May 17, 2018 is the 169th anniversary of the night of the Great Fire in St. Louis! When the first bells rang out on the levee that evening, the fire companies of St. Louis assembled and fought the most ferocious inferno that the city had ever seen. Considering the primitive equipment and infrastructure they had to work with, it is a wonder that the city didn't completely burn to the ground and hundreds of lives weren't lost. Like the men and women of today's municipal fire department, men liked Capt. Patrick Gorman, Fireman Fred Colburn, and Capt. Thomas Targee braved everything to save the lives and property of others. Remember them for their sacrifice and their selflessness. If you wish to learn more please join me in May for two public appearances at the St. Charles County Library. On May 8, I will be speaking at the Kathryn Linnemann Branch and on May 16 at the Corporate Parkway Branch. Both programs start at 7 PM. Books will be available for purchase at the events. C...
American History Beyond Textbooks