Today's famous date is one that made headlines around the world on February 16, 1959. It was the day Fidel Castro became leader of Cuba. Yes, it was a big deal at the time, but nobody had any idea that it was something that would end up lasting for many decades. What else was making headlines on such a significant day?

SOURCES

See Additional History Facebook group for a list of all sources used in this episode.

Today's episode is a mini episode. It's about a man that some think was only a legend, but in reality, he was as real as you and me. Today I'll tell you all about The Leatherman of New York...the good and the bad.

SOURCES

• “About.” The Leatherman’s Loop, November 29, 2021. https://leathermansloop.org/about/.

• Bennett, Jon Scott. “The Leatherman: An American Vagabond (Video).” YouTube. Accessed January 8, 2025. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W-ujARKkDs0.

• “Leatherman (Vagabond).” Wikipedia, December 27, 2024. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leatherman_(vagabond).

• “A Little of Everything.” The Port Chester Journal (Port Chester, New York), April 4, 1889. www.newspapers.com.

• “The Old Leather Man.” The Port Chester Journal (Port Chester, New York), February 17, 1870. www.newspapers.com.

• “The Old Leather Man.” The Port Chester Journal (Port Chester, New York), June 7, 1888. www.newspapers.com.

• “The Old Leather Man.” The Watertown History Museum. Accessed January 8, 2025. https://watertownhistorymuseum.org/the-old-leather-man/.

• “A Strange Character.” The Port Chester Journal (Port Chester, New York), February 10, 1870. www.newspapers.com.

• Zucker, Dave. “Who Was Westchester’s Mysterious and Legendary Leatherman?” Westchester Magazine, October 30, 2023. https://westchestermagazine.com/life-style/leatherman/.

• “[Opening Line] The Death Was Announced the Other Day of the Old Leather Man...” The Buffalo Courier (Buffalo, New York), March 27, 1889. www.newspapers.com.

SOUND SOURCES

• Al Jolson. “I’ll Say She Does.” www.pixabay.com/music.

• Lucille Hegamin and The Dixie Daisies. “Cold Winter Blues.” www.pixabay.com/music.

• Sophie Tucker. “Reuben Rag.” www.pixabay.com/music.

August 4, 1892, isn't a date most people would know just from hearing it, but I guarantee you've heard the story of what happened on that day.

Today's episode is about the murders of Andrew and Abby Borden. Was their daughter Lizzie innocent, or did she get away with murder? I've also got three great additional history stories for you from the same day. Don't miss them!

SOURCES

• “Advertisement (Nampa Military Academy - Page 2) .” The Weiser Semi-Weekly Sentinel (Weiser, Idaho), August 4, 1892. www.newspapers.com.

• “Alice Mitchell.” Wikipedia, December 7, 2024. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alice_Mitchell.

• Clarey, Brian. “The Murder, the Fire and the Hanging.” Triad City Beat, November 4, 2015. https://triad-city-beat.com/the-murder-the-fire-and-the-hanging/.

• “Dare the Desperado to Fight.” The World (New York City, New York), August 4, 1892. www.newspapers.com.

• “A Dastardly Plot.” Fall River Evening News ( Fall River, Massachusetts), April 24, 1893. www.newspapers.com.

• Ford, Christian Andrew. “The History of Lizzie Borden: Burying the Axe.” James Madison University. Accessed December 2, 2024. https://commons.lib.jmu.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1725&context=honors201019.
• “He Killed Ellen.” The Western Sentinel (Winston-Salem, North Carolina), February 8, 1894. www.newspapers.com.

• “If It Is So, Then the Question, Who Did It, And Why?” Boston Post (Boston, Massachusetts), August 4, 1892. www.newspapers.com.

• The Kingston Trio – Poor Ellen Smith lyrics | genius lyrics. Accessed January 8, 2025. https://genius.com/The-kingston-trio-poor-ellen-smith-lyrics.

• Lizzie Borden Warps and Wefts. “The Cable House Murders - Coincidence or Something More?” YouTube. Accessed December 10, 2024. https://youtu.be/s-VTNg_Ycb4?si=9rQ2FczbWTgrCyVv.

