Hey! I'm a curator at the Peshtigo Fire Museum and I know this an old video but I want to thank you for making it! While I was working the other day a gentleman came into the Museum all the way from Florida because of this video! It's sad that even to this day, 148 years on, the Peshtigo Fire still is less known and has little coverage (there are even Peshtigo natives who know nothing about it!), but it's because of people like you and all those who pass the story on that the memory of those lost can still live on. Again, thank you for telling the story in an accurate way and, if you've never been to our museum stop on by! We’d love to have you!
@@donaldberry4150 and the fact it was during the torrid meteor stream that year. And the fact that the flames came from the sky. And the fact that these fires started around the same time. And the heat of the fire burnt roots of trees out of the ground show me any forest fire that is that hot. I'm a tree surgeon it is almost impossible to burn roots underground ... Not only that but these were experienced lumberjacks fighting forest fires was a common part of life but they saw this one and most eyewitness accounts are convinced it is the apocalypse lots just fell to there knees in prayer and where burnt alive. Nothing about this day makes sense unless you invoke an extra terrestrial source for the fires.
10/8 , eh ! The idea that there is any way this would happen again at Peshtigo is EXTREMELY SLIM ! However , that date of closing is somewhat suggestive that those in charge of it potentially seek shelter under a rock on that date , just in case ! LOL !
Eric, do you remember the wierd ass doll room that they had in the museum? Creepy stuff, I swear I checked under my bed for weeks as a kid after our annual field trip to make sure that wouldn't be the night I was murdered by a 19th century doll.
My great grandmother was 1 year old in 1871. Her father took the family to the river with a blanket. He went the blanket and put it over their heads. We were told that the air was so hot, they wouldn’t have survived without keeping the blanket wet over their heads. I have been to Pestigo. COVID kept me from returning this year. Do hope the museum can keep this history.
As a native ‘Sconi, growing up around Wausaukee, and like all grade-schoolers in the region, I all made the pilgrimage to Peshtigo to learn about that horrible moment in history. Thanks for bringing it to wider audience. It deserves remembrance. (And it’s PESH -te- go, but many have called that out. It’s a minor thing and WI is full of befuddling town names)
In the book about the fire my family name's in it. 2 great uncle's were lost, by running into a swamp. 1 great grandpa and my great great grandma dropped into the well and survived the fire. Most folks have never heard of the peshtigo fire. Thx, history guy for reporting on it
Several viewers have noted that the locals pronounce the town name Pesh-ti-go rather than Pesh-tee-go. For exclusive content, join our community of fans and supporters at thehistoryguyguild.locals.com!
It's ok. Many Wisconsin towns have american indian names which are hard for people who don't live here to pronounce. We always love it when the university of wisconsin football team is able to go to a bowl game and a reporter will ask locals of the bowl town to pronounce Wisconsin town names....Waukesha, Neenah, Pewaukee, etc.
The 1894 Hinkley, Minnesota fire was another large fire disaster due in part to logging practices. At least 418 people were killed in this large fire disaster. The 1871 Peshtigo fire was larger in terms of acres burned but the Hinkley fire of 1894 was a major disaster event. A telegrqph operator saved the lives of many people coordinating trains to rescue people in and out of the town. Observors at the time made references to a fire tornado. hinckley.govoffice2.com/?SEC=FD8DC19D-5036-4403-8C87-061FFE2E781A
Of all your videos, this one hit me pretty deep. Not because of a connection to the fire nor the event itself, but for the moral or lesson you sum it up with in the end. Never take anything in this life for granted. That message is so very enormous. Thanks for your great videos.
Made me think of the 19 fire fighters who died fighting the Yarnell Hill fire in Arizona back in 2013. Those guys were hot shot pros and they still got killed. Just shows that fire can kick your ass no matter how well you're trained to deal with it.
For those of you who think that the gov't employees who fight fires are akin to someone who pushes paperwork...you have no idea what you're talking about. Imagine being part of a Helittack crew, repelling out of a helicopter with an axe, helmet, fire tent, radio, rope, chainsaw, shovel, and water. Then you go to work...either you are ahead of the fire hacking and chopping down bush, or behind it, going after hotspots in 100°F heat & choking on smoke. This goes on for 12 hours a day, 2 weeks on, 3 days off, all fire season long. Sure, there are days when it rains, but lightning strikes change every plan made the day before. Those men in Arizona are missed and loved by their families. Their deaths shook every wildfire-fighter in North America...because if it could happen to those guys, it could happen to anyone. Soldiers are respected for the battles they face...these men and women need to be respected as well. And if you think it's so easy, every fire season needs more personnel: sign up or shut up.
I know quite a few people who lost their property in the Yarnell fire. It was only about 15 miles from our house in Wilhoit. Luckily none of the folks I know died in the fire. Poor firefighters.
As a Wisconsin wildland firefighter I appreciate your coverage of this event. I spent time in recent years staged to that area from southern Wisconsin to help protect that are when conditions were dry. It's an important story. Thank you
History Guy- thanks so much for this short docu! I've grown up hearing about this conflagration from my mom's northern Wisconsin family. My great-great-grandfather, Joseph Prudhomme, as a youth survived the Fire by going into the river with his sister and they splashed water on each other. It's a marvel of God's Grace anyone survived at all and I'm Very thankful my forefather made it through and my branch of the family exists today!
I grew up in Chicago, and in grade school we were all told of Mrs. O' Leary's cow who kicked over the kerosene lamp that (supposedly) started the fire. But until just now, I'd never heard of of the Peshtigo fire. Thanks for bringing out this bit of history to be remembered!
Great presentation. My great grandparents were survivors of the Peshtigo fire. One of the Hanson family survivors lived with my family until she died. Thanks much.
Thank you for educating about this! There’s a band called O’Death who made a song called Fire on Meshtigo as a tribute. The song is frightening and haunting, showing how frantic and horrified the people of the town were. It talks about those who passed, describing the feeling of breathing “breathless air,” and talking about frantically running, no matter who you stepped on, just to get to a river that you thought would be your savior, but in the end still actively killed people.
4th grade 1968 western Wisconsin we learned about this disaster and I remember it was made clear the extent of the carnage and was mentioned a few times through the next couple grades. That was the last I’ve heard about it until this came up on the recommendations. Never forgot about it!!! Thanks for posting!
One of the things that I appreciate about your channel is that you don't hide your emotions. Several stories have demonstrated that even sad history deserves to be remembered. These are the stories that I need to know because they simply have happened. Thank you for bringing this story to me. I've never heard of it before.
My parents grew up in this area, so I heard about this fire often. Have been to Peshtigo and have been to Goodman Park on the Peshtigo River. Beautiful area.
Me too....Goodman Park is a gem. My parents were born in the Wabeno area. My dad built their 1st home of vertical logs outside of Townsend (1946) and it still stands.
Having grown up around Chicago, I've heard about this event many times. But your telling puts a more "first hand" feel to it. Can you imagine the fear those helpless people felt in that situation? Wow!
My narrowly escaped the Camp Fire in Paradise California. I was 10 miles away that morning and stuck in traffic for hours. Hearing about this fire brings back such bad memories. My mother's car was surrounded by flames. She gave up and resigned herself to die in the fire. She was going to get out of her car as to not suffer longer. Luckily she was on the phone with my sister. My sister screamed at my mother to STOP BEING A BABY AND STAY IN YOUR CAR AND SMASH THE GAS PEDAL AND DRIVE THROUGH THE FIRE. My mother did what she told her and she lived. The next week I replaced the air filter and cabin filter in my mother's car. They were both full of ashes and nearly 100% clogged up. Thank you for these videos History Guy. You really share some amazing things most have never heard of.
Thank you for this video. I had never heard of this fire. Having been a witness to the much less dire but no less frightening Gatlinburg, TN of 2016, I can appreciate what can happen very quickly when multiple conditions converge to create disaster.
Puts my experience in the CampFire of 2018 in perspective. Access to automobiles and dedicated and maintained roadways while directed by trained emergency responders having modern communication gear and network. All did not go perfectly, and many lost their lives, but it could have been so much worse without those modern advantages, without the toil of hundreds of professionals while in extreme danger to save thousands... Everything gone in just four, five, hours... Always say something to those you love before you leave for the day. You may never get to return.
Awww, that was so well presented, thank you. Lived in Michigan all my life and never heard of this. Visited Hardwick Pines where you can see just how huge those pines were cuz it's virgin forest. I cant imagine no rain for eleven weeks, that's just unheard of around here. Thanks for all you do, been living on these during 2020 when I'm not working.
