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Category: From the Crazy Vault

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Remembering the 1929 McCrory Disaster: A Tragedy Forgotten in History
Remembering the forgotten McCrory disaster of Nov. 21, 1929, which claimed 6 lives and injured dozens in D.C. history.
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Wolf Escapes From Zoo, Terrorizing Cleveland Park
What a horrifying story about a wolf escaping from the National Zoo.
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Apartment Building Collapses in Dupont Circle
Part of the building at 20th and P St. near Dupont Circle came crashing down during construction in 1908. Two workmen were killed and several more came close to meeting a horrific end.
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Man Crashes Truck Through White House Gate
Doyle Allen Hicks wanted to warn President Kennedy of the coming communist takeover of the country. Find out what happened after he drove his truck through the White House gates.
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Pilot Lands Plane on Street Next to West Wing
In 1910, a British pilot landed his small biplane between the West Wing and the Old Executive Office Bulding. He stopped for lunch with some dignitaries and then took off. Read the incredible story.
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Prohibition Officer Charged With Drunk Driving
A rum squad MPD prohibition officer was arrested for drunk driving in 1930. Isn't it ironic? Don't you think?
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About Brookland's Cuckold's Delight Subdivision
Why would somebody name a subdivision Cuckold's Delight? We can't think of a more bizarre name considering what it means.
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World War I "Bombing" on Wisconsin Ave.
Many don't know the extent of chemical warfare experiment that were conducted on and near the university grounds during the Great War.
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Arthur G. Barkley's Desperate Attempt at Ransom: The Story of the 1970 TWA Hijacking
The story of the 1970 TWA hijacking by unemployed bread truck driver Arthur G. Barkley who, distraught from losing his job, attempted to ransom the plane for $100 million. Learn about the hijacking and heroic actions of the plane's captain!
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Autumn 1984, Washington DC – The Best and Worst of Traffic: The Story of Dr. John O. Nestor
In the autumn of 1984, The Washington Post published a story about a Beltway accident that launched a discussion that continued for months. In response, Dr. John O. Nestor set off a heated debate about driving etiquette that still echoes today. Read our story about the doctor and his left-lane strategy!
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"Quite Pretty" Wife Catches "Fairly Good-Looking" Husband With Woman
A scene was enacted just outside the National Theatre last night at the close of the performance which may end in a divorce suit.
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Congressman and Exotic Dancer Sex Scandal
To sum up the bizarre incident, the Congressman's Lincoln was pulled over the the wee hours around 2 a.m. by the park police near the Tidal Basin. Apparently Mills' nose was bleeding and he had scratches on his face.
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The Hot Summer of 1952: UFOs Spotted Over DC
In the hot summer of 1952, there were numerous sightings of up to seven lights floating around the night sky in DC, including over the Capitol Building. Radar operators saw strange blips on their screens, and flight attendants on planes approaching National Airport saw lights above their plane.
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U.S. Intelligence Community Allowed Gay Employee to Keep Job and Security Clearance in 1980
In a landmark decision in 1980, the U.S. intelligence community allowed a middle-level employe at the National Security Agency to keep his job and security clearances despite being found to be a homosexual. Read on to learn more about this important decision.
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Bizarre and Disappointing: 1977 Marijuana and Liquor Smuggling by School Kids in Montgomery County
This is an unexpected and disappointing article from 1977 about a small group of sixth-graders and a third-grader smuggling marijuana and liquor to and from an elementary school in Montgomery County. Interestingly, this occurred just a few days before President Jimmy Carter implemented the first civil rights law for people with disabilities.
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The Town Fathers of Takoma Park, MD Declared War on Wild Guns, Wild Dogs and Wild Weeds in 1928
In 1928, the town fathers of Takoma Park, MD declared war on wild guns, wild dogs and wild weeds. Read on to learn more about the heave-handed way they brought order to this quiet little town!
