A Double Warning

A brother shows up at the door with his hat in his hands and a request that sounds simple: “Can Rancy come see Ma?” That one question pulls the Roff household back into the most volatile part of the Watseka-inspired possession story, where every choice feels like it could tip the case toward healing or disaster. Bethany and the Small Town Whispers team walk you through a chapter where love is real, the fear is louder, and the town is watching.

We start with a quick, important reminder that this is a fictional retelling loosely inspired by The Watseka Wonder and Dr. E. W. Stevens’ 1878 account, with dramatic liberties taken for storytelling. From there, the tension climbs fast: Henry Vennum worries about a petition to have Lurancy committed, Lurinda Vennum arrives in tears to see her daughter, and the fragile peace at the Roff home feels like it might finally hold. Then Loozie returns to Watseka, and a single church visit detonates into a brutal confrontation that leaves blood on a Sunday sidewalk and a warning no one can pretend they didn’t see.

Under the Porchlight Whispers segment, we zoom out into paranormal history and American spiritualism, tracing the Hydesville farmhouse, the Fox Sisters, and the infamous knocks that helped spark a national obsession with séances and spirit communication. Was it trickery, mass grief, or something genuinely unexplained? We sit with the question that keeps haunting every ghost story: if someone you loved could reach back from the other side, would you answer?

If you’ve ever had signs you couldn’t deny, email us at Porchlight Whispers at gmail.com, then subscribe, share this episode with a friend, and leave a review so more listeners can find the show.

Transcript

Personal Setup And Fiction Disclaimer

Speaker 1 0:11

Welcome to Small Town Whispers, where history, folklore, and the paranormal collide. I'm Bethany Yucuis Borden, and I lived in Watseka, Illinois from 1988 to 1999. For over a decade, I walked the same streets, saw the same houses, and even had friends connected to the story we're about to dive into. This isn't just history for me. It's personal. And if you're all caught up on the episodes, thank you for your patience this past week. I was hit with round two of whatever bug has been making its way around here. Hopefully, that chapter is closed as we head into the summer months. In the book, spring is beginning to fade as well. Lurancy's body is finally recovering, but there's a growing feeling that Mary's time in Lurancy's body may be coming to an end. Lavinia Durst is still determined to have Lurancy committed. The Vennums are trying to hold everything together the best that they can. The Roffs are cherishing every remaining moment. And Dr. Stevens continues documenting what may be the most unusual case he has ever encountered. I do want to remind everyone that this book is fiction. Watse ka is loosely inspired by The Watseka Wonder by Dr. E. W. Stevens, which was published in 1878. But this retelling takes dramatic liberties with the people and events involved. The town is real. Some of the names are real. But this is ultimately a dramatized and sensationalized interpretation created for entertainment. That said, the conclusion of this story is one I don't think you'll forget. So now, we return once again to the Roff home in Watseka, America's most extraordinary case of possession and exorcism, on page 273. That Friday evening, the front doorbell rang, and when Charlotte opened it, there was Henry Vennum. He had his hat in his hand. Please, ma'am, he said, I wondered if I could see my sister, Lurancy Vennum. She's a guest here. She closed the door and went into the back parlour where Asa and Lurancy were quietly talking. Excuse me, sir, but there is a young man outside who has come calling on Lurancy Vennum. Says he's her brother. Her brother? Asa got up from his chair. What does he want? He wants to talk to Lurancy, replied Charlotte. But Rancy isn't here. She's still away on the other side. I don't know about that, but he's out on the porch. What'll I tell him? Tell him to come in, of course. Have him come in here, Asa said. When the woman left, Lurancy looked at Asa. Wonder what he wants.

Speaker 2 4:22

Do you think there's been some sickness at the Vennum place? I don't know. We'll find out soon enough. He's about the only decent one of that whole lot. Still, he's a bore. Only talks about his old job at the feed store. That's all he knows.

