Photo Credit Double Life of William Brodie In the late 18th Century, a man named William Brodie was greatly respected in the city of Edinburgh, Scotland. Brodie hobnobbed with society and other uppercrust folks of the city. Known citywide as Deacon Brodie, wherever there was a prestigious event, he was inevitably there, holding court. […]
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Category: curiosities
A Light Bulb Burning For 115 Years?
Photo Credit A Light Bulb Burning For 115 Years? In a Livermore, California firehouse, hangs a bare bulb, now known as The Centennial Light. It’s burned almost continuously for 115 years. Impossible? Yes it is now, but it wasn’t when the bulb was originally made by Shelby Electric. True, it doesn’t shine as brightly now […]
Mystery of Disappearing Cattle
Cattle on the range. Photo Credit Northeastern Nevada Ranchers The ranchers who raise cattle for a living in Northeastern Nevada around Elko, Humboldt, Eureka, Lander, White Pine and Nye, began noticing something strange happening to their herds. Every day or so, the herd would be one or two short. Now, if you know anything about […]
Dying To Be Healthy
Dying To Be Healthy In 1910, Earl Edward Erdman, a City of Seattle Civil Engineer had a good life. Still, he had a few aches and pains and became convinced that through the process of fasting, bodily toxins would be removed. Erdman was dying to be healthy, he wanted happiness and a long rewarding life. […]
The Celestial Bed
The Temple of Health, Royal Terrace of the Adelphi In 1781 London, childless couples paid to spend a night together in the Celestial Bed in the Temple of Health, Royal Terrace of the Adelphi. The fee ranged up to 500 pounds, payable to one Dr. John Graham, a physician from Edinburgh, Scotland. He was a […]
The Story of Arlington
The Story of Arlington During the Civil War many southern landowners lost the rights to their home and property, due to a law enacted by the Union Congress that allowed the North to levy taxes on property that fell into their hands. Since the landowners were unable to cross lines to pay their taxes, the land […]
Disappearing Act
Photo Credit The Mystery Begins Jean Elizabeth Spangler, a young aspiring actress, dancer and model lived with her mother, a five year old daughter, her brother and sister-in-law on Wilshire Boulevard in Los Angeles, California. Jean hadn’t made it in Hollywood yet, but it didn’t stop her from trying. She still pursued “the dream” American […]
What Really Killed Napoleon?
Photo Credit Prelude: In 2007, National Geographic published an article stating that Napoleon Bonaparte’s manner of death was solved. But was it really? Here are the facts of the case for you to judge. Who Was This Man? First, a bit of who he was. We all know that he was France’s first Emperor, but […]
Killed By A Bird
Photo Credit Belying the beauty in the photo above, can you believe someone could be killed by a bird? Have you ever heard of such a thing? What do you know about a bird named Cassowary? This is a tale you may not believe, but it’s well documented. Cassowaries are big flightless birds, weighing […]
Two Mysterious Deaths In Musical History
Photo Credit Cass Elliott aka “Mama” Cass Mysterious deaths in musical history are far more common than you might think. There is even a 27 Club known to all as a list of performers who died, mostly under mysterious circumstances, at the age of 27. But while researching this fascinating topic, I discovered something even […]