Steamboats are an iconic part of the history of the Mississippi River. In the case of the steamboat Lansing, however, that history turned both tragic and terrifying in a split second.
The Mississippi River, despite its nickname the “Big Muddy,” is surrounded by natural beauty. Bluffs over look the water as it meanders its way through the landscape, making its way ever southward toward the Gulf of Mexico. As picturesque as it is, there is a very practical side to the river as well. The …
Steam and Fury: The Lansing Steamboat Disaster of 1867 Read More »
The first time that I remember hearing about a place called “dead man’s” anything was when I was over at a friend’s house in Rock Island, Illinois. We were out riding bikes and one of them made mention that we were coming up on ‘dead man’s hill.’ Clueless, I asked what that meant. One of …
The Death Curve of Cambridge, Illinois, will forever be linked to the story of a woman who committed a horrible crime nearby. What really happened there, and does her ghost still haunt the area? Sources Slayer of Her 7 Children Had Been Insane for Years. Chicago Tribune, 10/2/1905 Family of Nine is Wiped Out …
Episode 56: Death Curve: The Legend of Julia Markham Read More »
Mabel Moore and William Stewart each lost a spouse in the early 20th Century. They also had hidden connections that would drive their drastic actions to cope with that loss miles and years apart. Sources ‘Police Block Father’s Plot to Slay Babes.’ The Davenport Democrat and Leader, 5/28/1920 ‘Buys Gun to …
We all love ghost stories, but not all of them should be believed. Decide for yourself as I tell you some of my own encounters with the beyond, both real and imagined. Sources ‘Stoneking Cemetery.’ Supernatural Dares, http://www.youtube.com Myers, Frank D. ‘Tombs With a View II: Stoneking.’ http://www.lucascontyan.blogspot.com, 12/31/12 ‘These 10 Haunted Cemeteries …
Episode 31: My Ghost Stories – Real and Imagined Read More »
I love a good ghost story. Ever since I was a little kid, I would always gravitate toward the spooky. Anything supernatural was fair game. Like so many others, I cut my teeth on ghost documentaries and shows like Unsolved Mysteries. Horror movies were one of my main staples, and I read anything even remotely …
Even familiar noises can seem odd in a new house. In 1887, one woman tried to explain away the mysterious footsteps she heard as natural. But when the strange man started to appear, she knew otherwise. Sources United States Federal Records Rock Island, Illinois, City Directories Ancestry.com. Illinois, County Marriage Records, 1800-1940 [database on-line]. …
There’s nothing quite like moving into a new house. In most cases, a new buyer obviously likes it, otherwise they never would have bought it. They like the layout, the features. In an older home, people often talk about liking the character of the home. There’s something about how it feels. Still, it takes a …
Winter driving is something that virtually all Midwestern drivers have to face down at some point. One night in 1926, Singleton Gardiner discovered just how bad it could be when he found his car sliding toward the side of a moving train in rural Illinois. Sources Singleton Gardiner Presented Diamond Set Gold Badge …
