>> TONIGHT ON RHODE ISLAND PBS WEEKLY.

>>> WE TAKE A LOOK BACK AT THE EARLY LIFE OF ALBERT TO SALVO AND THE QUESTIONS STILL SWIRLING ABOUT HIS CONFESSION TO THE BOSTON STRANGLER.

>> AS YOU ARE POURING OVER THESE ARCHIVES, HAS A GIVING YOU INSIGHT?

>> I CAME AWAY WITH A SENSE THAT THIS MAN IS CAPABLE OF MURDER AND RAPE.

>> IT IS ALMOST LIKE SAYING YOU WISH THE SKY WASN'T BLUE.

THERE IS NOTHING I CAN DO ABOUT IT.

>> THE WAY THEY SEE THE WORLD ISN'T LIKE MOST PEOPLE.

>> ARTISTS TEND TO BE VERY OFTEN LOOKED AT AS FLAKY OR NOT PART OF SOCIETY.

IT IS JUST ACCEPTING THAT PART OF ME THAT WE AREN'T LIKE EVERYBODY ELSE.

IT IS A LITTLE WEIRD.

♪ >> GOOD EVENING, WELCOME TO RHODE ISLAND PBS WEEKLY.

I'M PAMELA WATTS.

>> I'M MICHELLE SAN MIGUEL.

THE BOSTON STRANGLER WAS ONE OF NEW ENGLAND'S MOST NOTORIOUS CRIMINALS, AMERICAS JACK THE RIPPER, RESPONSIBLE FOR A MURDER SPREE THAT SHOCKED THE NATION.

MORE THAN HALF A CENTURY AFTER ALBERT DESALVO CONFESSED TO BEING THE STRANGLER, THERE IS DEBATE OVER WHETHER HE ACTUALLY COMMITTED THE CRIMES.

>> THAT IS WHAT MAKES A RECENT DISCOVERY BY A FORMER REPORTER SO INTRIGUING.

DICK LAIR UNCOVERED A SECRET ARCHIVE DOCUMENTING ALBERT DESALVO'S CRIMINAL CAREER SINCE CHILDHOOD.

BACK THEN, RESEARCHERS REFERRED TO HIM AS BOY NUMBER 402.

HE PURSUED THE STORY FOR MORE THAN A DECADE UNTIL HE WAS FINALLY ABLE TO BRING IT TO LIGHT.

AS HE TOLD CONTRIBUTE IN REPORTER DAVID WRIGHT.

>> WHOEVER SAID JOURNALISM IS THE FIRST ROUGH DRAFT IN HISTORY, NO DOUBT APPRECIATE REPORTER WHO APPROACHES HIS CRAFT WITH A SCHOLARLY ATTENTION TO DETAIL.

>> THESE ARE THE FILES I ENDED UP HAVING TO COPY BY HAND.

>> TOTALLY COMPREHENSIVE.

>> UNBELIEVABLE.

>> THIS VETERAN OF THE BOSTON GLOBE SPOTLIGHT TEAM HONORED THE TREASURE TROVE ABOUT ONE OF AMERICA'S FIRST KNOWN SERIAL KILLERS.

>> THIS IS THE STORY OF THE SELF-CONFESSED BOSTON STRANGLER.

>> ALBERT DESALVO IMMORTALIZED IN THIS 1968 MOVIE STARRING HENRY FONDA AND TONY CURTIS.

>> THESE THINGS YOU SEE THAT COME INTO YOUR HEAD AND YOU HAVE NOTHING TO DO ABOUT IT, NOW IS THE TIME TO MAKE SENSE OUT OF IT.

>> ALBERT DESALVO IS A HISTORIC CRIME FIGURE IN AMERICA.

I KNOW THESE FILES HAVE BEEN GATHERING DUST FOR DECADES.

HAS ANYONE EVER SEEN THIS BEFORE?

>> HE WAS RESEARCHING ANOTHER LEGENDARY BOSTON CRIME FIGURE WHEN HE DISCOVERED THE DOCUMENTS.

HIS REPORTING ON MOBSTER WHITEY BULGER WAS ALREADY A BEST-SELLING BOOK MADE INTO A MOVIE STARRING JOHNNY DEPP.

>> TAKE THE MONEY, KEEP YOUR MOUTH SHUT ABOUT WHAT YOU JUST HEARD.

IT IS BEST YOU ARE NOT INVOLVED.

TAKE THE MONEY.

TAKE THE MONEY.

TAKE THE MONEY.

>> YOU ARE PROBABLY BEST KNOWN FOR "BLACK MASS."

THIS DISCOVERY ABOUT ALBERT DESALVO BEGAN WITH MORE INQUIRY INTO WHITEY BULGER.

