Episodes

May 6, 2024

140: The First Light: Charles Brush's Lighting System

In this episode of Hometown History, we explore the legacy of Charles Brush, a pioneering inventor whose contributions predate even Edison's lightbulb. Brush's work with arc lighting and dynamos in the late 19th century brou…
April 29, 2024

139: The Truth About May Day

In today's Hometown History episode, we explore the true essence of May Day, an emblem of workers' rights and social justice, born from the strife of the late 19th-century Industrial Revolution. Workers faced daunting challe…
April 22, 2024

138: America's Greatest Conspiracy Theory: The Disappearing Ship

In this episode of Hometown History, we unravel the enigma of The Philadelphia Experiment, a story shrouded in mystery and conspiracy against the backdrop of World War II. At the center is the USS Eldridge, alleged to posses…
April 15, 2024

137: Battle of Alcatraz

In today's episode of Hometown History, we dive deep into the turbulent waters surrounding Alcatraz Island, unearthing the harrowing saga of the Battle of Alcatraz. This tale, far removed from its Hollywood depictions and vi…
April 8, 2024

136: The Female Pirates of the Caribbean

Welcome to another episode of Hometown History, where we dive deep into the lesser-known corridors of our past, bringing to light the stories that shaped our world in ways we seldom acknowledge. Today, we're setting sail on …
April 1, 2024

135: The Whiskey Ring of 1875

In the shadowy corridors of post-Civil War America, the Whiskey Ring scandal of 1875 emerges as a riveting saga of corruption, intrigue, and the battle for justice. This episode of Hometown History transports listeners to St…
March 25, 2024

134: The Real Stories of Project Blue Book

In today's episode of Hometown History, we pull back the curtain on the secretive Project Blue Book, an effort by the United States Air Force to explore the unknown: unidentified flying objects (UFOs), from 1952 to 1969. Tuc…
March 18, 2024

133: The Winchester Mystery House

In this episode we delve into the enigmatic world of the Winchester Mystery House, a sprawling Victorian mansion in San Jose, California, shrouded in intrigue and lore. Constructed by Sarah Winchester, the widow of gun magna…
March 11, 2024

Illuminating the Past: A Time Travel Tour of Downtown Wabash, Indiana

Welcome to a special bonus episode of Hometown History, where I'm doing something a bit different. Join me for a historical guided audio tour, an immersive journey through the heart of a city that shines bright with tales of…
March 11, 2024

132: The Underground Railroad

In this episode of Hometown History, we dive into the heart of The Underground Railroad, revealing the struggle for freedom by those enslaved in the United States. Through stories of harrowing escapes and the individuals who…
March 4, 2024

131: The Lost Colony of Roanoke

In today's episode of Hometown History, we delve into the Lost Colony of Roanoke, a mystery that has puzzled historians and enthusiasts for centuries. This story takes us back to the late 16th century, when a group of Englis…
Feb. 26, 2024

130: The Monkey Trial: A Nation Divided

Hello friend, today we are exploring the Scopes ‘Monkey’ trial, a riveting legal battle that erupted in the small town of Dayton, Tennessee, during the sweltering summer of 1925. This episode delves into the heart of a natio…
Feb. 19, 2024

129: The Leopold and Loeb Case

In this episode we delve into the sinister world of Nathan Leopold and Richard Loeb, two prodigiously intelligent young men from affluent backgrounds who believed themselves to be above the law. Their story unfolds in 1924 C…
Feb. 12, 2024

128: Hollywood Used to be in Florida

In this intriguing episode we uncover a forgotten chapter of the American film industry that places Jacksonville, Florida, at the heart of early 20th-century movie-making. Before the glitz and glamour settled in California, …
Feb. 5, 2024

127: The Teapot Dome Scandal

In this episode, we dive deep into the murky waters of the Teapot Dome Scandal, a pivotal moment in American history that epitomizes the intersection of politics, greed, and corruption in the early 20th century. As we peel b…
Jan. 29, 2024

126: Mystery from the Sky: The Kentucky Meat Shower

Imagine a quiet afternoon turning bizarre as chunks of meat rain down from the blue sky. On March 3, 1876, the residents of Bath County, Kentucky, experienced just that, in an event that would come to be known as the Kentuck…
Jan. 22, 2024

125: In the Shadow of Power: Edith Galt, the Secret President

Whispers of a 'petticoat government' reverberated through the corridors of the White House during Woodrow Wilson's presidency, but how much truth was there to the rumors? It is said that for a time, the most powerful nation …
Jan. 15, 2024

124: The Two Faces of Hannah Duston: Heroine or Horror?

They say one person's hero is another's villain, and the tale of Hannah Duston embodies this adage with chilling precision. At the dawn of American lore, her story emerges from the shadows of 1697—a frontier mother's ordeal …
Jan. 1, 2024

123: Secrets of the Met Museum, Part 02: Thievery at the Met

Imagine standing in the opulent rooms of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, where priceless works of human achievement reside. It’s a sanctum of culture and history, where the pulse of the past beats strong. But what happens wh…
Dec. 18, 2023

122: Secrets of the Met Museum, Part 01: The Humble First Home

You might walk the grand halls of the Metropolitan Museum of Art today, surrounded by the splendor of centuries-old artifacts and the whispers of history echoing off marble walls. But once upon a time, the Met had a far more…
Dec. 4, 2023

121: Secrets from WW2, Part 03: The Woman Who Won WW2

The saying goes that behind every successful mission, there's a story of an unsung hero whose bravery defies imagination. In this chapter of Hometown History, we turn the spotlight on a figure whose cunning and courage chang…
Nov. 20, 2023

120: Secrets From WW2, Part 02: Unveiling Project Sunshine

It's said that truth is often stranger—and more chilling—than fiction, a sentiment that finds its proof in the covert operations of World War II. In this episode of Hometown History, we peel back the veil on one of the war's…
Nov. 6, 2023

119: Secrets from WW2, Part 01: The Tale of the Night Witches

Dive into a lesser-told tale of World War II heroism that soars beyond traditional battle stories—this is the legend of the Night Witches, an all-female squadron of the Soviet Air Force. These brave women took to the skies i…
Oct. 24, 2023

Maze of Secrets

...1 eerie corn maze... ...9 haunting figures... ...9 spine-tingling tales... ...Will YOU find your way out? This holiday season, step into a labyrinth of shadows and suspense with Shane Waters as your guide. In this chillin…