Jesse Stanbridge was just another railroad cop doing his job in 1909 when he had an argument with a local farmer. That disagreement set into motion a chain of events that would change both their lives forever. Sources Ancestry.com. Iowa, U.S., State Census Collection, 1836-1925 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2007. Year: 1900; …
Fit of Rage: A Kitchen Table Historian Short Story Podcast Read More »
Jesse Stanbridge’s breath came in a plume as the bitter January cold bit into him. He dug his hands deeper into the pockets of his overcoat as he walked through the Iowa night. His eyes scanned the railyard. Stanbridge wasn’t looking for anything in particular, just anything that stood out. He shivered, silently cursing the …
Fit of Rage: A Kitchen Table Historian Short Story Read More »
Mary Stewart had died too young, and her husband, William, couldn’t stand the grief. Buying a gun, he set into motion plans of murder and suicide. But after telling a neighbor, nothing went the way he expected, resulting in an unbelievable conclusion. Sources Police Block Father’s Plot to Slay Babes. The Davenport Democrat and …
Episode 95: Depths of Despair: A Murder/Suicide Plot in Iowa Read More »
Mary was gone, and there was no bringing her back. William Stewart stared out the window, letting his mind wander through the past. Mary and her family had come from Germany and settled in the area around LeClaire, Iowa, in the eastern part of the state. When he had met her, Mary’s name had …
Depths of Despair: A Murder/Suicide Plot in Iowa Read More »
Happy Halloween, everyone! For our Halloween episode this year, I’ll be telling you some personal stories of the paranormal, as well as some from my family and friends. Come with me as we finish out the spooky season and experience the beyond.
Historians are keepers of the stories of the dead. I suppose it only makes sense that they would cross paths every so often. Although I’ve had a lifelong interest in the paranormal, I’ve rarely sought it out per se. Sure, I’ve been on a lot of haunted walking tours and even played with a Ouija …
Experiences From Beyond: The Halloween 2022 Special Read More »
The Rock and Roll Mansion in Davenport, Iowa, is a former mortuary that’s been converted into the current home of many popular local radio stations. Employees over the years swear they have experienced everything from phantom footsteps to full apparitions. Do some spirits remain after their funeral was held in the building? Sources Entertains …
Episode 93: Is This Former Iowa Mortuary Now a Haunted Radio Station? Read More »
Emma Harvey had lived a good life, but now it had come to an end. Born in New York, she and her parents had moved to Cedar Rapids, Iowa, during her childhood. In 1874, Emma had married Edward Shaw, a Davenport, Iowa, man who worked as a carpenter with his father, George. About a …
Is This Former Iowa Mortuary Now a Haunted Radio Station? Read More »
Dr. William Stoecks was a dedicated physician and surgeon, treating countless people throughout his career. He died in 1961. But did he stay in his former home and interact with the college fraternity who bought it? Sources Arpy, Jim. A Ghost Chaser Unravels the Mystery of Davenport’s ‘Haunted House.’ The Times-Democrat, 5/11/1972 Sheridan, Joe. …
Episode 92: Did Dr. William Stoecks Keep His Routine After His Death? Read More »
Davenport, Iowa, has played host to several strange events over its long existence, but certainly one of the strangest took place in 1919. In March of that year, a 41-year-old doctor named William A. Stoecks was working on the third floor of one of the city’s hospitals, Mercy Hospital. As he went about his business, …
Did Dr. William Stoecks Keep His Routine After His Death? Read More »
