In 1898, the Denver Post ran an article about one W.J. Bunyea, a traveling salesman who’d held court on the subject of H.H. Holmes, an old friend of his, in a local hotel the night before. According to his story, he had been working in Englewood in the general merchandise business. In the midst of recounting…
Tag: HH Holmes
HH Holmes and Mr. Chappell, the Skeleton Articulator
H.H. Holmes is a notoriously difficult fellow to research. Newspapers felt free to run with wild speculation on him, neighbors were so eager to write themselves into the story that they were probably more than willing to exaggerate, and, of course, Holmes himself barely ever opened his mouth without lying. Even the most basic parts…
H.H. Holmes goes to Africa…or not.
Today I’ve been trolling through University of Michigan materials looking for new stuff Herman Webster Mudgett, the 1884 med school graduate better known as H.H. Holmes, of Chicago serial killing fame. I noticed a couple of fun facts: 1. In 1881, his Ann Arbor residence was listed as “15 Cemetery.” This seems to have been…
Talkin’ H.H. Holmes on Fox 32
Here’s me on Fox32 last night, talking about the infamous “Murder Castle” of H.H. Holmes. Chicago News and Weather | FOX 32 NewsMore info on the post office and my expedition there can be seen in our Murder Castle Audio/Video page. I probably should have shaved for the – the stubble looked more “ruggedly handsome”…
The Murder Castle “Ghost Audio”
It was about four months ago now that I went into the basement of the post office on 63rd street – the one built over a portion of the site where the H.H. Holmes Murder Castle stood. Pictures and video are available here. I was officially just there as a historian, but naturally I did…
The Tree That Dripped Blood?
On the old Sobieski Street, where once upon a time arch-fiend H.H. Holmes had a “glass bending factory” (which was more likely a place for cremations; the man had no real idea of how to bend glass), we’ve had plenty of odd nights on the tour. Even in the summer, the trees on the sidewalk,…
The Murder Castle: Today (or: Good Grief, More HH Holmes) #2
So, is there anything left of the infamous H.H. Holmes “Murder Castle?” “The Holmes Castle” was a well-known building in Englewood well into the 20th century; contrary to popular belief, the 1895 fire did not burn it to the ground. The top two floors had to be rebuilt and remodeled, but the place was still…
The Kidnapping of Annie Redmond
In Spring, 1888, newspapers announced that six-year-old Annie Redmond was missing. She and her friend Otto had been playing in a lot near her home at 26th and State. They were approached by a stout woman in a yellow dress and black hat. “Is your mother home, little girl?” she asked.“Yes,” said Annie.“Come along with…