Did you
know:
On this day October 8
in 1871, flames spark in the Chicago barn of Patrick and Catherine O'Leary,
igniting a two-day blaze that kills between 200 and 300 people, destroys 17,450
buildings, leaves 100,000 homeless and causes an estimated $200 million (in
1871 dollars; $3 billion in 2007 dollars) in damages.
And thus started a huge rebuilding and real estate boom. Makes one wonder about Racine . . .
ReplyDeleteNow of course you know that at the same time a fire was in Peshigo WI which killed more people and burned more stuff. There was a train headed to Peshigo with supplies and help but was turned around to go to the CHicago fire.
ReplyDeleteAnd Choo-Choo Charlie was the engineer......All part of the history of "burnin down the house".
ReplyDeleteYou're right about that Sassa, Chicago had a bigger name the Peshigo
ReplyDeleteSassa is our history specialist.
ReplyDeleteI have read the book on the Peshigo Fire many many years ago... What's eerie about it isn't far from were I go up north to.
ReplyDeleteIt has a great muesum there and I saw the river where many went to and died. It was also mentioned in the movie Message in a bottle. (i think) My sonlives in the area. Also in Nat Geo mag it was on the cover and story inside. I emailed them reminding them of Peshigo and they responded like Ser said..Chicago had a bigger name.
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