Speaker 1 4:39

She stopped speaking and smoothed her dress as the young man came into the room. Mr Roff? Excuse me, sir, but I wondered if I could talk to Rancy? He stood just inside the doorway, talking to Asa, but looking at his sister. She isn't here right now, Asa said. If you know what I mean. The young man nodded. Yes, sir, I do. But her ma is not too well, and I was kind of hoping that maybe Lurancy would make her feel better if she talked with her. Is something wrong with your mother? It's her nerves. She's been doing a lot of crying, and ain't sleeping much, mostly because of the petition. The petition? What petition? You know what I'm talking about, don't you, sir? Asa nodded. I do indeed. I haven't told Mary much about it, though. Good. No use having her upset too. Asa motioned him to a chair, and he sat on the edge of it. You don't think there's a chance then? Of your sister going to see your mother? Right. I doubt it. Lurancy isn't here right now. I'm sorry, but there's not much I can do about it. You understand? Yes, sir, I do. He rose to his feet. Well, I thought I'd try. Ma being so nervous and all. Asa put his hand on the young man's shoulder. I can understand what your mother is going through, but it won't be for much longer. Lurancy is getting better every day. Frankly, I wouldn't be surprised if your sister would be home before the month is out. What are we going to do about the petition? I mean, what good is all this if they end up putting her away? I don't think they'll put her away. Your sister has some new and powerful friends she didn't have before. Not only on this side, but on the other side as well. I sure hope so. It would just kill Ma if anything happened to Rancy. Henry! Oh Henry The two men turned. Lurancy was sitting on the sofa, her eyes wide and her arms outstretched. What a wonderful surprise! She jumped up and embraced him. It's so good to see you. Mr Roff, ain't it a surprise to see Henry again? She had tears in her eyes. So did Henry. So did Asa. I'll let the two of you alone, the older man said. I'm sure you have a million things to say. I'll be in the next room if you need me, Henry. After he had gone, Lurancy held her brother out at arm's length. Oh just look at you.

Speaker 3 7:19

So handsome and tall. Come, let's sit on the sofa. Tell me about everything. I want to hear everything. They sat and she held his hands. How are you?

Speaker 1 7:29

Tell me what you've been doing since I left. I'm fine, Rancy. Real fine. The job at the feed store's going good. I can't complain none. He reached up and touched her lightly on the cheek. We miss you at the house, Rancy. I miss you real bad.

Speaker 3 7:46

Oh, and I miss you. But it won't be for long. I won't be away much longer. I'm getting much, much better. And they tell me that soon I'll be ready to come home for good. Won't that be wonderful?

Speaker 1 7:59

She squeezed his hands. How's Ma? Not too good, he said sadly. She misses you terrible and gets those crying fits, and sometimes can't seem to stop. Rancy, do you suppose you could go over and see her?

Speaker 3 8:17

Now?

Speaker 1 8:17

Yeah, now. I've got the buggy outside. It wouldn't take but a few minutes to bring you there, and she'd like it so she really would. The girl pulled back a little. No, she said, shaking her head. I can't leave here.

Speaker 3 8:34

Not just yet. They asked me not to. Why don't you bring Ma over here? That would be fine, I'm sure.

Speaker 1 8:42

Well, I don't know. You recall the last time she was here, and Pa and Mr. Roff got into it, and there was bad blood all around.

Speaker 3 8:51

Things are different now, Henry. Pa understands things a whole lot better than he did then. The Roffs understand better too. Henry, the Roffs have been so marvelous to me. You have no idea. We are much obliged to them.

Speaker 1 9:05

She got up and opened the door. I know, he said. For as long as I live, I'll be obliged to them.

Speaker 3 9:13

Let me see if it's alright for Ma to come here.

Speaker 1 9:16

Mr. Roff, could you come here for a minute? Asa hurried into the parlor. He hadn't told Ann about this. She was over at Nervies and he didn't want to upset her by calling her home.

Speaker 3 9:27

Mr. Roff, Henry says that Ma is feeling awfully sad that I ain't back to the house yet. He wants me to go over there but they have told me to stay here. Would it be alright if he brought Ma over here?

Speaker 1 9:40

She touched the sleeve of his coat. Please. Of course it would be alright. But will you stay here while Henry is gone? I mean, will Lurancy remain in the body all that time?

Speaker 3 9:55

No, I won't. I'll go away now and Mary will come in. Then I'll come back when my ma gets here. Don't worry. Henry, didn't I tell you? These folks have been so good to me.

Speaker 1 10:07

I'll go and get Ma, the young man said excitedly. Shouldn't be more than ten minutes. He started for the door. Rancy, he said, stopping and looking at her, please be here when Ma gets here. Please.

Speaker 3 10:25

I gave you my word, Henry, you just fetch Ma. I can't wait to see her.

Speaker 1 10:30

The young man ran out of the house and jumped into his buggy.

Rancy’s Mother Comes To See Her

Speaker 2 10:34

When the door closed, the Rancy said, You know, Pa, he isn't such a bad fellow, and it did Rancy a great deal of good to see him. She really misses her folks. I just hope her ma doesn't take on too much while she's here. She kissed Asa on the cheek. I'll go and freshen up and put on that new dress ma made for me. Mrs. Vennum will like seeing her daughter looking pretty.

