These stories will require a second reading because they’re a little nuts.
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.
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!
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.
Take a look back at the amusing sign posted at the National Zoo in 1943 and the history behind the lion statues in the opening credits of House of Cards. Source: Library of Congress.
In 1921, the Secretary of Treasury, Edwin Denby, issued a ‘shoot to kill’ order to the Marines on a train leaving Union Station in Washington. Read the full story here!
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.
Read the story of Queen, the wild dog of Potomac Park who was slain in 1913. Learn about Queen’s reign of terror over pedestrians and motor car drivers, and the efforts to shoot her that ultimately failed.
In an incredible story of a mother’s dedication, The Washington Post reported in 1956 on the birth of Patti Sue Williams on Key Bridge in Fairfax. Read the article excerpts and find out whether you know this brave woman!
Digging through old newspaper archives and the U.S. Census, uncover the tragic tale of Rudolph and Mary Scheitlin that was printed in The Baltimore Sun in 1905. Learn the story of their rocky marriage, her dalliances and the fateful night that ended in murder.
We came across an amusing headline from 1921 about a noise complaint against the Delta Tau Delta Fraternity in Georgetown. Times never change do they? Read on to find out more about this ‘suggestive songs’ noise complaint!
