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Beyond the Seventh Gate: Exploring Toad Road, the Seven Gates of Hell, and Other Strangeness in York, Lancaster, and Adams Counties
One of the best known legends from York County, Pennsylvania is Toad Road and the Seven Gates of Hell. What is the real story? Where are the Seven Gates of Hell? Where is Toad Road? Extensive research and on site exploration is combined to dispel urban legends while revealing stranger truths. Journey beyond the Seventh Gate and into other weird places in York, Lancaster, and Adams Counties. Explore Hex Hollow, Chickies Rock, lonely graveyards, and old iron forges. Read true tales of bigfoot creatures, witches, ghosts, werewolves, and flying phantoms. Sometimes they haunt the woods behind you. Sometimes they are in your own back yard.
- GenresParanormal
219 pages, Kindle Edition
Published February 7, 2018
58 people are currently reading
81 people want to read
About the author
Timothy Renner
14 books30 followersTimothy Renner has written articles for several publications including "Morbid Curiosity", "Weird USA", and "Weird Pennsylvania". His illustrations have appeared in fanzines, comics, magazines, books, and on many record covers. Timothy plays and sings folk music with his band Stone Breath. To date they have released twelve full length albums and multiple EPs. Beyond the Seventh Gate is his first book.
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
December 21, 2019
Dipping my toes into York County history.
As a fan of the Strange Familiars podcast, and having listened to information regarding Toad Road and Hex Hollow many times, I thought I would pick up this book. I was pleased to see that it was available on kindle, so off I went.
I find history fascinating, and thought that it would be interesting to see how the etymology of Toad Road played out in more detail. I enjoyed how the author took time to establish how legend of the seven gates of hell developed, and truth be told the book did a great job of discussing high strangeness occurring in the York County area.
There were a few things that let the book down a little. Most frustrating of all was the formatting of the kindle versions; several times sentences ended part way through, to then pick up on the next page. This was a little disconcerting at times but did not annoy me as much as the next issue. This is probably really picky, but I do not need an author to capitalise whole words for emphasis. To be downright honest I HATE (see what I did there? Sorry, it couldn’t be helped) capitalisation of words within a book. Like I said, this is probably just one of my foibles.
On the whole, I enjoyed this dip into the history of a relatively small area seen through the eyes of ufology, cryptozoology and the paranormal.
As a fan of the Strange Familiars podcast, and having listened to information regarding Toad Road and Hex Hollow many times, I thought I would pick up this book. I was pleased to see that it was available on kindle, so off I went.
I find history fascinating, and thought that it would be interesting to see how the etymology of Toad Road played out in more detail. I enjoyed how the author took time to establish how legend of the seven gates of hell developed, and truth be told the book did a great job of discussing high strangeness occurring in the York County area.
There were a few things that let the book down a little. Most frustrating of all was the formatting of the kindle versions; several times sentences ended part way through, to then pick up on the next page. This was a little disconcerting at times but did not annoy me as much as the next issue. This is probably really picky, but I do not need an author to capitalise whole words for emphasis. To be downright honest I HATE (see what I did there? Sorry, it couldn’t be helped) capitalisation of words within a book. Like I said, this is probably just one of my foibles.
On the whole, I enjoyed this dip into the history of a relatively small area seen through the eyes of ufology, cryptozoology and the paranormal.
February 28, 2019
Paranormal in Pennsylvania
I thoroughly enjoyed this book! I've been fascinated by the paranormal and related topics since childhood. Mr. Renner has clearly been out in the field doing the research and tracking down the facts as far as they are available. Although, I love it when he offers theories and speculations about the nature of the phenomena. Because in the end, that is all we have when confronting the unknown. Thank you, Tim, for bringing back that sense of dark wonder from my childhood.
I thoroughly enjoyed this book! I've been fascinated by the paranormal and related topics since childhood. Mr. Renner has clearly been out in the field doing the research and tracking down the facts as far as they are available. Although, I love it when he offers theories and speculations about the nature of the phenomena. Because in the end, that is all we have when confronting the unknown. Thank you, Tim, for bringing back that sense of dark wonder from my childhood.
November 16, 2020
Drawn through the gates
After listening to the author on the Sasquatch Chronicles podcast I was intrigued by his description of Toad Road. I've always had a fascination with the Appalachians, the old green barrier to the 13 colonies. The area seems to have drawn in old world folklore and fermented a heady brew in the vast wilderness of the new, flavoured with native American mysticism. The author drawing on his own experiences and a variety of historical sources creates a unique travel guide of the weird.
After listening to the author on the Sasquatch Chronicles podcast I was intrigued by his description of Toad Road. I've always had a fascination with the Appalachians, the old green barrier to the 13 colonies. The area seems to have drawn in old world folklore and fermented a heady brew in the vast wilderness of the new, flavoured with native American mysticism. The author drawing on his own experiences and a variety of historical sources creates a unique travel guide of the weird.
June 27, 2021
Really loving these books digging into the urban legends of Pennsylvania. Timothy Renner debunks some stories but finds beneath another layer of strangeness that is not so easily explained away. This would appeal to anyone who is interested in history, urban legends, psychogeography or the paranormal.
July 23, 2021
A excellent compendium of sightings and history. I acquired three other books from this author and plan to get his latest books asap. His music is something to check out, really helps set the mood/vibe.
April 10, 2024
Interesting look at local urban legends in York County. Thoroughly researched & liked the addition of pictures.
February 19, 2020
Sick of reading the same tired nonsense about the paranormal and want to read someone who knows how to annotate a text at a University level? Someone who understands and researches cultural and sub-cultural traditions? Has an open mind to when it comes to an array of paranormal experiences and doesn't fall into the same traps of lazy mythology-building while paradoxically studying them?
Timothy Renner is your writer.
Timothy Renner is your writer.
June 23, 2018
This was a really informative book investigating some of the spookier stories of York, Lancaster, and Adams Counties. I liked the fact that the author did his own research and actual investigations instead of just repeating stories he'd heard. The only thing I didn't like was that at times the text was a bit repetitive, and I found myself skimming, but overall a great read.
November 12, 2016
Not a very good book - pretty much just a review of all the paranormal stories that occurred in the SE part of PA. A lot of 'what ifs' and 'maybes' but nothing revealing other than a few interesting stories.
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews