ONLINE Local History: Urban Legends, Local Lore, and Real History

What does the name “IOKA” mean? Where were the secret tunnels? Was The Addams Family filmed in Exeter?

Local historians often have to confront the unofficial history of their community. Untangling truth from fiction, when there are sometimes vocal stakeholders involved, can be quite a challenge. How can we tell what is real versus what is believed to be real? This program explores some strange stories, long-held beliefs and flat-out urban legends from the town of Exeter, in an effort to explain how they start, spread and stick. Join Exeter local historian, Barbara Rimkunas, as she tries to find the truth without ruining everyone’s childhood. Perhaps there are some real stories out there just odd enough to replace the fiction?

No registration required. Click this link to connect via Zoom. Password: 3GWdHC

Barbara Rimkunas has been the curator at the Exeter Historical Society since 2000, and now serves as Co-Executive Director. She writes on Exeter’s history, often on topics requested by the public, bi-weekly in the Exeter News-Letter. You can also watch the Exeter Historical Society’s video series “Exeter History Minute” at exeterhistory.org or on YouTube.

Pictured: A trick photo from the 1890s, taken at a downtown studio, depicting the same person in two different poses. Says Barbara, “I love these photos (they turn up every now and then) because they force us to question ‘truth.’ “ Courtesy of Exeter Historical Society.