Speaker 1 10:58

In less than ten minutes the front doorbell rang again. Asa answered it himself. Mr Roff Lurinda almost hugged him. I do so want to thank you for letting me come and see my Rancy. You are a true gentleman. Mrs. Vennum, please do come in. Rancy's gone upstairs to pretty herself up for you. Let's wait for her in the back parlor. Henry took his mother's arm and led the way. Asa followed after them. I'll tell her you're here, he said. Excuse me a moment. How does she look? The woman asked. Am I gonna get a shock? I can't take any more shocks, Henry. You just wait and see. She sure looks a mighty sight better than when she was at our house. She's got life to her now, and her eyes shine and she takes care of herself. Combs her hair and washes her face. And all those things she never did before.

Speaker 3 11:58

I always comb my hair and wash my face, Henry Vennum.

A Visitor from the Past

Church Confrontation

Speaker 1 12:01

Lurancy came running into the room. Ma! My own dear sweet Ma. Lurinda gave one mighty sob and clutched her daughter to her. They didn't speak. Everything they had to say was said in that embrace. The next morning, the Roff family was having breakfast together. Where's Frank? Ain't he going to eat? He's already had his breakfast, Ann said. So soon? He had to go to the train station to fetch somebody, said Charlie. Fetch somebody? Who? Charlie was about to tell, but Ann put her fingers to her lips. Now Charles, it's to be a surprise. Not for long, Charlie shouted. The buggy just drove up the driveway. He jumped from the table and ran down the hallway toward the front porch. There was a long silence in the dining room. Lurancy could hear Charlie's voice rising excitedly, and then much laughter. She glanced at Asa, but he shook his head. You just wait right here. There was some whispering, and then Ann's voice said, All right, Mary, you can look now. Lurancy opened her eyes and stared at the figure in the doorway. It was a large figure wearing several petticoats and a neat little bonnet. The hands and face were dusky black. Lurancy gasped, then rose halfway from her chair. Loozie! Oh my heavens, it's Loozie. The rest of that day was spent talking with Loozie, reminiscing with Loozie, and just being close to Loozie. The next day was Sunday, and after breakfast, Loozie and Lurancy took a walk. Loozie hadn't been in Watseka for twelve years, and kept ooing and eyeing over each new building, each new residence, and each new improvement. They came upon the Methodist church, which still had a service going on. Loozie wanted to see the inside, even though Mary hesitated. They entered, and Loozie took in all the updates. The very expensive updates. Can we go now? Sure, honey. Let's. They started for the outside door when a side door opened. Lavinia Durst stopped stock still. The pen and inkwell in her hand fell to the floor. That girl? You brought that girl here to torment us? We was only looking. She tugged at Loozie. Come on! Lavinia and others tried to block them from leaving. Let us out of here! Loozie pushed a few feet closer to the door. Lurancy was crying openly now as unknown hands pulled her hair, yanked at her clothes, or slapped her face. Lavinia screamed, We have her here now! Don't let her get away. She bent down quickly and snatched up the fallen inkwell. With one well-aimed throw, she sent it sailing through the air. It struck Lurancy squarely in the side of the head. She crumpled into Loozie's arms. Blood, someone said. Look at the blood. The voices stopped. Everyone pulled back, silently. Loozie picked the unconscious girl up and cradled her in her arms. Loozie carried Laurence outside and down the sidewalk. When she reached the street, she turned and looked back at the faces in the doorway. It was a long, full, careful look, as if she was engraving each and every countenance on her memory for a long time to come. Mrs. Durst, she called. Mrs. Durst! Hans propelled Lavinia to the door. As I understand it, you have been warned. Now take this as another warning. Loozie smeared her finger in the blood that was slowly covering Lurancy's face. Then she knelt and traced a cross on the sidewalk. That is another warning, she said. You have been doubly warned. Then she turned and started carrying Lurancy in the direction of Minerva's house, three blocks away. She didn't know how long they stood watching her, for she never turned to look at them again.

Speaker 16:47

Now, join me under the porch light. The place where memories meet the present and voices from the past still linger in the dark. Tonight we listen not to the pages from a book, but to the people who have felt the unexplained and found the courage to share it. Welcome to Porchlight Whispers.