As a student, I did not care for history lessons at all. Now as an adult I am very happy to have learned so much history from this channel. Thank you for making history interesting and enjoyable to learn. Your style and methods are very easy to understand. I wish my history teachers were as excited to share historic stories as you are. Thank you! Subscribed and beleive I have seen every one one your videos.
It seems inappropriate to give this video a thumbs up considering the content, but I did. The loss of so many many lives, the complete destruction of a town, and the burning of millions of acres...is worth remembering. Thank you for taking the time to make this history snippet. My father is a retired fireman, training officer and chief. This video gave me pause and I stopped a moment to be thankful for his safety during the many fires throughout his career. Love your channel, thanks.
As a Wisconsinite , I grew up in Antigo. A city not too far from Peshtigo. We were thought about this great tragedy in grade school. I visited the museum , although many years ago. It gave me a great feeling to have you do this memory justice. As only you could. Thank you , Sir.
Thank you for remembering the Peshtigo Fire that was overshadowed by the Great Chicago Fire. You might also want take a look at another Great fire in Minnesota on or about the same time commonly known as the Hinkley Fire that was of the same magnitude. Thank you. Jim McLean
I live where this happened . The southeast part of Marinette County is a gorgeous area with lots of wildlife . But I can't even imagine how miserable it must have been for those living here at that time AND for many years after . Nature gave us a beautiful land over time . I'm blessed to live in this region and wish everyone could experience this part of America . And thank you for this channel . Absolutely one of my favorite TH-cam channels .
I really enjoyed your closing comments. Life has risks, some real, some imagined, and some that never occur to us. I have watched over half your videos and the one thing that I can take away from all of them is that none of the players in these moments woke up that morning and said they were going to make history today. They did wake up and embrace the day and with that attitude, they made history. I try to embrace life every day as if it will be my last. Thanks for the great lessons, I really enjoy watching them.
In addition to the Chicago and Peshtigo fires around a dozen fires occurred that night across the whole area. The interesting thing being that they all started about the same time, around 9:00 pm if memory serves. Although not known for sure, a good candidate for the cause is a meteor or small asteroid breaking up in the atmosphere, hitting the ground and igniting the various flames.
This story stuck with me when I watched this video. Today, I’ve written to two news organizations because they have been calling the Camp Fire in California the deadliest in American history and ask them to make the correction.
The locals (I live in Green Bay) pronounce the name PESH ti go. Aside from that, y' done good History Guy. To this day you can STILL find tree stumps from trees burned in that fire. The museum is worth the drive to see.
Dale Raby someone else had pointed that out as well. Thanks! If I redo this one I will change the pronunciation. I do want to get up to visit the museum.
I saw that, but he did not mention which sylable got the accent. Lots of towns up here are hard to pronounce, i.e.: Suamico, Wauwatosa & Allouez to name just a few. You didn't do so bad. If/when you visit the museum, gimme a shout. I can suggest a few other historical items that might interest you... i.e.: the Cobia in Manitowoc. I don't do Facebook, but my email is firstlastname@gmail... and yeah, I am the same guy who wrote the book on blacksmithing among others.
I just found out about this and unfortunately the museum is closed for the winter. I looked at all the pictures of it online though. Kind of a long ways for me to go anyways just for that. Gives me time to plan my trip to go somewhere else as well that interests me. Thinking maybe the railroad museum in green bay.
are you saying that there were fire storms before the fires in california?? impossible!!....... and again we see that the normal has been overhyped on the coast's and us folks in the middle know better. huh. who'da thought.
Thank you for telling this horrible event with such kindness and compassion. I stopped by Peshtigo once on my many trips thru WI. Never saw the museum but there was a plaque on the road I was on and I was horrified that so many people were trapped and died. I did not catch that it was bigger than the Chicago fire nor that it was on the same day. I agree with the other people here, you have a gift for making history interesting. It's stories about people and we all have them! Memorizing dates is useless for kids, tell them the stories. The dates can always be looked up. It was never fun in school but I look forward to your videos popping up! Thank you!
Thank you for publishing this story as it really does need to be remembered. Another story I think needs to be remembered is the hanging of three innocent men in Duluth MN which took place about 100 years ago by a vigilante mob.
