Amazing Tales from Off the Beaten Path

Kickbacks Paved the Merritt Parkway

Connecticut’s Merritt Parkway is an amazing roadway, in many ways. It’s the oldest limited access highway in the country, having recently surpassed 80 years of age. Before the Merritt, there were bumper-to-bumper backups for miles every Sunday along the only other highway in the state – U.S. Route 1. How did the state manage to get this road built through incredibly affluent Fairfield County? A creative scheme involving illegal kickbacks was part of the solution – a tale you certainly won’t want to miss. Hear the whole story with the help of Richard DeLuca, of Cheshire, an expert on Connecticut transportation.

Did a Connecticut Woman Murder Jack the Ripper?

Florence Chandler Maybrick died 80 years ago, penniless, in a ramshackle shanty in a wooded area in the Gaylordsville section of New Milford, CT. At one time, she was the heiress to a million acres of land in the mid-Atlantic states. She was also married to a wealthy cotton trader in Liverpool, England, until he died from poisoning. Florence was convicted to hang for his murder. It was said she killed him because she knew he was Jack the Ripper. But, was she framed? And was someone else actually The Ripper? This unbelievable “whodunit” will leave you amazed. New Milford author and Florence Maybrick expert Ron Suresha is our special guest.

Connecticut‘s Nuclear Missiles (Part 2)

During the Cold War, Connecticut had missiles based in twelve towns, protecting two cities deemed mission-critical by the military for helping the U.S. survive a nuclear war. For 11 years, three of those twelve sites were outfitted with nuclear missiles. Few citizens knew anything at the time about the program and the location of the Hercules nuclear missile silos, and all the details have largely been forgotten about since that 10-year period. Hear the story behind Connecticut’s nuclear missile sites in part two of this two-part series.

Connecticut‘s Nuclear Missiles (Part 1)

Students in Connecticut in the 1960s used to hide under their desks to prepare for a nuclear attack by the Soviet Union. The United States military built unbelievable underground bunkers and fortresses in strategic locations around the country. They also activated defensive nuclear missile sites surrounding 40 strategically important cities, including two in Connecticut. Those cities were protected by active nuclear warheads. In part one of this two-part series, hear about the absolutely incredible bunkers that were built – some of which have been decommissioned, and some of which are still active.

An Enchanting Connecticut Legend -- The Leatherman

Imagine walking the same, 365-mile, clockwise, circuitous route – passing through the same two dozen towns at the same hour – every 34 days, like clockwork. Imagine wearing the same leather outfit, that you sewed yourself from discarded leather pieces, and sleeping in caves. That’s just what The Leatherman did in Connecticut and New York in the 1880s. He was beloved by everyone who got the chance to see him. Who was he? Why did he do it? New England folklore expert Michael Hoberman, a professor of American Literature at Fitchburg State University in Massachusetts who has written about The Leatherman, helps us unravel some of these questions.

Ode to the Housatonic Railroad

Many train companies have operated in Connecticut since the 1800s. Most have gone out of business, leaving rusted rails or converted "rail-trail" hiking opportunities. The Housatonic Railroad is a rarity amongst the group. While their passenger service ended 50 years ago, you can still see the iconic yellow diesels hauling freight up and down western Connecticut a few times a day. The history of the line is magical -- from its "love-hate relationship" with farmers, to its unique passenger service, majestic former train stations, breathtaking scenery and its unfortunate share of tragic accidents. Four guests share their knowledge of the line: Susan DelBianco, a local historian and an expert on the Housatonic; Peter McLoughlin, a retired Housatonic train engineer with lots of captivating memories, Jeremy Ruman, Board President of the organization that's restoring the historic Merwinsville Hotel, which figured prominently in the railroad’s past; and Bob Brown, President of the Brookfield Museum and Historical Society, where a major train station and key cog in the Housatonic’s operations used to exist.

The Man Who Taught PT Barnum About the Circus

You can certainly be excused for thinking that PT Barnum -- with his Barnum and Bailey Circus -- started the circus industry in the United States. Actually, PT Barnum entered the business late in his life. And he learned what he knew about the circus from someone else -- Aaron Turner, of Danbury, CT. The rags-to-riches story of Aaron Turner is impressive in its own right; but, considering he mentored the great PT Barnum, it takes on an entirely different dimension.

Stagecoaches, trollies and steam locomotives in Connecticut

As the Industrial Revolution approached, Connecticut had its first mass transit system in high gear – stagecoaches. It was also making use of canal barges. But, as steam power and machines became viable, we soon had electric trolleys, steam locomotives and steamships. Finally, it was cars, buses, trucks and diesel locomotives. Along the way, we had both turnpikes and shunpikes (yes, we’ll explain that). Today, we continue our never-ending quest to find faster ways of getting from point A to point B and, with the help of Connecticut development expert Richard DeLuca, of Cheshire, we’ll see how Connecticut used transportation to propel itself from a strictly agricultural society into the thriving and bustling place it is today.

The Unbelievable Pardue Brothers Crime Spree

It's almost inconceivable that only two brothers could be responsible for so much grisly crime -- bank robberies, murders (including family members), jail breaks and kidnappings. Not only the number of incidents, but the horrendous nature of what they did. And, the way they convinced others to help them do their bidding. Fifty years ago, this Fairfield County, CT duo spent a good portion of their 20s conducting a crime wave that stretched from Connecticut to the states of New York, Maryland, Missouri and Colorado. You won't want to miss this amazing tale.

The Appalachian Trail - a Connecticut Vision

The Appalachian Trail turned 100-years-old in 2021. It was a Stamford, Connecticut native whose vision led to the creation of the iconic walkway through the eastern United States. You'll hear all about the incredible statistics associated with the trail -- who walked it the fastest, who did the first walk along the entire trail, how many people now hike the entire trail each year, who was the first woman to do so, who's the youngest hiker to walk the entire 2,100 miles and how many murders have been recorded on the trail.