The Poisonous Poinsettia Myth The poinsettia is a culturally and commercially important plant known for its red and green foliage and is widely used in Christmas floral displays. For nearly 100 years, the myth of the poisonous poinsettia has warned people not to taste the crimson red petals. According to Ecke Poinsettia Growers, the origin […]
Category: local lore
Stagecoach Road
A Dusty Trail of Legends and Haunts By Dana Goolsby MARSHALL- Red dirt roads sprawl beneath the pine tree canvas of East Texas offering a slower pace, and are perfect for a scenic drive. But not every dirt road in the Pineywoods leads to mystery and folklore like one in particular just outside of Marshall, […]
aMULEts #3: The Nacogdilla
aMULEts #3: The Nacogdilla By Tim Bryant / aMULEts Did you know that there are over twenty species of armadillo, mainly differentiated by the number of bands on their armor? Almost all of them can be found in North America, the most common being the nine-banded species commonly found dead on the shoulders of East […]
Cryptopalooza 2012 Marks the 45th Anniversary of the Patterson Film
Cryptopalooza 2012 Marks the 45th Anniversary of the Patterson Film Jefferson- Cryptid Hunters, film makers, scientists, writers, and enthusiasts gathered in Jefferson over the weekend for Cryptopalooza, marking the 45th anniversary of the Patterson Film. A lot of creatures lurk in the swamps and bayous near Jefferson, perhaps even Bigfoot. Numerous encounters with a hairy mythic […]
The Haunting of Parker Cemetery
Grapeland, Texas- A good ghost story, whether read aloud or spun around a campfire, is always a little better at Halloween. In Texas, the ghost stories get better with age, through blending the diverse Texan cultures, tall tales, and timeless stories. Grapeland harbors several haunted places, of which only the bravest residents dare to investigate. Tales […]
Thunder In January
Thunder In January East Texas Weather-Lore East Texas- Thunder in January means more than rumbling in the sky to many East Texans. For many, many years East Texans have been predicting the weather by trying to make heads or tails of signs from Mother Nature. The state of the weather is often the first subject […]
How to Take the Sting Out of Texas Bull Nettle
How to Take the Sting Out of Texas Bull Nettle Texas bull nettle (Cnidoscolus texanus) is more than capable of defending itself from potential herbivores or an unwary naturalist. Bull nettle is a good plant species to know and respect! It has many uses and can be very beneficial, but it also packs a mean sting […]
Trains, Ghosts and Bigfoot Sightings
Trains, Ghosts and Bigfoot Sightings JEFFERSON- Take a step back in time as the Historic Jefferson Railway takes you on an excursion that circles the Piney Woods along the scenic Big Cypress Bayou. This train is pet-friendly for well-behaved, friendly pets. The Historic Jefferson Railway is open each Saturday with narrated day trains and their […]
Graystone Haunted Manor
Graystone Haunted Manor Longview- Long ago, during the 1800’s, Dr. Grigor Von Graystone, his wife, and three children fled into exile from their homeland and settled in Longview, Texas, where they lived quietly in their Manor on the hill. Legend has it, one Hallows Eve, something went terribly wrong. Some say the wicked fingers of […]
Possible Black Panther Caught on Camera in Anderson County
Possible Black Panther or Black Bear Caught on Camera in Anderson County Palestine- This photo was taken just outside of Palestine, off Highway 287 North by a local resident’s game camera. Some people believe the animal in the photo is possibly a black panther. Others say the animal in question could be a black bear. […]
Haunting at the Excelsior
Jefferson, Texas- The Excelsior House was built in the 1850s, and has been in continuous operation ever since, making it the oldest hotel in East Texas according to the National Register of Historic Places. Over 160 years later, the history of the hotel has been steeped in mystery, and haunted happenings. The historic Excelsior House […]
Blood Sucking Chupacabras, Mutants, and Mangy Coyotes- Oh My!
Blood Sucking Chupacabras, Mutants, and Mangy Coyotes- Oh My! By Dana Goolsby East Texas- The mythical blood-sucking beast from Mexico known as the chupacabra has been roaming the Pineywoods since 2004. Some say the hideous vampire beast is nothing more than a mangy coyote. Others think the beast is a mutant result from the 2003 Space Shuttle […]
The Kettle House
The Kettle House GALVESTON- For over half of a century rumors, myths, and urban legends have swirled about the mysterious Kettle House on Galveston Island, and still no one seems to have the facts. MYETX visited the Kettle House a few weeks ago when we were on the Island. Although little is known about the […]
Psychic Persimmons
Psychic Persimmons By Dana Goolsby East Texas– With fall in full swing and winter approaching people are curious about what Mother Nature has in store. If the Doppler radar bores you or if you enjoy a bit of folklore, there are other ways to predict the weather. Persimmon trees grow throughout Texas and the U.S. […]
Demon’s Road
Demon’s Road By Dana Goolsby Huntsville – Bowden Road, perhaps better known as “Demon’s Road,” has a steady flow of reports regarding the experiences travelers claim to have while driving down the old dusty road. People that wander down “Demons Road” tell tales of disturbing encounters, and an eerie feeling that sweeps over anyone who […]
Nacogdoches Scientist Claims Bigfoot DNA Analysis Reveals Human Hybrid
Nacogdoches Scientist Claims Bigfoot DNA Analysis Reveals Human Hybrid East Texas- Dr. Melba S. Ketchum of Nacogdoches, TX says she and her team of scientists have sequenced the genome of legendary Bigfoot. Ketchum’s five-year-long DNA study claims to confirm bigfoot is a human relative that arose about 15,000 years ago as a hybrid cross of modern Homo […]