In the summer of 1944, as a devastating polio outbreak swept across North Carolina, hospitals were overwhelmed and children were dying. But in Hickory, a small city already stretched thin by World War II, something extraordin...
Nearly every American town has the same heart-in-crisis story: a once-bustling Main Street hollowed out by big-box stores, sprawl, and online shopping. In this episode, Shane zooms out to look at the nationwide Main Street mo...
World War trenches, inflatable splints, and airborne operating rooms—this finale races from post-Nightingale training schools to the helicopter pads of today. Host Shane Waters uncovers how pioneers like Mary Seacole , Clara ...
When war-torn wards near the Bosphorus Strait reeked of sewage and despair, Florence Nightingale arrived with 38 nurses, a ledger, and one stubborn oil-lamp. In today’s Hometown History, Shane Waters traces how Nightingale’s ...
Long before starched whites and stethoscopes, nursing grew out of medieval convents, overcrowded workhouses, and disease-ridden wards where desperate women labored with little training and even less respect. In this debut epi...
In this episode of Hometown History , we explore the chilling and unsolved mystery of the Sodder children, who vanished on Christmas Eve, 1945, after a fire destroyed their home in Fayetteville, West Virginia. Despite the dev...
In this episode of Hometown History, we dive into one of the most intense scientific rivalries of the 19th century—the infamous "Bone Wars." Othniel Charles Marsh and Edward Drinker Cope, two leading paleontologists, began as colleagues but quickly turned into bitter enemies. What started as a comp…
In this episode of Hometown History, we explore the eerie and tragic events surrounding one of Hollywood’s most iconic films, Rebel Without a Cause. While celebrated for its portrayal of youthful rebellion, the film is remembered for more than its performances—it’s also linked to a string of untime…
In this episode of Hometown History, we uncover the rise and fall of the Psychiana Movement, one of the most unusual religious movements in American history. Founded in 1929 by Frank Bruce Robinson, a man with a troubled past, Psychiana promised its followers the power to communicate directly with …
In this episode of Hometown History, we uncover the mysterious disappearance of Judge Joseph Force Crater, an event that captured the nation’s attention in 1930 and coined the phrase “to pull a Crater.” Judge Crater’s sudden vanishing after a dinner in New York City sparked one of the most baffling…
In this episode of Hometown History, we dive into the surprising story of how a monumental achievement in telecommunications catapulted Tiffany & Co. to fame. In 1858, Charles Tiffany seized on the success of the first transa...
In this episode of Hometown History, we delve into one of the most fascinating literary mysteries of the 20th century: the disappearance of Ambrose Bierce. A celebrated writer, Civil War veteran, and the sharp wit behind The Devil’s Dictionary, Bierce vanished without a trace in 1913 while journeyi…
In this episode of Hometown History, Shane reveals the secret story of the Greenbrier Resort's hidden underground bunker, built during the Cold War to house Congress in case of a nuclear attack, and how the local town kept this massive secret for over 30 years.
In this intriguing episode of Hometown History , we unravel the tale of one of America’s most audacious cons: The Great Diamond Hoax of 1872. What began as a whispered rumor of hidden diamonds in the vast American wilderness ...
In this episode of Hometown History , we delve into the enigma of Coral Castle, a mysterious structure hidden in the sunny shores of Florida. Built single-handedly by Edward Leedskalnin, a man of modest stature, this architec...
In this episode of Hometown History , we journey into the life of Paul Revere, not just as the legendary rider who warned of the British invasion, but as the Founding Father of Propaganda. Through his craftsmanship and powerf...
In this chilling episode of Hometown History , we journey back to the fog-laden streets of 1930s Cleveland, where the shadow of the infamous Cleveland Torso Murderer loomed large over the city. From the grim discovery of the ...
Welcome back to Hometown History. In today’s intriguing episode, we delve into the shadowy world of secret societies. Often shrouded in mystery and conspiracy, these organizations evoke images of clandestine meetings and sini...
Welcome back to Hometown History. In this episode, we delve into one of America's most troubling chapters: the internment of Japanese Americans during World War II. Following the attack on Pearl Harbor, over 120,000 Japanese ...
In this chilling episode of Hometown History, we delve into the dark tale of Jesse Pomeroy, America's youngest serial killer. Born in 1859 in Charlestown, Massachusetts, Jesse's early life was marked by accusations of animal ...
In this episode of Hometown History, we explore the Rat Utopia Experiment by John Calhoun in the 1970s, which examined the effects of overpopulation in a controlled environment. Known as Universe 25, this study provided mice ...
Today, we're diving into the enigmatic disappearance of the U.S.S. Cyclops, a naval mystery that has baffled sailors, historians, and explorers for over a century. This colossal ship, launched in 1910, had a distinguished car...
In today's episode, we delve into the fascinating story of the Fox Sisters, whose playful pranks in the mid-19th century inadvertently ignited the Spiritualist movement. From a small cabin in Hydesville, New York, Kate and Ma...
Welcome back, friends, to Hometown History. Today, we're sharing three heartwarming tales that highlight the kindness, creativity, and community spirit in America's history. First, we explore the story of Mildred and Patty Hi...