• “Lizzie Borden.” Wikipedia, November 30, 2024.https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lizzie_Borden#:~:text=No%20one%20else%20was%20charged,of%20her%20older%20sister%2C%20Emma.&text=Fall%20River%2C%20Massachusetts%2C%20U.S.

• Magazine, Smithsonian. “How Lizzie Borden Got Away with Murder.” Smithsonian.com. Accessed December 2, 2024.https://www.smithsonianmag.com/history/how-lizzie-borden-got-away-with-murder-180972707/.

• “Mitchell On the Stand.” The Girard Press (Girard, Kansas), August 4, 1892. www.newspapers.com.

• “Murder Most Foul: Andrew J. Borden and His Wife Horribly Butchered at Their Home.” Fall River Daily Evening News (Fall River, Massachusetts), August 4, 1892. www.newspapers.com.

• “Paris Green: It Caused the Deaths at Salisbury Beach.” The Boston Globe (Boston, Massachusetts), August 20, 1892. www.newspapers.com.

• “Peter DeGraff Guilty.” The Union Republican (Winston-Salem, North Carolina), August 17, 1893. www.newspapers.com.

• “Poor Ellen Smith.” Wikipedia, October 23, 2024.https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Poor_Ellen_Smith.

• Shelley, and Kate Lavender. “The Cable House Murders, July 20, 1892 : Poison!” Lizzie Borden : Warps & Wefts, July 26, 2022. https://lizziebordenwarpsandwefts.com/2022/07/26/the-cable-house-murders-poison/.

• “The World At Large: The South.” The Pratt Republican (Pratt, Kansas), August 4, 1892. www.newspapers.com.

SOUND SOURCES

• Al Jolson. “I’ll Say She Does.” www.pixabay.com/music.

• Lucille Hegamin and The Dixie Daisies. “Cold Winter Blues.” www.pixabay.com/music.

• Sophie Tucker. “Reuben Rag.” www.pixabay.com/music.

On March 31, 1918, the United States did something they'd never done before. They moved their clocks. Yes, it was the first time Daylight Savings Time was observed. Why did it start and why is it still going? And, what else was making headlines on the same day sleep cycles all over the country got a little messed up?

SOUND SOURCES

• “Advertisement: Idaho Power Company.” The Idaho Statesman (Boise, Idaho), March 31, 1918. ww.newspapers.com.
• “Ancestry.Com: Drafts, Censuses, Divorce Records.” 1940 United States federal census - ancestry.com. Accessed October 10, 2024.https://www.ancestry.com/discoveryui-content/view/425845:2442.
• “Capt. Albert Barr Now In Camp Hospital.” The Virginian-Pilot (Norfolk, Virginia), April 30, 1918. www.newspapers.com.
• “Capt. at Sevier Lived On Berries.” The State (Columbia, South Carolina), May 10, 1918. www.newspapers.com.
• “Capt. Barr of Camp Sevier Is Missing.” The Commercial Appeal (Memphis, Tennessee), March 31, 1918. www.newspapers.com.
• “Collyer Murder Due To Quarrel.” The Saline Evening Journal (Salina, Kansas), March 21, 1918. www.newspapers.com.
• “Daylight Saving Time.” Wikipedia, October 8, 2024.https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Daylight_saving_time#:~:text=DST%20was%20first%20implemented%20in%20the%20US%20with%20the%20Standard,hours%20to%20conserve%20energy%20resources.
• “Daylight-Saving Law, Effective Today, Will Add HugeSums to Our War Chest.” Los Angeles Sunday Times (Los Angeles, California), March 31, 1918. www.newspapers.com.
• Fore, Samuel K. “Camp Sevier.” South Carolina Encyclopedia, July 20, 2022. https://www.scencyclopedia.org/sce/entries/camp-sevier/.
• “Gets Light Punishment.” The Atchison Daily Globe (Atchison, Kansas), April 1, 1918. www.newspapers.com.
• “Girl Fires Fatal Shot.” The Logan Republican (Logan, Kansas), February 14, 1918. www.newspapers.com.
• “Jury Disagrees In Madeline Briggs Case.” The Daily Guard (Council Grove, Kansas), March 25, 1918. www.newspapers.com.
• “Jury Has Briggs Case Again.” The Kansas City Star (Kansas City, Missouri), March 31, 1918. www.newspapers.com.
• “Madeline Briggs Murder Trial.” The Oakley Graphic (Oakley, Kansas), March 22, 1918. www.newspapers.com.
• “Madeline Briggs Sentenced to Pen.” The Daily Republican (Burlington, Kansas), April 15, 1918. www.newspapers.com.
• “Mrs. Briggs of Collyer Dies.” The Kansas City Times (Kansas City, Missouri), May 4, 1918. www.newspapers.com.
• “Says Hun Spies Tried Murder.” The Brooklyn Daily Times (Brooklyn, New York), April 2, 1918. www.newspapers.com.
• “She Shot to Kill.” Abilene Daily Chronicle (Abilene, Kansas), January 29, 1918. www.newspapers.com.
• “Spy Story Not Truth, Woman Now Declares.” TheBuffalo News (Buffalo, New York), April 3, 1918. www.newspapers.com.
• “Why Do We Have Daylight Saving Time?” History.com.Accessed October 10, 2024. https://www.history.com/news/why-do-we-have-daylight-saving-time.
• “Woman Arrested As Spy Admits Act of Air Espionage.” The Arizona Republic (Phoenix, Arizona), March 31, 1918. www.newspapers.com.