>> EXACTLY.

I REALLY DID STUMBLE ONTO THE ALBERT DESALVO MATERIAL.

IT WAS 2011, AND WHITEY BULGER HAD BEEN CAPTURED IN SANTA MONICA.

BIG STORY, INTERNATIONAL STORY.

>> TONIGHT ON WORLD NEWS, THEY GOT HIM.

PUBLIC ENEMY NUMBER ONE, THE NOTORIOUS WHITEY BULGER.

>> A STORY COVERED FOR ABC NEWS.

>> HIDING RIGHT HERE IN A RENT CONTROLLED APARTMENT.

WHITEY BULGER HAD HIS FIRST OF MANY DAYS IN COURT.

HE ANSWERED QUESTIONS IN A THICK BOSTON ACCENT, AT ONE POINT HIS GIRLFRIEND LEANED INTO HIM AND SAID THESE REPORTERS ARE HERE FOR YOU.

AND AT THAT, HE LAUGHED.

>> THERE WAS SUDDENLY AN APPETITE AND OPPORTUNITY TO WRITE A FULL-LENGTH BIOGRAPHY.

I READ ABOUT AN INTERESTING STUDY A HUSBAND AND WIFE TEAM, BOTH LAW PROFESSORS, HAD CONDUCTED ON JUVENILE DELINK WEDNESDAY THAT BEGAN IN THE EARLY 1940'S -- DELINQUENCY THAT BEGAN IN THE EARLY 1940'S.

>> YOU THINK HE WAS ONE OF THE KIDS STUDIED?

>> I THOUGHT I WOULD GET LUCKY.

>> IT FOCUSED ON 500 INMATES AT THE SCHOOL FOR BOYS IN WESTBOROUGH, MASSACHUSETTS.

AMERICA'S OLDEST REFORM SCHOOL, LONG SINCE CLOSED.

BASICALLY A PRISON FOR JUVENILE DELINQUENTS.

THESE ARE FIRST-HAND DOCUMENTS FROM THE SOCIAL WORKERS WHO WERE MEETING WITH THESE BOYS AND GIVING FAIRLY FULL DETAIL?

>> UNBELIEVABLE DETAIL.

IN A WAY THAT THEY WERE LIKE A REPORTER'S REPORTER.

NOT ONLY WERE THEY SITTING DOWN WITH THE BOY AT THE SCHOOL, THAT WOULD BE THE INITIAL INTAKE, THEY WOULD DESCRIBE THEIR FEATURES, THE DETAIL A WRITER LIKES TO SEE.

WHEN HE WAS ABOUT 10 YEARS OLD, THIS LAD ADMITTED HE BEGAN TO CLIP FROM A DIFFERENT FIVE AND 10 STORES IN THE VICINITY OF CHELSEA.

THEY HAD AN UNUSUAL EYE FOR DETAIL THAT WENT BEYOND A Q&A.

I WENT BEYOND THESE FOLDERS, AND WENT TO NUMBER 402.

FLIPPED IT OPEN, AND AT THE TOP OF THE INTAKE SHEET WAS THE NAME ALBERT DESALVO.

MY JAW DROPPED.

I WAS LIKE WHAT THE HECK?

>> TURNS OUT BOY NUMBER 402 WOULD ULTIMATELY CONFESS TO BEING NEW ENGLAND'S MOST NOTORIOUS SERIAL KILLER, THE BOSTON STRANGLER.

A CASE THAT TRAUMATIZED A GENERATION OF WOMEN IN A MORE INNOCENT ERA.

>> IT HAS BECOME THE CHIEF TOPIC OF CONVERSATION BETWEEN HOUSEWIVES ON THE TELEPHONE, COEDS BETWEEN CLASSES, AND SECRETARIES DURING COFFEE BREAKS.

>> THE STRANGLER'S FIRST VICTIM WAS A 55-YEAR-OLD DIVORCEE BRUTALLY BEATEN AND STRANGLED WHILE A PARADE PASSED DOWN HER STREET.

>> IN ALL, THE STRANGLER RAPED AND MURDERED AT LEAST 11 WOMEN DURING THE EARLY 1960'S.

HIS GRISLY CALLING CARD, A NYLON STOCKING AROUND THE NECKS OF HIS VICTIMS.

THE DETAILS IN THESE FILES OFFER A REAL-TIME GLIMPSE INTO THE MIND OF A CAREER CRIMINAL.

HOW OLD WAS ALBERT DESALVO WHEN HE WAS FIRST INTERVIEWED?

>> 12.

>> ALREADY A CRIMINAL?

>> YEAH, SENTENCED TO THE BOYS REFORMATORY.

