters, dogmen, and much, much more. Honestly, we'll take whatever Ohio can throw at us. Except maybe that chili served over spaghetti noodles. Although, of course, we respect your rights to your regional cuisine. Don't email us about the chili noodles.
1:47.1	Today, we have a story that perhaps you have not heard.
1:50.5	One of the state's lesser-known, though certainly more fascinating tales.
1:56.1	The modern version has gotten mixed up with the ghost villages of Boston Township, Ohio, aka Helltown.
2:04.6	Boston Township is an area made up of two villages in Summit County, Ohio,
2:09.5	Boston Heights in the North and Peninsula in its central area.
2:13.3	There's a fair bit of complexity regarding which bits of land cross over into other areas,
2:18.7	which mostly matters because of a major government project that happened in the mid-1970s.
2:25.4	According to Cincinnati's city beat, some areas of North Summit County were overtaken by the National Park Service via imminent domain.
2:34.8	Per the Ghost of Ohio website, quote,
	...

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