SOUND SOURCES

• Al Jolson. “I’ll Say She Does.” www.pixabay.com/music.

• Lucille Hegamin and The Dixie Daisies. “Cold Winter Blues.” www.pixabay.com/music.
• Sophie Tucker. “Reuben Rag.” www.pixabay.com/music.

It's here! The 10th Random Clippings episode! This is where you get to here short stories I've randomly found in newspapers that don't have anything to do with anything else. It's fun. I promise.

SOURCES

• Associated Press. “Mom Charged In Bayou Death.” The Daily Oklahoman (Oklahoma City, Oklahoma), April 20, 1986. www.newspapers.com.
• “Boys Dig to Treasure Trove--And It’s Sweet but Illegal.” The Los Angeles Times (Los Angeles, California), June 15, 1948. www.newspapers.com.
• “Boys Need Ride To N.Y. So Flag Down Train.” Santa Barbara News-Press (Santa Barbara, California), December 31, 1958. www.newspapers.com.
• “Front Page.” Jamestown Weekly Alert (Jamestown, North Dakota), January 27, 1880. www.newspapers.com.
• “Girl in Trance Seven Days to Restore Sight.” The Post-Standard (Syracuse, New York), January 30, 1911. www.newspapers.com.
• “The Joke That Cost a Life.” The Brandon Union (Brandon, Vermont), May 29, 1875. www.newspapers.com.
• “Piece of Pie: $70.10.” The Daily News (New York, New York), June 3, 1943. www.newspapers.com.
• “Poor Margaret Shipley.” The Evening Review (East Liverpool, Ohio), February 2, 1911. www.newspapers.com.
• Ruiz, Rosanna. “Woman Recalls Drowning Kids in 1986.” Chron, July 3, 2001. https://www.chron.com/news/houston-texas/article/woman-recalls-drowning-kids-in-1986-2055547.php.
• “Spanker Breaks Arm.” Jackson’s Hole Courier (Jackson, Wyoming), February 14, 1929. www.newspapers.com.
• “Those Speedy Passes - That’s Why the Lady Was a Vamp.” The Miami News (Miami, Florida), October 22, 1962. www.newspapers.com.
• “Woman Who Threw Six Children in Bayou Gets Probation - UPI Archives.” UPI, June 19, 1987. https://www.upi.com/Archives/1987/06/19/Woman-who-threw-six-children-in-bayou-gets-probation/9409551073600/.

SOUND SOURCES

• Al Jolson. “I’ll Say She Does.” www.pixapay.com/music 

• InspectorJ. “Bell, Candle Damper A (H4n).wav.” November 17, 2017. www.freesound.org.
• Lucille Hegamin and The Dixie Daisies. “Cold Winter Blues.” www.pixabay.com/music.

