Author: The Kitchen Table Historian
Episode 58: One Bad Ride: The Murder of Mary Schlais
Mary Schlais was a beautiful young artist with her entire life ahead of her. A veteran hitchhiker, one bad…
One Bad Ride: The Murder of Mary Schlais
The young woman walked slowly along the shoulder of the road, loose gravel crunching under her feet. Her oversized green…
Episode 57: Steam and Fury: The Lansing Steamboat Disaster of 1867
Steamboats are an iconic part of the history of the Mississippi River. In the case of the steamboat Lansing,…
Steam and Fury: The Lansing Steamboat Disaster of 1867
The Mississippi River, despite its nickname the “Big Muddy,” is surrounded by natural beauty. Bluffs over look the water…
Death Curve: The Legend of Julia Markham
The first time that I remember hearing about a place called “dead man’s” anything was when I was over at…
Episode 56: Death Curve: The Legend of Julia Markham
The Death Curve of Cambridge, Illinois, will forever be linked to the story of a woman who committed a horrible…
Episode 25: Horace and Geneva: The Wrong Way to Fix a Marriage
Horace and Geneva’s marriage began to fall apart for all the usual reasons: money, jealousy, and neglect. Their path to…
Horace and Geneva: The Wrong Way to Fix a Marriage
Living with another person is not always an easy thing. Sharing your personal space with another human being always involves…
Fancy Shoes: The Bizarre Fate of Big Nose George
When I was growing up, western movies were just starting to pass out of popularity. After decades as one of…
Episode 54: Fancy Shoes: The Bizarre Story of Big Nose George
Stories of the American West have captivated generations of people. But beyond the tales of cowboy shootouts and outlaw exploits…