Amazing Tales from Off the Beaten Path

What Happened When You Were Sent to the Poorhouse

In the past, if you couldn’t pay your bills you were sent to the poor house. Alms houses and town farms were part of society's safety net for the poor, disabled, and mentally handicapped. Although largely unregulated, they provided food and work opportunities and most towns had one.

Where Critical Military Equipment Came From During WW II

Connecticut’s industrial manufacturers contributed significant parts of the overall military machine that helped win WW II. Half of the aircraft engines, submarines, a large percentage of the billions of bullets, and much, much more were made in CT.

The Day 2 Rolling Skulls Revealed a Vampire Grave

Two boys playing in a sand and gravel pit came across two human skulls. That led to the unearthing of a suspected vampire grave. State officials worked with folklorists to tentatively identify the remains of the individual whose initials – J.B. – were at first all they had to go on.

The First Time Penicillin Saved a Life

It was a miracle. In 1942, a female patient was barely alive. She had run a 106 fever for 4 weeks. Doctors were out of options. A new treatment – never tried in the U.S. – cured her in less than 24 hours. Just getting the medicine to her was the biggest obstacle of all.

When a New Outdoor Weather Climate was Created

Growing cigar wrappers requires excellent soil and the right climate. Connecticut tobacco farmers had the soil, but not the climate. So, they created a new climate. It covered 1% of the state's land and made the region international market leaders in the 1800s.

An Extremely Unique Gated Community

In the 1950s, Jewish firefighters in Queens, NY wanted to get their children into the countryside during a polio outbreak. The large summer camp they built by hand evolved into a year-round gated community. One of the country's most famous singers spent her summers at Lake Waubeeka.

An Enclave Like No Other - The Russian Village

When Stalin overthrew the Russian czars in 1917, many famous Russian artists and writers fled to the U.S.. Ilya Tolstoy, son of War and Peace author Leo Tolstoy, started The Russian Village, a shrouded town where intellectuals settled to write and socialize with other famous Russians.

Electric Cars Were Market Leaders - 130 Years Ago

The first mass-produced electric vehicle in the U.S. was made in 1897. The Columbia Motor Carriage used a new invention (rubber) to insulate electric wires making them safe. 50% of the cars on the road were EVs back then, compared to just 5% today.

A Real-Life ”Field of Dreams” Baseball Story

Standout Pittsburgh Pirates pitcher Steve Blass was one of four Pirates pitchers from the same extended family in the 1960s. Blass remains the last National League pitcher to throw a complete 9 innings in the 7^th game of a World Series. Only one other human has done that.

The Longest Running Newspaper in the U.S.

The longest-running newspaper in the United States has been around longer than the country itself. The Hartford Courant started publishing in 1764 - 12 years before the Declaration of Independence. Putting out a paper continuously for 260 years is no small feat.