Amazing Tales About History

Who Killed Jack the Ripper?

Is it possible that a penniless, old, female recluse killed Jack the Ripper? Florence Maybrick, who famously served time in England for murdering her husband, died in rural Connecticut as Florence Chandler. Claims that her husband was The Ripper have been raised, as have claims of her having been framed. It's a complicated who-done it.

PART 2: Protecting Against Nuclear War

During the Cold War, the U.S. identified 40 cities that required protection against Russian nuclear attack. Those cities were ringed by missile silos in the 1950s. In the 1960s, some silos were outfitted with active nuclear warheads, often without public knowledge. Three silo sites were in Connecticut.

PART 1: Protecting Against Nuclear War

Students hid under their desks during 1960s nuclear raid drills. The true protection was found inside mammoth underground fortresses built at strategic locations nationwide. Supplementing this are nuclear missile silos. In part one of this two-part series, learn about the fortresses - some decommissioned and some still operating.

An Enchanting Legend of The Leatherman

He walked the same, 365-mile, circuitous route every 34 days. He passed through the same two dozen towns, usually at the same hour, like clockwork. He wore a 60-pound, all-leather outfit and spoke to no one. He slept in caves and bothered no one. The Leatherman was beloved, but no one ever learned his true identity.

Ode to the Housatonic Railroad

Trains started operations in the U.S. in the early 1800s. One of the earliest was The Housatonic, traveling from Bridgeport, Connecticut to Pittsfield, Massachusetts. It is struggling today, but 1 or 2 freight trains still operate. Passenger service stopped 50 years ago. The long history of the line is magical.

The Man Who Taught PT Barnum About the Circus

P.T. Barnum didn't start his famous circus until he was 60-years-old. But, in his 20s, he spent a couple of years touring with another circus, handling their finances. Barnum's mentor was Aaron Turner, a rags-to-riches story who was one of the first circus owners in the U.S.

The Era of Stagecoaches, Trolleys and Steam Locomotives

Transportation evolved when the Industrial Revolution was born. Stagecoaches and canal barges gave way to steam-power locomotives and ships. Eventually, electricity and batteries powered trolleys and early cars. On the dirt turnpikes, toll evaders formed off-road shunpikes, as an agrarian society morphed towards industrialization.

The Unbelievable Pardue Brothers Crime Spree

Two brothers. So much grisly crime. Bank robberies, murders (including family members), jail breaks and kidnappings in New York, Connecticut, Missouri, Colorado, and Maryland. The volume and horrendous nature of their deeds defies belief. They often convinced others to do their bidding. It will leave you shaking your head.

The Appalachian Trail

The 100-year-old Appalachian Trail, an iconic walkway through the eastern U.S., has generated interesting statistics: who walked it the fastest, who did the first walk along the entire trail, how many hike the entire trail each year, who was the first woman to do so, who's the youngest, and how many murders have been recorded on the trail?

Earthen Roads Built Colonial Ameria

Colonial settlers in the U.S. had only Native American hiking paths to get around. It took 6 days to ride a horse from New York to Boston. Early earthen roads were neither pleasant nor efficient. Who made up the initial highway crews? How did settlers communicate over long distances? Why did we use miles instead of kilometers?