Ohio

Uncover the full extent of mayhem and madness locked away in one of history's most notorious maximum-security prisons.

As ""animal factories"" go, the Ohio Penitentiary was one of the worst. For 150 years, it housed some of the most dangerous criminals in the United States, including murderers, madmen and mobsters. Peer in on America's first vampire, accused of sucking his victims' blood five years before Bram Stoker's fictional villain was even born; peek into the cage of the original Prison Demon; and witness the daring escape of John Hunt Morgan's band of Confederate prisoners.

The Professor & the Coed documents the history of this Ohio University scandal--an illicit affair and murder.

In the sweltering summer of 1929, the people of Columbus, Ohio, were enthralled by news of the Ohio State University veterinary professor and Olympic gold medal, winning pistol shooter on trial for the murder of his twenty-four-year-old lover, who was a medical student. Local writer Mark Gribben reveals how Dr. James Howard Snook was captured and interrogated, including his gory confession of Theora Hix's death. During the trial, the details of the illicit love affair were so salacious that newspapers could only hint about what really led to the coed's murder and the professor's ultimate punishment. For the first time, read the full account of this astonishing story, from scandalous beginning to tragic end.

In Wicked Women of Northeast Ohio, author Jane Ann Turzillo recounts the misdeeds of ten dark-hearted women who refused to play by the rules.

They unleashed their most base impulses using axes, guns, poison and more. You'll meet Perry's Velma West, a mere slip of a girl who was unfortunately too near a hammer during an argument. New Philadelphia's Ellen Athey, no lady herself, had a similar problem with an axe. Ardell Quinn, who operated the longest-running brothel in Cleveland, would simply argue that she was a good businesswoman. Grim? Often. Entertaining? Deliciously so.

Make sure the flashlight is on for these historic, haunted, chilling tales of the town of Willoughby as told by one of Northeast Ohio's most respected paranormal investigators.

Willoughby, a historic town located 20-miles east of Cleveland, has a chilling history sure to engage everyone from the most casual reader of ghost stories to the most dedicated paranormal researcher. Welcome to Willoughby Cemetery, where the Girl in Blue's restless spirit lingers near her grave, waiting to engage even the most skeptical visitors. Enter Willoughby Coal & Supply Company at your own risk and delve into the mysterious death of owner Don Norris in 1947. Meet Zip, whose spirit continues to watch over the building and, according to local legend, guards a hidden treasure to this day. Face the menacing apparitions that peer from the building's darkened windows at night for all of the locals to see. From ancient Whittlesey legends, and echoes of events that have shaped the course of the town, to tales of the tragic and bizarre, Haunted Willoughby, Ohio combines folklore, local legends and mysteries, first-person accounts, historical facts, and archival and contemporary images to capture the city's supernatural past and present.

A must for any ghost hunter or lover of tales of historic haunts, join local expert Cathi Weber, who has led countless investigations around Lake County and is the founder of Willoughby Area Paranormal Education and Research Society, as she explores the traditions, spooky heritage and true stories that are part of Willoughby's high-spirited history.

Behind Put-in-Bay's breathtaking scenery and wild nightlife is a side of the island that will make your hair stand on end.

Passersby claim to see the ghost of assistant lighthouse keeper Sam Anderson, who jumped to his death in the turbulent water of Lake Erie during an 1898 smallpox outbreak. Doors open and close of their own accord, and some say a spirit named Benny tosses things around at the Put-in-Bay Brewery and Distillery. Stage actor T.B. Alexander married the granddaughter of famous abolitionist John Brown and became one of the island's most noted mayors. His ghost is said to linger in the historic barroom of T&J's Smokehouse. Author William G. Krejci hosts this tour of the darker aspects of island life.

Bay Village evolved from a fishing and farming hamlet into a retreat and resort area for some of Cleveland's wealthiest families.

Tucked away in the northeast corner of Cuyahoga County, Bay Village lies just outside Cleveland. The first settlers arrived around 1810 during the nation's westward expansion. The village was primarily agrarian in the beginning, home to many vineyards. By the end of the 1800s, the Industrial Revolution had gained momentum, and in 1896, an electric railway was built through the city, runningfrom Cleveland to Toledo. Bay Village evolved from a fishing and farming hamlet into a retreat and resort area for some of Cleveland's wealthiest families. Many of their summer cottages still stand today as refurbished family homes. Bay Village explores this community's rich history through vintage images from the Bay Village Historical Society and the Bay Village Library.

Tucked into the southwestern corner of Cuyahoga County, Olmsted Falls and Olmsted Township are steeped in rich Ohio history.

Dating back to the late eighteenth century, Olmsted Falls and Olmsted Township grew to become a place of idyllic beauty and fascinating stories. Uncover the myth of the infamous letter a in the Olmsted name, and learn how Olmsted became a leader in public education in Cuyahoga County. Weather battles over saloons and attempts to annex all or part of Olmsted Township to neighboring communities, and survive Rocky River floods that destroyed bridges, dams, mills and factories.

Join authors Bruce Banks and Jim Wallace, both members of the Historical Society of Olmsted Falls, as they provide a captivating account of these two historical communities.