Did you know this year marks the 150th anniversary of the Great Chicago Fire?
Theories abound as to who was responsible for the great conflagration that flattened the City of Chicago the night of October 8, 1871 and continued for the next two days. The blame is most often pointed at poor old Catherine O’Leary in the Conley’s Patch section of Chicago’s West Side and her hapless milk cow who accidentally kicked over a lantern in the backyard barn. More recent scholarship suggests the perpetrator was a local n’er-do-well named “Peg Leg” Sullivan. Still another peculiar theory took root that a comet struck the drought-plagued city that humid and warm Sunday night.
In his most recent book, “Tales of Forgotten Chicago,” prolific local author Richard C. Lindberg (who has appeared on numerous cable television documentaries over the years) posits a new and compelling theory; one that rang true thirty years after the fire to the people that lived through the horrific disaster, but disappeared into the vapors of history and was long-forgotten by World War II. Author Lindberg uncovered the amazing story during his book research, and presents it in this compelling presentation on the history of the Great Chicago Fire, its cause and after effects!
Thursday, September 30, 7 p.m. This is a free virtual program using Zoom.
Please register and enter your e-mail address for instructions and Zoom connection details.