On March 18, 1925, a massive tornado (that would become known as the Tri-State Tornado) touched down in parts of Missouri, Illinois, and Indiana. It would go down in history as the world's deadliest tornado. What else was making headlines on such a horrible day?

SOURCES

• “Advertisement: Pacific Gas and Electric Company (Page 2).” Daily Gazette (Martinez, California), March 18, 1925. www.newspapers.com.
• “Annapolis, Missouri.” Wikipedia, May 11, 2024.https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Annapolis,_Missouri.
• “Arrest Neponset Man As Jack the Hugger.” The Boston Globe (Boston, Massachusetts), February 3, 1925. www.newspapers.com.
• Associated Press. “Rules Shepherd Is McClintock’s Heir.” The Decatur Daily Review (Decatur, Illinois), October 28, 1926. www.newspapers.com.
• Blakemore, Erin. “The Deadliest Tornado in US History Blindsided the Midwest in 1925.” History.com. Accessed October 8, 2024.https://www.history.com/news/deadliest-tornado-tri-state-1925-united-states.
• “Chronology of McClintock Murder Case.” Streator Daily Free Press (Streator, Illinois), May 26, 1925. www.newspapers.com.
• Gibbons, Roy J. “Free Press Reporter Spends Day In Jail With Shepherd.” Streator Daily Free Press (Streator, Illinois), May 26, 1925. www.newspapers.com.
• “He Hugged Two At Once.” The Tribune (Scranton, Pennsylvania), June 29, 1925. www.newspapers.com.
• “Home Folk Will Not Believe Mrs. Shepherd a ‘Lady MacBeth.’” Streator Daily Free Press (Streator, Illinois), May 26, 1995. www.newspapers.com.
• “Jack the Hugger.” The Evening Courier (Camden, New Jersey), December 15, 1925. www.newspapers.com.
• “Law Forges Strong Chain Around William Shepherd Accused of Murdering Last of McClintock Family to Get Great Fortune Which Some Say Carries Curse.” The Brooklyn Eagle (Brooklyn, New York), March 22, 1925. www.newspapers.com.
• “Mother and Baby Blown to Tree Top by Tornado, but Escape by Miracle.” The Commercial Appeal (Memphis, Tennessee), March 20, 1925. www.newspapers.com.
• “Police Seek Hugger After Two Attacks.” Wilkes-Barre Times Leader (Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania), March 18, 1925. www.newspapers.com.
• “Several Reported Killed By Tornado at Annapolis, MO.” Springfield Leader and Press (Springfield, Missouri), March 18, 1925. www.newspapers.com.
• “Three Held, Others Sought in Mine Blast; Little Hope Held for 34 Men.” Pittsburgh Post-Gazette (Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania), March 19, 1925. www.newspapers.com.
• “Tornado, Fire, Flood, and Mine Disasters Take Big Toll In Day.” Pittsburgh Post-Gazette (Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania), March 10, 1925. www.newspapers.com.
• United Press.“Shepherd Given Freedom Under Bond As Jury Acquits Him of Charge of Murder.” Belvidere Daily Republican (Belvidere, Illinois), June 27, 1925. www.newspapers.com.
• US Department of Commerce, NOAA. “1925 Tornado.” National Weather Service, March 5, 2015. https://www.weather.gov/pah/1925Tornado_iq.
• US Department of Commerce, NOAA. “1925 Tornado.” National Weather Service, March 5, 2015.https://www.weather.gov/pah/1925Tornado_ss.
• “William Darling ‘Darl’ Shepherd .” Find a Grave. Accessed October 8, 2024. https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/203215798/william-darling-shepherd.

SOUND SOURCES

• Al Jolson. “I’ll Say She Does.” www.pixabay.com/music.
• Lucille Hegamin and The Dixie Daisies.“Cold Winter Blues.” www.pixabay.com/music.
• Sophie Tucker. “Reuben Rag.” www.pixabay.com/music.

One of the greatest engineering marvels of the 20th century - the Hoover Dam - was dedicated on September 30, 1935. What did the project mean for the United States, and what else was happening around the country and world on the exact same day?