THE CHARGE THAT PUT HIM IN THE REFORMATORY WAS HE AND A COUPLE OF PALS HAD BEAT UP A NEWSBOY IN CHELSEA AND STOLEN $2.80 FROM HIM.

>> LET'S BACK UP A SECOND.

TELL US MORE ABOUT WHAT THE STUDY WAS ABOUT.

>> SHELDON AND ELEANOR, AS CRIMINOLOGISTS AND HARVARD LAW PROFESSORS -- HARVARD LAW PROFESSORS, SOCIOLOGISTS, ONE OF THEIR LIFE'S RESEARCH INTERESTS WAS GETTING TO THE ROOT OF JUVENILE DELINK WOODSY -- JUVENILE DELINQUENCY.

WHAT HAS BEEN SO REMARKABLE ABOUT THEIR STUDY, IT IS LONGITUDINAL.

THEY FOLLOWED THE BOYS OVER YEARS.

>> COMING BACK AT REGULAR INTEVALS?

>> REGULAR ENCOUNTERS.

>> 1947, 1956, 1962.

THIS IS WHEN THE BOSTON STRANGLER IS OUT THERE.

>> IT FEELS LIKE SOMETHING OUT OF A CRIME THRILLER OR SOMETHING.

IT SENDS A CHILL UP YOUR SPINE.

IF YOU BELIEVE ALBERT DESALVO IS THE BOSTON STRANGLER, HE HAS KILLED FIVE WOMEN IN THE FIRST WAVE OF KILLINGS.

THEN THERE IS A RESPITE THAT FALL OF 1962.

THEN HE GOES ON AGAIN TO KILL THE OTHERS.

>> IT IS FASCINATING, THE SOCIAL WORKER NOTES AT THE END OF THAT VISIT THAT HE SUSPECTS -- WHAT WAS THE PHRASE -- ACTIVELY DELINQUENT?

DANGEROUSLY DELINQUENT?

>> AT THE END OF HIS NOTE, HE DOCUMENTS THE BACK AND FORTH DIFFERENT SUBJECTS.

HE NOTICED WHEN HE LEFT IN THE EARLY EVENING, EVERYTHING HAD GONE WELL AND IT WAS THE LONGEST SESSION THEY HAD EVER HAD.

BUT HE BASICALLY WRITES "I DON'T BUY IT."

THAT IS WHERE IT GETS HERE HE, BECAUSE HE IS KILLING.

YOU CAN TELL THE SOCIAL WORKER SENSED A REALLY BAD VIBE ABOUT THIS GUY.

>> NOT LONG AFTER THE INTERVIEW, HE CONFESSES?

>> WITHIN A COUPLE OF YEARS, HE WAS UNDER ARREST, GOING ON TRIAL FOR THE CRIMES OF SERIAL RAPE.

HE AND HIS LAWYER, WHEN ALBERT DESALVO CONFESSED AND SAID HE WAS THE BOSTON STRANGLER RESPONSIBLE FOR ALL OF THESE SERIAL KILLINGS.

>> THE QUESTION OF WHETHER OR NOT IT IS TRUE CONFESSION, WHETHER HE IS THE BOSTON STRANGLER, THERE ARE PROBABLY SHELVES ON YOUR BOOKCASE.

>> YES, YOU CAN GET INTO A FIERCE DEBATE OF WRITERS AND JOURNALISTS, LAW ENFORCEMENT WHO BELIEVE HE IS THE KILLER, AND THOSE WHO BELIEVE HE'S NOT.

>> IS THE CRIMINAL RECORD SEALED?

THE JUVENILE RECORD?

>> THE JUVENILE RECORDS WOULD HAVE BEEN PUBLIC.

>> KEEP IN MIND, HE LEARNED ALL OF THIS MORE THAN A DECADE AGO, BUT WAS UNABLE TO PUBLISH IT BECAUSE OF THE CONFIDENTIALITY AGREEMENT HE SIGNED TO ACCESS THE ARCHIVE.

>> I FELT IT WAS REALLY NEWSWORTHY, NEW INFORMATION.

IN 2013, I WENT BACK AND ASKED FOR A WAIVER FROM THE CONFIDENTIALITY PROVISIONS, ARGUING THAT THIS IS HISTORY, HE'S BEEN DEAD 40 YEARS, THERE IS NEWS HERE, IT IS IN THE PUBLIC INTEREST.

THE ARCHIVE SAID NO.

>> YOU MUST HAVE BEEN READY TO CHEW YOUR ARM OFF?

>> IT WAS LIKE WHAT DO I DO NOW?

>> ONLY RECENTLY DID THAT FINALLY CHANGE.

>> THERE WAS ONE THING IN THE PROVISION THAT PROVIDED A GLIMMER OF HOPE.

