Court Square in downtown Memphis is said to be haunted by a ten year old boy named Claude Pugh. Claude was playing with a toy boat along the rim of the Hebe Fountain on August 26, 1884. Somehow the child slipped and fell into fountain. Because the bottom was sloped and covered with algae Claude…
The Milwaukee Public Museum was officially chartered in 1882, growing from a private natural history collection into a major public institution. From its early days, the museum distinguished itself with a revolutionary approach to exhibits, moving away from static displays in glass cases to create immersive, life-sized dioramas that placed artifacts in a realistic context….
In the spring of 1896, the home of Arthur Ramsay, an eccentric artist in Oil City, Pennsylvania, became the setting for a horrifying tragedy. Ramsay had recently become consumed by an intense and bizarre religious fervor that warped his perception of reality. He developed a disturbing obsession centered on his wife, 26-year-old Effie, whom he…
Often overshadowed by the historic Blount Mansion across the street, you will find the Craighead-Jackson House in Knoxville. The two story Federal-style structure was built for city alderman John Craighead in 1818. According to local lore, a former servant was making breakfast in the fireplace downstairs when her skirt caught fire. The poor young lady…
Originally Doc Crows on Whiskey Row was home to the original Galt House during the Civil War. In 1862 the Galt House was the scene of a murder of William “Bull” Nelson, a controversial Union general. Since the murder the restaurant that is now located where the Galt House originally stood is a hotbed of…
In 1929 the first ever Academy Awards were held at the Roosevelt Hotel’s Blossom Room in Hollywood, California. That night Wings won the award for best picture and Emil Jannings and Janey Gaynor took home the Oscar for Best Actor and Actresses. However, during the awards ceremony, someone was slighted and didn’t receive an award…
Built in the 17th century, the Samuel Pickman House in Salem, Massachusetts was lost after it was renovated and remodeled over several hundred years. In 1960s a local realtor and a historian rediscovered the historic home and now it is beloved attraction to tourists who flock to the Witch City in October. But, the Samuel…
A few years ago I took a tour of Rippavilla, a historic home in Spring Hill, Tennessee. In my group there were several different people of all ages. However, one girl in particular caught my attention. She was an attractive young lady from a nearby college whose perfume strangely kept getting stronger and more potent…
The winter of 1873 had lulled the people of Minnesota into a false sense of security. January had been unseasonably mild, giving no hint of the coming terror that would be remembered for generations. On January 7, the sky darkened without warning, unleashing one of the most violent snowstorms the Northwest had ever seen. For…
After vanquishing the British from New Orleans in the War of 1812, Andrew Jackson returned home to middle Tennessee seeking a new challenge. During this time word quickly spread about the stories of the Bell Witch in Adams, Tennessee. “Old Hickory” wasn’t afraid and decided to go visit his old friend and see if the…