Extra information, there were more fires that day. There were fires in Michigan in what is commonly called the thumb area. Holland, Manistee and Port Huron Michigan burned at the same time. The Northwoods was a rough and tumble area in those days. They use to wonder which was hotter on Friday night, hell, Hurley or Hayward. They wondered after the fires if it was aliens or maybe pieces of the Comet Biela. American and British military studied the firestorm of Peshtigo to create firestorm conditions from bombing. Like Dresden and Tokyo. Another side effect of the fire in Chicago is the change in building materials. One being brownstone quarried from the shores of Lake Superior. The Thumb fire of 1881 was partly do to the fire from Port Huron plus ecological effects of the logging of the time. The next day was called Yellow Day because of the smoke. Minnesota was not spared from the fires of the time period. The Great Hinkley Fire of 1894, the Baudette fire of 1910 and the Cloquet fire of October 1918.
So sad. Love learning history I've never known. But this made me cry. Even you had a hard time with it. History is sometimes sad but worth remembering. Love this channel.
You're an awesome guy. The way you told that bit of history shows that you really felt for these people as they died in this terrible tragedy. Life is precious and any moment could be our last. Thank you History Guy.
Thanks for this video. Growing up in a small Wisconsin town I learned of this fire in school. It is nice that this video exists to carry their story on. It got me thinking, perhaps you could do a story on Soldiers Grove, WI, the town that had to move because of constant flooding year after year. Thanks for the great videos!
A member of my wife's family survived by jumping in the marsh area. One story says a train carried many to safety and that the train was on fire as it left the town. The tree shown at 1:41 looks more like a cedar than a white pine.
I learned about this fire when I was in fourth grade, as my history class was more focused on the history of Wisconsin. I lived in the South western part of the state. I thought this was well known at least in the state if not the country due to how wide spread it was.
I spent many summers in northern Wisconsin and knew about the fire, but people I mention it to are always skeptical that the Chicago Fire was the worst in history. Thanks for doing this piece.
This hits close to home, as I live just a few miles from where the Marshall Fire was in Colorado. It happened the same way - major drought and hurricane-force winds. That was one terrifying day! I was actually between that and a smaller fire, freaking out and wondering if I would have to evacuate, then glued to the internet most of the night. It wiped out about nine square miles, nothing compared to the Peshtigo fire, but it was almost three times the size of the Great Chicago Fire. It sure traumatized our community. Seeing entire neighborhoods looking like they've been nuked is hard to wrap your head around. It's amazing that only two people died.
Catching up on old episodes...VERY powerful episode! Your cadence and delivery tone were outstanding for such a somber topic. I truly appreciated your summary and reminder of the fragility of life.
The closing comments are SO appropriate for the world we are now living in. Wisconsin is my state of origin. As a little kid in the '60s we were taught about Peshtigo, as well as Chicago.
Whenever I get a chance through the seasons with my kids here in Minnesota I point out how life was incredibly rough 150 years ago, here we grew up with the great Hinckley fire which killed over 400, when I went to Chicago as a kid most folks didn't know anything about locations or such as so much time has passed, this was well done, hope you can cover the Hinckley fire someday
+The History Guy, I never heard of this until I found your excellent presentation. You are truly admired by your fellow history buffs. Thank you so much!
You do a great job of this series. May you never run out of material. The vignette style is especially good allowing for short viewing and discussion or just a quick history lesson. Your delivery reminds me a bit of James Burke and I wish you equal success and recognition is you seek that. Thank you again. The great raft of the red river and captain Shreve is an interesting story. Good info can be had at the corps of engineers museum in shreveport.
I find the moments in history that you share to be most fascinating, and they elicit, in me, a broad spectrum of responses. This particular story was very moving, and i appreciate you sharing this epic tragedy that I had not known occurred. Your channel is superb, and your enthusiasm toward history is contagious.
Born & raised in WI, 2 hrs south of Peshtigo. A teacher in grade school was from Wrightstown, about an hour south of Peshtigo, and she had a book about the fire. Maybe it wasn't the best subject to read to kids ages 6 to 10, this was a two room school, but I've been aware of fire safety since then. Thanks History Guy & Gal!!!!
I'm a retired firefighter, I became interested in Conflagrations and fire storms, I read the book writren about this fire, thanks for making this video! To quote a famous saying Fire is a dangerous servant and a fearful master!
Thank you for the story. I grew up in N.E. Wisconsin and we learned about this fire in grade school. It actually burned on both sides of the bay (Green Bay).