THIS LOAN AGREEMENT THAT PROVIDED ACCESS AND THE CONFIDENTIALITY THAT HAD BEEN ADOPTED IN THE EARLY 1960'S HAD AN END DATE, THE SUMMER OF 2020.

A YEAR AGO, LAST SUMMER, I KNOCKED ON THEIR DOOR AND SAID "I'M BACK."

AND THIS IS ALL NEW.

>> HARVARD RELENTED AND HE WAS FREE TO PUBLISH.

FRONT PAGE NEWS ABOVE THE FOLD, 50 YEARS AFTER THE MURDERS.

> THE PERFEC ENDEMIC RESEARCH -- THE PERFECT PANDEMIC RESEARCH PROJECT.

>> HE WASN'T THE ONLY PERSON STYMIED BY THAT CONFIDENTIALITY AGREEMENT.

SO WERE LAW ENFORCEMENT INVESTIGATORS BUILDING THE CASE AGAINST ALBERT DESALVO IN THE 60'S.

THE HARVARD PROFESSORS WHO COMMISSIONED THE STUDY NEVER SHARED THEIR NOTES WITH THEM.

>> THEY WERE AWARE THAT ALBERT DESALVO WAS NOW CAUGHT UP IN THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM AND WAS CLAIMING HE WAS THE BOSTON STRANGLER.

NOT ONLY DID THEY NOT COME FORWARD WHEN AN INVESTIGATOR SOMEHOW HAD HEARD -- FIGURED OUT ALBERT DESALVO WAS PART OF THIS LANDMARK STUDY, THE INVESTIGATOR HAD GONE TO THEM AND SAID "I WANT YOUR STUFF NOW."

SHELDON WROTE THE DEAN OF THE HARVARD LAW SCHOOL EXPLAINING WHAT HAD JUST HAPPENED.

>> THE LAW SCHOOL DEAN PERSONALLY ASKED THE STATE ATTORNEY GENERAL TO SHUT IT DOWN.

THE OLD BOYS NETWORK CLOSE?

>> GOING OVER THE HEAD OF THE INVESTIGATOR.

THESE ARE THINGS THAT ARE WONDERFUL TO FIND IN THE ARCHIVE.

THE LAST THING YOU FIND IS A NOTE BACK FROM THE ATTORNEY THANK YOU FOR YOUR NOTE, WE HAVE BEEN INTERESTED IN LOOKING INTO THE CONNECTION WITH THE STRANGLER INVESTIGATION.

BUT REST ASSURED, WE WON'T BE NEEDING TO GO THERE.

>> THE BIG QUESTION IS WHETHER THE DOCUMENTS FINALLY RESOLVE THE ONGOING DEBATE ABOUT ALBERT DESALVO'S CONFESSION.

WAS HE REALLY THE BOSTON STRANGLER?

AS YOU ARE POURING OVER THE ARCHIVES, HAS GIVING YOU ANY >> I'M NOT ENOUGH OF AN EXPERT, IN TERMS OF THAT CONTROVERSY AND ALL OF THOSE INDIVIDUAL CRIMES AND KILLINGS.

BUT I THINK I CERTAINLY CAME AWAY WITH A SENSE THIS MAN IS CAPABLE OF MURDER AND RAPE.

>> IN AN ODD WAY, IT SEEMS TO SUPPORT BOTH SIDES OF THE DEBATE.

THIS IS UNQUESTIONABLY A BAD GUY.

BUT ALSO, A GUY WHO HAS A GIFT OF THE GAB AND LIKES TO BRAG.

>> IT CAN CUT BOTH WAYS, SO I THINK I'M NOT SURE IT WILL EVER BE RESOLVED.

♪ ♪ >> UP NEXT, IMAGINE LIVING IN A WORLD WHERE MUSIC IS NOT ONLY HEARD, BUT ALSO SEEN.

WORDS HAVE FLAVORS, AND COLORS HAVE A SMELL.

IT IS NOT A HALLUCINATION OR METAPHOR, AND IT CAN'T BE TAUGHT.

A NEUROLOGICAL CONDITION, AND THOSE WHO HAVE THIS CROSSOVER OF THE SENSES SAY IT HAS DRAMATICALLY CHANGED HOW THEY PERCEIVE THE WORLD.

>> I THINK WE ARE ALL LUCKY IT EXISTS, BECAUSE WITHOUT IT, THERE WOULD NOT BE THE MAGNIFICENT ART WE GET TO HAVE ALL AROUND US.

>> SHE HAS A NEUROLOGICAL CONDITION THAT SHE SAYS MAKES HER LIFE AND HER ARTWORK MORE INTERESTING.

