Recent Posts
Bedford’s Rich Residents Hunted Firebug After Barns Burned
In 1905, the wealthy village of Bedford, New York, found itself under siege by a firebug. Barns, homes, haystacks, and a grocery store went up…
Old Nevada Justice Sent Saloon Thief Walking Into the Desert
In the rough mining camps of northern Nevada, justice did not always wait for a courtroom. In 1908, a man known as “Doc” Phelan was…
Rowboat Outing Turns Deadly in Heavy Seas Off Brooklyn
A rough afternoon sea off Norton’s Point turned deadly in July 1909 when two men set out from Sea Gate in a rowboat and were…
Fisherman Finds Gold Nugget Inside 22-Pound Yellowtail
A strange catch at sea turned into a small treasure mystery in 1907 when Captain Billy Graves opened a 22-pound yellowtail and found gold inside….
Railroad Brakeman Killed Instantly by Lightning During Worcester Storm
A violent summer storm swept over Worcester, Massachusetts, on a Saturday night in June 1910, leaving behind death, injury, and damage across the city. At…
Jersey City Theft Stop Uncovers Shocking Bigamy Case
A petty robbery investigation in Jersey City took an unexpected turn in August 1898 when police stopped a suspicious man carrying a bundle and uncovered…
Florida Officials Consider Bringing Back the Lash in Prison Camps
In 1925, Florida prison officials were openly discussing whether to bring back one of the state’s most brutal punishments: the lash. Only two years earlier,…
Prohibition Agents Attacked With Bottles During Hell’s Kitchen Raid
Prohibition agents found a hostile welcome in New York’s Hell’s Kitchen in July 1922. When three Federal officers entered Gentilly’s Cafe on Eighth Avenue, they…
Thunderstorm Wakes Girl Just in Time to Save Chloroformed Father
A violent thunderstorm may have saved a Cleveland man’s life in July 1905. In the early morning hours, burglars broke into the home of Melville…
1919 Barbecue Boss Shared His Massive Pit Recipe for Feeding 1,000 People
In 1919, Chattanooga’s Charlie Willingham was known as a man who understood barbecue on a grand scale. To Willingham, pit barbecue was not a quick…