Final Seance Tease And Story Requests

Speaker 1 17:12

There's an old saying that every movement has a beginning, a spark, a moment where ordinary people suddenly believe the world is stranger than they ever imagined. For American spiritualism, many believe that spark began in a tiny farmhouse in western New York in 1848. But many things led to that spark. Before the Fox family famously put spirits and spiritualism on the map in America, their cottage in Hydesville had quite the history. Between 1843 and 1844, the Bell couple occupied the cottage. And in the last few months, a local woman named Lucretia Pulver did the household chores. One day, a young peddler came to the door. He stayed for several days and seemed to have some sort of relationship with the Bells. Lucretia was let go while the pedlar was still there. She purchased a small knife from the peddler before she left, but it was never delivered to her father's farm. About a week later, Lucretia was hired back on. While some of the peddler's things were still there, he wasn't. The bells said he had continued on. After returning to the house, Lucretia started to feel uneasy. She was hearing knocks and tapping coming from the room the pedlar had occupied. If she was there alone, she would have her brother come keep her company, until he was even scared off by the knocks. One afternoon, Lucretia found herself knee-deep in freshly turned dirt in the cellar. Mr. Bells said he had been covering up rat holes. Shortly after this, the bells moved out. The Weakman family moved in next. They experienced rappings and footsteps as well. An apparition of a man in a black frock coat was even seen. It proved to be too much for them, and they moved out. Then, in 1848, the Fox family moved in. They were staying in the cottage while a house was being built for them elsewhere. This proved to be a very eventful stay. The Fox family had only recently moved into the small rented home, but almost immediately they began hearing strange noises, knocks in the walls, scratching sounds under the floorboards, footsteps and empty rooms. At first they tried to ignore it, but the noises kept coming every single night. The two daughters, Maggie and Kate Fox, were especially terrified. They claimed something unseen was following them through the house. Their mother supposedly heard the knocks too, and neighbors soon began gathering inside the home to witness the phenomenon for themselves. Then came the moment that changed everything. One evening, young Kate Fox reportedly challenged the invisible presence directly. She snapped her fingers and said something along the lines of, Mr. Splitfoot, do as I do. According to the story, the knocks answered back. One knock, then another, questions were asked. The mysterious sounds responded with coated raps. Soon, the family believed they were communicating with the spirit of a murdered peddler, supposedly buried underneath the house. Once the word spread, people became obsessed. Neighbors packed into the foxhome to hear the sounds for themselves. Some witnesses swore the Nox answered intelligent questions. Others believed the girls were communicating with the dead. In a deeply religious America, already fascinated by the supernatural, grief, and the possibility of heaven, this idea exploded like wildfire. Because think about it, the 1800s were filled with death. Disease swept through towns without warning. Children died young, mothers died in childbirth. The Civil War would soon leave families shattered across the country. People desperately wanted to believe their loved ones were still somewhere. And the Fox Sisters seemed to offer proof. Within just a few years, seances became wildly popular across the United States. Parlors filled with candlelight and grieving families hoping for one more conversation with someone they had lost. And what became known as the spiritualist movement spread everywhere. Some people treated it almost like a religion. Others saw it as entertainment. But for many, it became a source of hope during unimaginable loss. So, what was really happening inside the farmhouse? A clever trick by two young girls? A desperate nation searching for comfort? Or something genuinely unexplained? One thing is undeniable. The Fox sisters changed America. Most of us have wondered. The same thing at least once. If someone we loved really could reach back from the other side, would we answer? The next and final three episodes of this season and this book revolve around a final seance held at the Roff Home. Make sure to tune in until the very end. If you've ever had signs from the other side that you could not deny, please share them with us. Send us an email to Porchlight Whispers at gmail.com. And don't forget to pay attention.

Speaker 22:35

That was this week's edition of Porchlight Whispers. Do you have an experience of your own to tell? We want to hear your stories. Share your experience and let your small town whispers become part of ours.

Support Links And Farewell

Speaker 1 22:52

And with that, the porchlight dims, but the whispers stay with us. Join us again next time when another voice steps into the light. Venmo, Bethany-Borden-1, PayPal, Bethany Borden865, Cash App, Money Sign Small Town Whispers. Or you can go to buzzsprout.com slash 253 9508 slash support. These are all listed at the end of each episode description. This podcast does take a lot of time and energy, and any little bit would help. Please share your stories with us at Porchlight Whispers at gmail.com or send a message on the Small Town Whispers Facebook page. Did you know we're on YouTube? I dare you to put it on at bedtime. Don't forget to tell a friend or family member about the show. And mostly, thank you for simply listening. It means the world.