>> I WAS PROBABLY FIVE, AND I STARTED SEEING NUMBERS IN COLOR.

THREE WAS YELLOW, FIVE WAS RED, ZERO WAS WHITE, SEVEN WAS A PURPLE-BLUE.

>> NOT ONLY DOES SHE SEE NUMBERS IN COLOR, SHE ALSO CAN HEAR THEM AND SMELL THEM.

YOU HAVE BEEN OPEN ABOUT THE FACT YOU FEEL SELF-CONSCIOUS EVEN TALKING ABOUT THIS?

>> A LITTLE.

IT IS KIND OF -- BECAUSE OTHER PEOPLE CAN'T REALLY RELATE TO IT.

♪ >> ARTIST AND MUSICIAN LENNY PETERSON CERTAINLY CAN.

>> WHEN I HEAR MUSIC, I SEE SHAPES.

>> WHAT KIND OF SHAPES?

>> THEY ARE IN MY ART, ANYWHERE FROM A STRAIGHT LINE, DEPENDING ON THE NOTE, TO ALL KINDS OF ATMOSPHERE WITHIN SQUARES AND CIRCLES.

>> THEY BOTH HAVE SYNESTHESIA, A RARE CONDITION WHERE A PERSON SENSES, INCLUDING THE SENSE OF SMELL AND SOUND, GET MIXED TOGETHER.

WE ASKED A NEUROLOGIST TO EXPLAIN JUST WHAT SYNESTHESIA IS.

>> IT IS EASY.

EVERYBODY KNOWS THE WORD ANESTHESIA, WHICH MEANS NO SENSATION, SO SYNESTHESIA MEANS JOINT OR COUPLED SENSATION.

THERE ARE KIDS WHO ARE BORN WITH TWO, THREE, OR ALL FIVE OF THEIR SENSES HOOKED TOGETHER, SO MY VOICE IS NOT ONLY SOMETHING THAT THEY HEAR, BUT SOMETHING THEY MIGHT ALSO SEE, TASTE, OR FEEL AS PHYSICAL TOUCH.

>> HE'S CREDITED WITH BRINGING SYNESTHESIA BACK TO MAINSTREAM SCIENCE.

HE HAS WRITTEN SIX BOOKS ON THE PHENOMENON HE SAYS COLLEAGUES INITIALLY DISMISSED IT AS TOO WEIRD AND NEW AGE.

>> WHAT HAPPENED IS I CAUSED A PARADIGM SHIFT IN HOW WE THINK ABOUT HOW THE BRAIN IS ORGANIZED.

WE DON'T HAVE FIVE SENSES TRAVELING DOWN FIVE TUBES THAT NEVER INTERMINGLE.

THERE ARE HUGE NUMBERS OF CROSS CONNECTIONS IN THE BRAIN ALL THE TIME.

>> CARLSEN SAYS THE ARTWORK FEATURED IN HER NEW BEDFORD DEAL WAS CREATED IN LARGE PART THANKS TO HER SYNESTHESIA.

>> IF I'M WORKING AND TWO SEEM TO COME TOGETHER AND I SMELL THEM, THEY KIND OF LEAD ME INTO AN AREA TO CONTINUE.

BECAUSE MY WORK IS ABSTRACT, VERY OFTEN WHAT I'M DOING IS REACTING TO COLOR COMBINATION.

>> TAKE FOR INSTANCE THIS ABSTRACT PAINTING.

SHE PAINTED IT BY MIXING COLORS THAT SMELLED LIKE ONE OF HER FAVORITE THINGS, A LOW TIDE.

>> I STARTED TO BE ABLE TO PULL IN A WHOLE FAMILY OF THOSE COLORS THAT SMELLED THAT WAY TO ME.

IT WAS LIKE AN UNDERCURRENT IN THE WHOLE PALLETE.

FROM THAT, I PAINTED AN 80 INCH WIDE ABSTRACT LANDSCAPE, JUST FROM THE SMELL OF THOSE TWO COLORS THAT CAME TOGETHER.

THAT HAPPENED, IT WAS SO FAST.

>> SYNESTHESIA IS MORE COMMON THAN SOME MIGHT THINK.

4% OF THE POPULATION HAS THIS UNION OF THE SENSES.

INCLUDING LADY GAGA -- ♪ ♪ AND BILLY JOEL.

♪ ♪ >> VLADIMIRA BOCK OFF, WHO WROTE " LOLITA," ALSO HAD IT.

SO DID COMPOSER AND PIANIST DUKE ELLINGTON.

>> IS SYNESTHESIA MORE COMMON AMONG ARTISTS AND MUSICIANS?

