On October 8, 1871, while the world watched Chicago burn, the deadliest wildfire in American history was destroying Peshtigo, Wisconsin. In this episode of the Yore Town Podcast, Beard Laws and Meg uncover the forgotten history of the Peshtigo Fire—a disaster so hot it created its own weather systems, fire tornadoes, and boiled rivers.

Most people know about the Great Chicago Fire, but few know that on the exact same night, a firestorm in Northeastern Wisconsin killed over 1,500 people and burned 1.2 million acres. Why did history forget this tragedy?

In this episode, we discuss:

How the logging industry turned the forest into "dry powder."

The science behind a "firestorm" and hurricane-force fire winds.

Terrifying survivor accounts of burying themselves in dirt to survive.

Why the Great Chicago Fire overshadowed this massive tragedy.

If you are a fan of dark history, survival stories, and forgotten American events, this episode is a must-watch.

#PeshtigoFire #AmericanHistory #YoreTownPodcast #DarkHistory #SurvivalStories #WisconsinHistory #Wildfire

About the Beard Laws Network The Beard Laws Network is home to weekly shows covering true crime, conspiracies, family-life comedy, sports legends, and strange local history. New episodes drop every week from:

Yore Town Podcast (True Crime) – Mondays Watch the Series Here

TTT Podcast (Conspiracies) – Tuesdays Watch the Series Here

Stay Outta My Fridge (Family Comedy) – Thursdays Watch the Series Here

Street Sign Storytime (Local Lore) – Sundays Watch the Series Here

Subscribe to never miss an episode!

Listen to Full Episodes & Clips ➜ Beard Laws Network Shorts: https://www.youtube.com/@BeardLawsNetwork/shorts ➜ Main Beard Laws Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@BeardLaws

Follow on Socials TikTok, Instagram, Facebook, and more → https://linktr.ee/beardlaws

Support the Show Like, comment, and share this episode — it helps the Network grow a TON!

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Listen to Full Episodes & Clips

➜ Beard Laws Network Shorts: https://www.youtube.com/@BeardLawsNetwork/shorts

➜ Main Beard Laws Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@BeardLaws

Follow on Socials

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On July 30th, 1899, a small fire and a steady wind erased nearly two-thirds of Tupper Lake, NY in a single night.

In this episode of the Yore Town Podcast, we travel back to the late 19th century in the Adirondacks. Tupper Lake was a boomtown built for loggers, mill workers, and railroad laborers. It was fast, practical, and constructed almost entirely of wood. But it had one fatal flaw: No fire department.

We break down the timeline of the disaster, from the first spark behind King & Page’s store to the "continuous roar" of collapsing buildings that followed. We explore how 169 buildings—including homes, churches, and hotels—were lost, and the incredible decision the town made the very next morning: To stay and rebuild from the ashes.

In this episode:

Why Tupper Lake was a "tinderbox" waiting to explode.

The chaos of a town fighting a massive blaze with only buckets.

The morning after: How a town survives losing everything.

The transition from a temporary logging camp to a permanent community.

About Yore Town Podcast: Exploring the local legends, forgotten history, and true stories of the towns you think you know.

Subscribe for more local history and folklore!

#TupperLake #AdirondackHistory #YoreTownPodcast #GreatFire1899 #NYHistory #SmallTownHistory #DisasterHistory #TupperLakeNY

About the Beard Laws Network The Beard Laws Network is home to weekly shows covering true crime, conspiracies, family-life comedy, sports legends, and strange local history. New episodes drop every week from:

Yore Town Podcast (True Crime) – Mondays Watch the Series Here

TTT Podcast (Conspiracies) – Tuesdays Watch the Series Here

Stay Outta My Fridge (Family Comedy) – Thursdays Watch the Series Here

Street Sign Storytime (Local Lore) – Sundays Watch the Series Here

Subscribe to never miss an episode!

Listen to Full Episodes & Clips ➜ Beard Laws Network Shorts: https://www.youtube.com/@BeardLawsNetwork/shorts ➜ Main Beard Laws Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@BeardLaws

Follow on Socials TikTok, Instagram, Facebook, and more → https://linktr.ee/beardlaws

Support the Show Like, comment, and share this episode — it helps the Network grow a TON!

If you're invested in true crime and believe in justice, hit the like button and subscribe to Yore Town Podcast!

Listen to Full Episodes & Clips

➜ Beard Laws Network Shorts: https://www.youtube.com/@BeardLawsNetwork/shorts

➜ Main Beard Laws Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@BeardLaws

Follow on Socials

TikTok, Instagram, Facebook, and more → https://linktr.ee/beardlaws

Support the Show

Like, comment, and share this episode — it helps the Network grow a TON!

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A stranger answered a room-for-rent ad, passed every background check, and moved in. Then, he tortured his landlord and vanished into thin air.

In this episode of Yore Town Podcast, we cover the terrifying unsolved murder of Oakey "Al" Kite. In 2004, Al did everything right when renting out his spare room in Aurora, Colorado. He checked references, verified employment, and trusted the man calling himself "Robert Cooper."

But Robert Cooper didn't exist. We break down how this "Ghost Renter" fabricated an entire identity just to commit a calculated, torture-based murder. We discuss the DNA evidence left behind, the chilling ATM footage, and why investigators believe this man might still be out there, living under a new name.

In this episode, we cover: Intro: The crime that knocks first The Victim: Who was Al Kite? The Renter: Meeting "Robert Cooper" The Deception: How he faked a background check The Crime: A torture session in the basement The Aftermath: The ATM video and the vanishing The DNA: Building a face from biology The Theory: Is he a serial killer?

#TrueCrime #AlKite #UnsolvedMysteries #ColdCase #YoreTownPodcast #BeardLaws #RobertCooper #DNAphenotyping #MurderMystery

About the Beard Laws Network The Beard Laws Network is home to weekly shows covering true crime, conspiracies, family-life comedy, sports legends, and strange local history. New episodes drop every week from:

Yore Town Podcast (True Crime) – Mondays Watch the Series Here

TTT Podcast (Conspiracies) – Tuesdays Watch the Series Here

Stay Outta My Fridge (Family Comedy) – Thursdays Watch the Series Here

Street Sign Storytime (Local Lore) – Sundays Watch the Series Here

Subscribe to never miss an episode!

Listen to Full Episodes & Clips ➜ Beard Laws Network Shorts: https://www.youtube.com/@BeardLawsNetwork/shorts ➜ Main Beard Laws Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@BeardLaws

Follow on Socials TikTok, Instagram, Facebook, and more → https://linktr.ee/beardlaws

Support the Show Like, comment, and share this episode — it helps the Network grow a TON!

If you're invested in true crime and believe in justice, hit the like button and subscribe to Yore Town Podcast!

Listen to Full Episodes & Clips

➜ Beard Laws Network Shorts: https://www.youtube.com/@BeardLawsNetwork/shorts

➜ Main Beard Laws Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@BeardLaws

Follow on Socials

TikTok, Instagram, Facebook, and more → https://linktr.ee/beardlaws

Support the Show

Like, comment, and share this episode — it helps the Network grow a TON!

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