SOURCES

• “4 O’clock Bulletins.” Holyoke Daily Transcript (Holyoke, Massachusetts), August 3, 1936. www.newspapers.com.
• “5 Shot in Bank Raid; Tear Gas Routs Gang of 9.” Chicago Daily Tribune (Chicago, Illinois), October 1, 1935. www.newspapers.com.
• Associated Press. “Five Shot During Bank Robbery.” The Sheboygan Press (Sheboygan, Wisconsin), September 30, 1935. www.newspapers.com.
• Associated Press. “Hoover Dam’s Dedication Is Staged Today.” Tucson Citizen (Tucson, Arizona), September 30, 1935. www.newspapers.com.
• Associated Press. “Newell Sherman Drowns In Chair for Drowning of Wife.” The Springfield Daily Republican (Springfield, Massachusetts), August 4, 1936. www.newspapers.com.
• Associated Press. “Sherman Counsel Sums Up Defense Before the Jury.” The Daily Evening Item(Lynn, Massachusetts), September 30, 1935. www.newspapers.com.
• Associated Press. “Weston Gets Life For Loll Slaying.” The Oregon Statesman (Salem, Oregon), January 28, 1936. www.newspapers.com.
• “Confession of Newell Sherman.” The Boston Globe (Boston, Massachusetts), July 22, 1935. www.newspapers.com.
• “The Controversial Naming of the Dam.” PBS. Accessed September 25, 2024. https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/americanexperience/features/hoover-controversy/.
• “Deputy Sheriff Ernest Loll.” Multnomah County Sheriff’s Office, February 1, 2024. https://www.mcso.us/about-mcso/fallen-deputies/ernest-loll.
• “George Leonard Fiedler (1912-1957) .” Find a Grave. Accessed September 30, 2024. https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/234373940/george-leonard-fiedler.
• “Hoover Dam.” Wikipedia, August 28, 2024.https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hoover_Dam#:~:text=Hoover%20Dam%20is%20a%20concrete,Roosevelt.
• “Mrs Alice Doris Dudley Sherman (1912-1935) - Find...” Find a Grave. Accessed October 1, 2024. https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/74472032/alice_doris_sherman.
• “Mrs. Fiedler Says Son Told of Shooting.” The Oregon Daily Journal (Portland, Oregon), October 2, 1935. www.newspapers.com.
• “Reward Offered In Slaying.” The Oregon Daily Journal (Portland, Oregon), September 30, 1935. www.newspapers.com.
• “Stained Weapon Clue to Murder.” The Oregonian (Portland, Oregon), October 1, 1935. www.newspapers.com.
• United Press. “Boulder Dam to Be Dedicated Today.” Nevada State Journal (Reno, Nevada), September 30, 1935. www.newspapers.com.
• “Weston Murder Jury Selected.” The Oregon Daily Journal (Portland, Oregon), January 18, 1936. www.newspapers.com.
• “Witnesses Tell About Fatal Hunt.” The Oregon Daily Journal (Portland, Oregon), January 18, 1936. www.newspapers.com.
• “‘The Greatest Dam in the World’: Building Hoover Dam (Teaching with Historic Places) (U.S. National Park Service).” National Parks Service. Accessed September 25, 2024.https://www.nps.gov/articles/-the-greatest-dam-in-the-world-building-hoover-dam-teaching-with-historic-places.htm.

SOUND SOURCES

• Al Jolson. “I’ll Say She Does.” www.pixabay.com/music.

• Lucille Hegamin and The Dixie Daisies. “Cold Winter Blues.” www.pixabay.com/music.
• Sophie Tucker. “Reuben Rag.” www.pixabay.com/music.

The 1970s were known for having a lot of serial killers. Luckily, many of them were caught, and that includes the infamous Ted Bundy. Learn how his reign of terror came to an end and what other crazy stuff was being printed in newspapers on the exact same day.

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This episode is a mini episode about a famous artist who had to fight from having everything taken away from her. You might have even seen the movie about her life.

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On March 12, 1912, the Girl Scouts of America had their very first meeting ever. Since then, millions of girls have participated in the organization. What else was making news on that exact same day in history? Find out with three fun additional history stories.

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