>> WE ARE MORE FAMILIAR WITH FAMOUS ARTISTS WHO HAPPEN TO HAVE SYNESTHESIA THAN THOSE WITH SYNESTHESIA WHO HAPPEN TO BE ARTISTS.

ARE THEY ARTISTIC BECAUSE THEY HAVE SYNESTHESIA, OR ARE THEY SYNESTHESIC BECAUSE THEY HAVE IT?

THERE ARE UNUSUAL THINGS GOING TOGETHER.

>> IT IS THOSE UNUSUAL THINGS THAT INSPIRE THE WORK OF NEWPORT-BASED ARTIST LENNY PETERSON.

HE LISTENS TO MUSIC AS HE WORKS AND DRAWS THE SHAPES HE SEES.

>> THESE SHAPES APPEAR THREE-DIMENSIONAL IN FRONT OF YOU, FLOATIG IN THE AIR?

>> THEY ARE BEING CREATED IN FRONT OF ME.

THEY ARE NOT IN THE ROOM, THEY ARE FORMING IN FRONT OF ME AS I LISTEN TO MUSIC.

THE MORE I CONCENTRATE ON IT, THE MORE THEY FORM AND THE CLEARER THEY FORM.

♪ >> PETERSON WAS IN HIS LATE 20'S TEACHING AT THE BERKLEE COLLEGE OF MUSIC WHEN HE REALIZED THE WAY HE EXPERIENCES THE WORLD ISN'T LIKE MOST PEOPLE.

>> I WAS PRODUCING A STUDENT'S PROJECT OF MUSIC, AND WE WERE TRACKING KEYBOARDS, AND I GOT ON THE TALK MIC AND I SAID CAN YOU MAKE THAT CORD MORE ROUND.

I GOT THIS DUMB SILENCE.

I TURNED TO THE ENGINEER AND HE SAID "WHAT?"

I SAID I WANTED TO MAKE IT MORE ROUND.

HE SAID YOU MUST HAVE SYNESTHESIA.

>>'S PAINTINGS ARE HEAVILY INFLUENCED BY THE MSIC HE LISTENS TO.

♪ >> THIS IS SPECIFICALLY AROUND A MILES DAVIS SONG CALLED "IN A SILENT WAY."

IT IS A VERY MYSTICAL KIND OF SETTING FOR THIS SONG.

THEN THE SYNESTHESIA KICKS IN.

I START IN THE LEFT-HAND CORNER, AND MY -- I LET MY HAND GO.

IT IS A FREE FLOW WHILE THE MUSIC IS PLAYING.

>> AT TIMES, PETERSON SAYS IT FEELS LIKE AN OVERLOAD OF THE SENSES, WHICH HE SAYS ISN'T A BAD THING.

>> IF I GET EXTREMELY SICK, LIKE HIGH FEVER, PEOPLE HAVE HALLUCINATIONS WHEN THEY GET SICK.

EVER SINCE I WAS A LITTLE KID, I WOULD HEAR GIGANTIC SYMPHONIES IN MY HEAD THAT WERE CRAZY HUGE.

>> DO YOU EVER WISH YOU DIDN'T HAVE SYNESTHESIA?

>> NEVER.

IT IS ALMOST LIKE SAYING YOU WISH THE SKY WASN'T BLUE.

THERE IS NOTHING I CAN DO ABOUT IT, AND IT IS THERE.

IT IS PART OF MY LIFE.

>> IS A HEREDITARY?

>> YES, VERY STRONGLY SO.

IT RUNS STRONGLY IN FAMILIES.

EITHER SEX PARENT CAN PASS IT DOWN TO EITHER SEX CHILD.

YOU SEE IT IN MULTIPLE GENERATIONS.

THE MOST I HAVE IS 4 LIVING GENERATIONS WITH SYNESTHESIA.

HISTORICALLY, WE HAVE BEEN ABLE TO TRACE IT BACK EVEN MORE SO.

>> ACCORDING TO THE NATIONAL INSTITUTES OF HEALTH, SOME RESEARCHERS THINK PEOPLE WITH SYNESTHESIA HAVE EXTRA CONNECTIONS BETWEEN BRAIN CELLS IN SOME AREAS OF THE BRAIN.

OTHERS THINK THE DIRECTION THAT INFORMATION CAN FLOW BETWEEN BRAIN CELLS MIGHT BE DIFFERENT.

HE SAYS SYNESTHESIA IS A LEFT BRAIN PHENOMENA.

>> THERE IS A DIFFERENCE BETWEEN VIEWING COLORS AND SEEING SIN AESTHETIC COLORS.

IT IS AS IF SYNESTHESIA HAS HIJACKED A NORMAL BRAIN FUNCTION THAT IS VIEWING COLORS BY CONNECTING YOU WITH OTHER SENSES IN THE LEFT HEMISPHERE.

