Ep 313: The Stratford Poltergeist
“Finally, Phelps asked why the spirit was causing such a disturbance in the house, and the spirit replied: ‘For fun.’”
Description:
In 1850, the quiet town of Stratford, Connecticut, was shaken by a bizarre and terrifying haunting that gripped the world’s attention. Reverend Eliakim Phelps and his family were tormented by objects falling from nowhere, cryptic messages, and strange effigies crafted from household items. As the phenomena escalated—turning violent and targeting the children—skeptics, spiritualists, and investigators descended on the mansion in search of answers. Was it a hoax, psychic energy, or something truly supernatural? This episode dives into the enduring mystery of the Stratford Poltergeist.
Reference Links:
The Stratford Poltergeist from Tess’ Astonishing Legends blog
The Haunted Phelps Mansion, Stratford, Connecticut” from Myths, Mysteries, & Monsters
Timeline and background of the Phelps mansion haunting by Jude McLaughlin
Ep 281: The Elusive Force – A Powerful Polish Poltergeist Part 1 on Astonishing Legends




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CREDITS:
Episode 313: The Stratford Poltergeist. Produced by Scott Philbrook & Forrest Burgess. Audio Editing by Sarah Vorhees Wendel of VW Sound. Music and Sound Design by Allen Carrescia. Tess Pfeifle, Producer and Lead Researcher. Ed Voccola, Technical Producer. Research Support from The Astonishing Research Corps, or "A.R.C." for short. Copyright 2025 Astonishing Legends Productions, LLC. All Rights Reserved.