Charles Clark stood by himself at his daughter’s home in Kokomo, Indiana. There were things that weighed heavily on him, and he had come to a serious conclusion, perhaps the most serious that he would ever come to. He looked down at the bottle in his hand, and knew what he had to […]
Lost in Despair: The 1935 Ax Murders of Mary and Alonzo Singer Read More »
The morning of December 15, 1921 was just another winter morning in Long Grove, Iowa. The business district at the center of the small town was humming with activity as people went about their normal business. People made their way along the streets, maybe stopping in for a haircut or a little gossip at the
The Long Grove, Iowa Bank Robbery of 1921 Read More »
Movies are full of iconic imagery. From the majestic vistas of Monument Valley in John Ford’s westerns to the bleak future battles of James Cameron’s imagination, Hollywood has impressed amazing scenes on the human psyche for over one hundred years. Perhaps amongst the most iconic of these is the image of the damsel in distress.
Damsels in Distress? Three Women Who Broke the Stereotype in 1920 Read More »
Charles Englehart had been successful in his life. Originally from Grandview, Iowa, he had moved to Davenport, Iowa as a young man and become a barber. For years he had been employed at the prestigious Hotel Blackhawk, cutting the hair of well-to-do patrons who needed to look their absolute best in order to impress
Struck Down in the Dark Read More »
This week we’re serving up a main course of sudden endings at the table. Oscar Staby was the stepson of an industry giant, and very successful in his own right. But what drove him to a shocking act at his Los Angeles home in 1927? Pull up a chair and find out.
The End of an Era: The Death of Oscar Staby Read More »
Guy Gilbert was probably a little surprised when his son Gene showed up on the doorstep of his Yale, South Dakota home. While far from unwelcome, Gene hadn’t said anything about coming for a visit. But here he was just the same. Guy welcomed Gene inside. Guy Jr., Gene’s brother, was also there, and
Gertrude Woodard was only seventeen years old. Popular and well-liked by many, young Gertrude lived with her parents near Hale, Missouri. She, just like most people that age, no doubt had her hopes and dreams, of what adventures would fill the years of life that stretched out in front of her. Gertrude might
Sudden Endings: The Tragic Tale of Singleton Gardiner Read More »
The holidays are here again! Soon, hundreds of us will travel across the nation to see our family and friends. But, with all that travel comes potential dangers, dangers that have always been there. Come and learn more about it this week at the table!
Historical Travel Wasn’t Always the Safest Read More »
If you were to peruse a history of the small town of Long Grove, Iowa, you are very likely to find a very interesting black and white photograph. In it stands a huge man, looking at the camera with relative disinterest. The viewer can’t help but notice the man’s size. Yes, he’s very overweight, but
Little Stone For a Big Man: The Giant of Scott County, Iowa Read More »
Just south of the town of Atlantic, Iowa, is a roadside attraction called the Plow in the Tree, within sight of the Nishnabotna River. It delivers exactly what the name says – it’s a plow in a tree. The story is that in the 1860’s, a young man was plowing a field when he heard
And the Rain Fell, and the Waters Rose…. Read More »