>> COLORFUL EXPERIENCES CAN ALSO INVOKE PLEASANT SOUNDS.

FOR LYNN CARLSEN, THIS COMBINATION OF BLUE HAS A DISTINCT PITCH.

>> EVERY TIME I STARTED TO PUT THEM TOGETHER, I WOULD HEAR CELLO MUSIC, A LONG NOTE.

IT IS NOT A COMPLICATED PIECE OF MUSIC.

>> AS THE PAINT IS BEING MIXED?

>> AS THE PAINT IS BEING MIXED.

WHEN I WOULD GET STILL WITH IT, I WOULD HEAR IT.

>> SOMETIMES SHE CAN SMELL IT.

>> I WOULD HOLD HER AND SMELL HER.

>> SHE SAYS THIS PAINTING CAPTURES THE SMELL OF HER YOUNGEST GRANDDAUGHTER WHEN SHE WAS A BABY.

>> I JUST WANTED TO REPLICATE IT SOMEHOW.

THESE COLORS CAME TO MIND.

IT WASN'T HARD AT ALL, THEY POPPED IN.

THAT IS WHERE THIS CAME FROM.

>> CAN YOU SMELL YOUR GRANDDAUGHTER WHEN YOU LOOK AT THIS?

>> SHE IS THREE AND A HALF NOW, BUT I CAN SMELL A BABY.

>> SYNESTHESIA ALLOWS HER TO HOLD ONTO PRECIOUS MEMORIES.

WHAT WOULD A WORLD WITHOUT SYNESTHESIA LOOK LIKE FOR YOU?

>> I DON'T KNOW.

I PROBABLY WOULDN'T BE DOING WHAT I DO, MAKING WHAT I MAKE.

I'D BE LOST.

I'D BE REALLY LOST, I THINK.

♪ >> FINALLY TONIGHT, ALTHOUGH THE NEWPORT BRIDGE PROVIDES A SPECTACULAR VIEW OF A SMALL LANDMASS CALLED ROSE ISLAND, MOST PEOPLE IN THE OCEAN STATE KNOW LITTLE ABOUT ITS STORIED PAST.

THAT IS ABOUT TO CHANGE.

AS PART OF OUR CONTINUING SERIES, THE MANAGER GIVES US A TOUR TO LEARN ABOUT ITS COLORFUL HISTORY.

♪ >> I'M MIKE HALEY, WELCOME TO ROSE ISLAND ON A BEAUTIFUL DAY.

WE ARE LOCATED ON THE EAST PASSAGE.

WE DON'T ACTUALLY KNOW HOW ROSE ISLAND GOT ITS NAME.

BUT WE KNOW THE INDIANS CALL IT -- IT MEANS THE ISLAND WITH A LONG STEM.

IF YOU WERE TO COME OVER THE NEWPORT BRIDGE, YOU WOULD SEE A STRIP OF ABOUT 200 YARDS OF BEACH THAT ONLY APPEARS AT LOW TIDE AND THE ISLAND.

SO IT DOES LOOK LIKE A ROSE WITH A STEM.

WE ARE GOING TO START AT ONE OF THE OLDEST STRUCTURES, THE BARRACKS.

IT WAS BUILT AROUND 1798 AND WAS DESIGNED TO HOLD UP TO 200 TROOPS IN NINE ROOMS.

THAT IS 33 TROOPS TO A ROOM.

LET'S GO INSIDE AND TAKE A LOOK.

HERE WE ARE IN THE BARRACKS, ROOM NUMBER ONE.

IT IS A VERY INTERESTING STRUCTURE.

IT IS THE FIRST STRUCTURE IN AMERICA TO BE CANNONBALL PROOF.

AS YOU CAN SEE BEHIND ME, THE WALLS ARE THREE TO FOUR FEET THICK.

TODAY, YOU CAN STAY IN THIS ROOM FOR FUN.

AT THE OTHER END OF THE BARRACKS, I WOULD LIKE TO SHARE ANOTHER PIECE OF THE HISTORY.

THE BARRACKS WAS PART OF NAVAL TORPEDO STATION NEWPORT AND FIRST WORLD WARS.

THEY DESIGNATED THE EXPLOSIVE FURTHER TORPEDOES WOULD BE STORED IN THE BARRACKS, BECAUSE IT IS SUCH A SOLID STRUCTURE.

LITTLE PETERS WERE MANUFACTURED ON RHODE ISLAND -- THE TORPEDOES WERE MANUFACTURED ON RHODE ISLAND, BROUGHT OUT TO ROSE ISLAND, AND YOU SEE THE TRAIN TRACKS USED TO BRING THEM HERE, MARRY THE EXPLOSIVES TO THE TORPEDOES, AND THEY WERE TESTED.