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The Unsolved Mystery of Allen L. Adams, the Soldier Who Disappeared from Ft. Myer in 1967
The story of Allen L. Adams, a soldier who dropped out of high school in 1965 to join the Army and was stationed at Ft. Myer in 1967. He disappeared one night, and it wasn't until 1996 that his body was found in an abandoned building. This unsolved mystery still remains.
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Exploring the Lost Neighborhood of Herring Hill in Georgetown, DC
Take a journey through the lost neighborhood of Herring Hill in Georgetown, DC. Learn about its history, including an interesting story from 1895, and explore the area with a Google Map!
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Walter Bryant Hurls Beer Bottle and Edward Bryant Uses Pistol: A Wild 1908 Washington Post Story
Digging up a wild story from The Washington Post in 1908, read about the beer bottle-hurling and pistol-wielding fight between Walter and Edward Bryant. Who do you think won?
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The Wild Story of Good Old Tom Brady's Murder During Prohibition
During the depths of Prohibition, an infamous crime was committed in a near-beer saloon in Washington, DC. Read the wild story of Good Old Tom Brady's murder, as told in December 1924 edition of The Washington Post.
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The Fascinating Story of a Prohibition Raid Gone Wrong in Adams Morgan
Discover the amazing, true story of a Prohibition raid gone wrong in Adams Morgan in 1928. Read about the raid and subsequent legal problems for the proprietors, the trial, and the bizarre disappearance of a jury member!
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Uncovering the Opium Den Scene in Washington DC in 1894
Discover the shocking reality of opium dens in Washington DC in 1894, as uncovered by The Washington Post. Learn more about the notorious 'Gypsy Joe' and 'Matinee Charley' who frequented the dens.
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Tragic Drowning of a Young Man on the Potomac River, 1908
This is a sad story of a young man, John McCalip, who was drowned in the Potomac River in 1908, shortly before his wedding. Read more about his story and the tragedy that happened on the river.
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Smallpox Patient Roams the Streets of Georgetown and D.C. in 1881
Take a step back in time to 1881 Washington D.C. and Georgetown, where a smallpox patient was roaming the streets and spreading infection. Read the story of how it was dealt with in this article from The Washington Post.
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The Mysterious Wild Man of Tenleytown in 1894
Read about the mysterious wild man of Tenleytown in 1894. Descriptions of the individual were lacking, but sightings of a half-nude crazy man were happening across the area. Find out what happened when the wild man walked into the police station!
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The 1927 Tornado that Devastated D.C. and Alexandria
On November 17th, 1927 a large tornado ripped through the area, destroying over 200 homes in D.C. and 300 structures in Alexandria. Read about the damages and see the photos from library of Congress on Ghosts of DC.
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Lost Children Will Be Taken to the Lion House
Here is an amusing (though I don’t believe intentionally) sign that was posted in the National Zoo. The photo was taken in May of 1943. This reminds me of the crazy post we did a while back on the woman who jumped into the lion pit. sign at the National Zoo Source: Library of Congress Speaking of lions, how about some history behind the lion statues in the opening credits to House of...
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The Incredible Story of Melvin Jones, Five Years Old, Who Punctured His Heart with Scissors
Read the incredible story of Melvin Jones, five years old, who punctured his heart with scissors in 1925. Learn how his life was saved by a doctor and let this be a lesson to all children out there. Don't run with scissors!
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Two Bandits Killed on Union Station Train by Marines
Washington Times headline November 23rd 1921 What a headline to draw you in. I couldn’t resist, so I read this piece from The Washington Times, printed on November 23rd, 1921 (also the day the Sheppard-Towner Act was signed to provide federal funding for maternity and child care). Morris Sheppard, but the way, was the guy that authored the 18th Amendment (i.e., the one that started Probibition). Train...
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The Tragic 1969 Shooting on 13th Street in Washington, DC and the Return of Apollo 10
On May 26th, 1969, an argument over a dog ended in tragedy with the fatal shooting of William Fields Jr. in 13th Street NW Washington, DC. On the same day, Apollo 10 returned to Earth after NASA's final test runs for the mission to the moon.
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