Chicago History Podcast

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Episode 705 - Tragedy on the Tracks: Connecting Winnetka to Chicago Jan 06, 2024

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A series of tragedies prompted one Chicago suburb to change the way trains travel through their city. This is the story of Connecting Winnetka to Chicago.
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The 400 Story: Chicago & North Western's Premier Passenger Trains by Jim Scribbins
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Chicago Stations and Trains Photo Archive by John Kelly
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Episode 704 - Chicago's Deadly Stockyards Fire of 1910 Dec 23, 2023

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Just days before Christmas in 1910, a fire broke out at the stockyards in Chicago that resulted in the highest loss of life of firefighters due to a building collapse, a grim claim held for nearly 91 years before being surpassed on 9/11.
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Chicago's Forgotten Tragedy by Bill Cosgrove
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Fire Strikes the Chicago Stock Yards : A History of Flame and Folly in the Jungle by John F. Hogan
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Episode 703 - Points North: Mayor Daley, a Japanese Prince, and 18 Bluegill Dec 16, 2023

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In October 1960, Prince Akihito of Japan visited Chicago for 21 hours. Chicago Mayor Richard J. Daley presented the prince with a diplomatic gift: 18 bluegill. What happened next would change the underwater world of Japan forever.
Today's episode is from Points North, part of Northern Michigan's Interlochen Public Radio.
https://www.interlochenpublicradio.org/podcast/points-north
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Historic Photos of Christmas in Chicago by Rosemary K. Adams
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Chicago's State Street Christmas Parade (Images of America) by Robert P. Ledermann
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Santa is Coming to Chicago by Steve Smallman
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FROM THE ARCHIVES - Captain Santa and the Christmas Tree Ship Dec 02, 2023

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A holiday-themed episode from 2020.
In the late 1800s and early 1900s, a familiar sight near the river at Clark Street was the Rouse Simmons, also known as The Christmas Tree Ship, and its captain Herman Schuenemann, who became known to families in Chicago as Captain Santa.
During a trip from upper Michigan to Chicago in November of 1912, all of that changed.
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Historic Photos of Christmas in Chicago by Rosemary K. Adams
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Chicago's State Street Christmas Parade (Images of America) by Robert P. Ledermann
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Santa is Coming to Chicago by Steve Smallman
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HOLIDAY GIFTS:
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The Bean Christmas Ornament
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Hallmark NFL Chicago Bears Santa Sled Ornament
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Chicago History Podcast Art by John K. Schneider (angeleyesartjks AT gmail.com) and on https://www.instagram.com/angeleyesartjks/

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Episode 702 - The Most Beautiful Places in Chicago 2 with Geoffrey Baer Nov 25, 2023

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Geoffrey Baer is back on the podcast to discuss his latest program for WTTW - The Most Beautiful Places in Chicago 2.
https://interactive.wttw.com/most-beautiful-places-in-chicago
YouTube version: https://youtu.be/9q4JKk0t3bA?si=VZJNeWARwdqSaXri
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Affiliate Links (anything you buy - not just this stuff - through these links helps benefit the show at no additional cost to you):
Southern Exposure: The Overlooked Architecture of Chicago's South Side by Lee Bey
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Chicago Then and Now by Kathleen Maguire
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Chicago Architecture and Design by Jay Pridmore
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FROM THE ARCHIVES - CTA Derailment of 1977, The Nov 18, 2023

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With the recent crash of a Yellow Line L train into a snow removal machine (?), it seems like a good time to repost this episode.
In the 1970s, one of the most horrifying transportation accidents in Chicago happened downtown at the height of rush hour. This is the story of the CTA Derailment of 1977.
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BOOKS:
Chicago Transit: An Illustrated History by David M. Young
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The "L": The Development of Chicago's Rapid Transit System, 1888-1932 by Bruce G. Moffat
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Chicago By L: Touring the Neighborhoods with Geoffrey Baer (DVD)
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Muni Pals Chicago Transit Authority Wooden Toy Train
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El: The Chicago Transit Board Game
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Loop: The Elevated Card Game
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FROM THE ARCHIVES - The Teepee at Wrigley Field: Native American Protests in Chicago in the 1970s Nov 11, 2023

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In May of 1970, those driving past Wrigley Field were greeted with an unusual sight – a Native American teepee, surrounded by smaller tents and groups of people. This was just the beginning of the Native American protests in Chicago in the 1970s .
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Indian Metropolis: Native Americans in Chicago, 1945-75 by James B, LaGrand
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City Indian: Native American Activism in Chicago, 1893-1934 by Rosalyn LaPier and David R.M. Beck
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Land Too Good For Indians: Northern Indian Removal by John P. Bowes
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Kids Guide To Native American History, A: More than 50 Activities by Yvonne Wakim Dennis and Arlene Hirschfelder
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Episode 701 - Chicago's Ghoulish Past, Part 3 - Women Who Poison Oct 28, 2023

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Women and poison. Chicago's history is thick with these killers.
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Other Ghoulish Chicago stories:
Episode 525: Horror on the Northshore: The Murder of Valerie Percy
https://www.buzzsprout.com/1022374/11587443-episode-525-horror-on-the-north-shore-the-murder-of-valerie-percy
Episode 604: "Chicago" - The History Behind The Musical
https://www.buzzsprout.com/1022374/11990109-episode-604-chicago-the-history-behind-the-musical
Episode 524: Chicago's Ghoulish Past, Part 2
https://www.buzzsprout.com/1022374/11546790-episode-524-chicago-s-ghoulish-past-part-2
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TRUE CRIME:
Sinister Chicago by Kali Joy Cramer
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Murder & Mayhem in Chicago's Vice Districts by Troy Taylor
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Second City Sinners: True Crime From Historic Chicago's Deadly Streets by Jon Seidel
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Unknown Chicago Tales by John R. Schmidt
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The Gangs of Chicago: An Informal History of the Underworld by Herbert Asbury
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Murder and Mayhem on Chicago's South Side by Troy Taylor
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Chicago Connections - Lincoln Perry aka Stepin Fetchin Oct 14, 2023

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He was an African American performer who went from humble beginnings to become a huge movie star based on a single character, but soon his Hollywood standing, his personal fortunes, and his acceptance by fellow Blacks collapsed. Today we’re discussing Chicago Connections: Lincoln Perry, aka Stepin Fetchit.
The interview with DeWitt Fleming Jr. (Lincoln Perry in A Wonderful World) starts around the 22:47 mark.
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Episode 625 - Silas Jayne, The Killer Horseman with co-writer/co-host Anna Mason Sep 30, 2023

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This story of sibling rivalries, suicides, arson, missing heiresses, and murder was originally presented at a members-only event at the Chicago History Museum.
Thanks to my co-writer and co-host for this episode, Anna Mason (@annadotmason).
Anna's piece on the Medinah Temple for WBEZ's Curious City can be found here.
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Affiliate Links (anything you buy - not just this stuff - through these links helps benefit the show at no additional cost to you):
Unbridled Rage: A True Story of Organized Crime, Corruption, and Murder in Chicago by Gene O'Shea
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Suspect Identities: A History of Fingerprinting and Criminal Identification by Simon A. Cole
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Unmasked: My Life Solving America's Cold Cases by Paul Holes
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