LET'S HEAD UP TO THE JEWEL IN THE CROWN, THE LIGHTHOUSE ON RHODE ISLAND.

IN 1869, THE GOVERNMENT SPENT $7,000 TO PUT A LIGHTHOUSE HERE.

IT RAN FOR 100 YEARS, UNTIL THEY BUILT THE CLAIBORNE PELL BRIDGE.

IT BECAME OBSOLETE BECAUSE THE LIGHTS FROM THE BRIDGE LIT UP THE EYELID ADEQUATELY, SO IT WAS NO LONGER A HAZARD TO NAVIGATION.

HERE WE ARE ON THE GROUND FLOOR OF THE LIGHTHOUSE.

IT WAS DETERMINED TO TRY AND REPLICATE WHAT IT LOOKED LIKE AT THE TURN OF THE 20TH CENTURY.

ONE OF THE THINGS WE FOUND WAS THE ACTUAL COAL STOVE USED HERE WAS IN NEWPORT.

WE FOUND IT AND BROUGHT IT OUT HERE.

THE OLD WASHBOARD THEY USED, THAT WAS YOUR WASHING MACHINE.

THIS WAS YOUR DRYER BACK THEN.

IF YOU'VE EVER HEARD THE EXPRESSION BEING PUT THROUGH THE RINGER, THAT IS WHAT THIS WAS.

NOW WE ARE COMING INTO THE MUSEUM ROOM, HAVING LEFT THE KITCHEN AND DINING AREA.

THE HURRICANE OF 1938, THE WORST HURRICANE TO EVER HIT THE NORTHEAST.

BUT THE REMARKABLE STORY HERE AT THIS LIGHTHOUSE, ROSE ISLAND WAS THAT THE LIGHTHOUSE KEEPER'S DAUGHTER STRAPPED HERSELF TO THE FLAGPOLE IN 1938 AND TOOK THESE PHOTOGRAPHS, THESE ACTUAL PHOTOGRAPHS BEHIND US.

ONE OF THE THINGS YOU SEE IN THE PHOTOGRAPHS WAS A BOATHOUSE BEFORE THE HURRICANE.

AFTER THE HURRICANE, THE BOATHOUSE WAS GONE WITH TONS OF COAL.

THE LIFE OF A LIGHTHOUSE KEEPER AROUND 1900.

THEY HAD A FRIEND OLAN'S -- FRONTAL LENS RUN BY A WICK.

THE LIGHTHOUSE KEEPER HAD TO TEND TO THAT LIGHT ALL NIGHT LONG TO MAKE SURE IT WAS WORKING PROPERLY.

IT ENTAILED RUNNING ALL THE WAY UP TO THE LIGHT, CHECKING IF IT HAD ENOUGH OIL, TENDING TO THE WICK.

ONE CLEVER LIGHTHOUSE KEEPER DECIDED HE CAN MAKE HIS LIFE EASIER BY PUTTING HIS BED HERE, PUTTING A MURR ON THE RAILING OUTSIDE, AND ANGLING IT TOWARDS THE LIGHT SO HE HAD TO JUST SIT UP, LOOK OUT, AND SEE IF THE LIGHT WAS WORKING.

THAT SAVES HIM A LOT OF TRIPS BACK AND FORTH.

WHEN YOU ARE STANDING AT THE TOP OF THE LIGHTHOUSE, THE VIEWS ARE QUITE STUNNING.

YOU CAN SEE ALL THE WAY OVER TO JAMESTOWN, CASTLE HILL, FORT ADAMS, GOAT ISLAND.

IT BRINGS IMAGES AND MEMORIES OF SO MANY HAPPY TIMES OUT HERE.

I ALWAYS LOOK OVER THE BRIDGE TO SEE IF IT IS AT LOW TIDE WITH A LITTLE STEM COMING OUT.

YOU FALL IN LOVE WITH THE PLACE, IT CHARMS YOU.

>> OUR THANKS TO MIKE FOR THAT TOUR.

THAT IS OUR BROADCAST.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

I'M PAMELA WATTS.

>> I'M MICHELLE SAN MIGUEL.

WE WILL BE BACK NEXT WEEK WITH ANOTHER EDITION OF RHODE ISLAND PBS WEEKLY.

UNTIL THEN, VISIT US ONLINE TO SEE OUR STORIES AND PASSED EPISODES AT RIPBS.ORG/WEEKLY, OR LISTEN TO OUR PODCASTS ON YOUR FAVORITE AUDIO STREAMING PLATFORMS.

THANK YOU, GOOD NIGHT.

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