Berkshire's Haunted History To Be Focus of PBS, Local Radio
Western Massachusetts PBS affiliate WGBY will present a segment on the many mysteries and legends surrounding October Mountain on its program Connecting Points, airing at 7:30 p.m. on Halloween night.
Produced by the legendary Anthony Dunne, creator of the 2009 documentary "Things That Go Bump in The Night," this special Connecting Points feature explores the fascinating origins of the state's largest state forest and its central feature, the mountain Herman Melville named.
"Alec Gillman of the [Department of Conservation and Recreation] explains the colorful history of the Berkshires' October Mountain," wrote Dunne, of the upcoming program, "while folklorist and These Mysterious Hills author Joe Durwin takes us on a supernatural tour of the 16,500 acre state park where it is said by some that ghosts and spirits roam, UFOs fly overhead, and Bigfoot wanders the woods."
Prior to the airing, Dunne will appear as a call-in guest for a brief interview on a special Halloween edition of WBRK's Berkshire Viewpoint, which will run live from 10 a.m. until noon.
The program, hosted by Durwin and Donna Todd Rivers, will also include special guest Nick Mantello of the Berkshire Paranormal Group, based out of the haunted Houghton Mansion in North Adams. Listeners are invited to call in to offer their own strange experience, favorite ghost story or with questions about spooky local legends.
For five week day mornings leading up to Halloween, Live 95.9FM will air five segments guiding listeners through the five most haunted places in the Berkshires as chosen by Durwin. Segments will air at approximately 7:50 a.m. on Oct. 25, 26, 29,30 and 31.
Joe Durwin is a correspondent for iBerkshires.com and author of These Mysterious Hills.