The "media" of the day was newspapers and "word of mouth". Sensational news, like the present, "sells". The general public never heard of Peshtigo, like the other tragedies of that time. Chicago "won" the headlines because it was internationally known. Even the newspapers had no idea yet of what occurred for even a day. No radio or TV then, right? Today, even history books neglect to print honest truths of real life, kinda like Columbus "discovered" America. WHAT?!
I am now reminded of the conditions now existing in northern california. they sound very similar to the conditions described in you piece about the peshtigo fire. The town of Paradise California can attest to the effect. Thanks for the posting.
Thank you! This is a fact I didn’t know even though I’m a history nut. I got started when I was given the job writing the history of the installation where I was stationed in, in Germany. Once started I eventually found out that I was the 22 person given that job. Luckily I was multilingual.
Wow...It IS utterly amazing, the happenings of history, that go unknown and for so long! I realize that at the time of the event, the town was kinda out in tha boonies. And, as was stated, technology wasn't at all what it is today and so the Peshtigo Fire was eclipsed by the fire in Chicago. But what I am disappointed in, is the fact that this story has been left out of the pages of history that we are taught as students in the public school system. True, I have learned many things, as I think we all have, by watching this channel, that I wasn't taught in school. But this story seems so devastating. Not only to the people it impacted, but to the environment, the economy...The number of towns and acreage involved are just mind boggling to me. Such terrible destruction. And not a word of it shared with the next couple of generations" who might could learn a thing or two" from such a catastrophe. Though, as THG said, there isn't a great deal to divine, as far as "lessons" go, from this tale. But that isn't what qualifies the educational value of a subject, is it? Some things just beckon to be learned of, highly worthy of our time and forever deserving remembrance. So, though there is no day of remembrance set aside or even a brief paragraph in our US History books to prove it happened, we do have something even better in THG, dare I say. A true teacher with a caring soul. Thank you once again sir, for all that you contribute to the world, your legacy is tremendous- but thank you also for what you do for them- the underdogs of history- be they people or sparrows, house cats or hats...thank you for the sheer revelation of truth in all it's historical splendor...
The scary thing is this kind of fire still happens and the only thing saving most of us is slightly more advanced warnings and the occasional lucky air lift.
How terrible and sad,up until today I had not heard of the Peshtigo fire,your description was vivid and disturbing,I am glad to have been educated about this and feel so sad for those people at least they will not be forgotten through videos like yours,best wishes from chilly Liverpool England xx
I love you, man. History guy I consume this stuff like potato chips. I go back and watch them again. Because sometimes I watch them. When I'm stressed. My memory isn't always good like that. But it gets me out of my head at the time. Keep them coming. You set him up. I'll knock them down.🇺🇸🦅🌆
Thanks for the video. I grew up in Peshtigo. Lived there from 1970 to 1992 and my mother, sister and her family still live there. I attended high school just a block from the museum. My grandmother volunteered at the museum. The older I get, the more I understand the gravity of the Peshtigo fire. As noted in the comments, the pronunciation is PESH-tigo (emphasize first syllable and short i sound in the 2nd syllable)
Thanks! The history books almost never mention that fire. Also it was a bad year for fires! Too many of them too! Thank you again for uncovering that disaster.
Thank you, History Guy, for sharing this most important but awful account. I was ignorant of it, but from now on, upon hearing any mention of the Great Chicago Fire, I will be sure to inform folks of this terrible incident as well. *It most certainly deserves to be remembered!*
My father was a forester for a railroad company in the Pacific Northwest. One of my first memories was of a forest fire in North Idaho known as the Sundance Burn. We lived in a small town just across the border in Washington state. On or about Labor Day, 1968, a lightning caused fire that had been contained jumped the fire line and exploded because of high winds blowing out of the south. It took off with such ferocity and heat that fire scientists later estimated that at its peak, it was equal to three Hiroshima-sized atomic bombs going off every minute. All people could do was get the hell out of the way. It blew out the Pack River Valley in hours. The heat melted the metal supports of a bridge. Two bulldozer operators were killed when the fire overwhelmed them. Lookout towers were evacuated as quickly as possible ahead of it. The lookout on Roman Nose Peak wasn't gotten to in time, but managed to survive by tucking himself into a narrow crevice of the peak with a portable radio. He gave a running account of what was happening until the radio batteries ran out. His tower, like many others, was destroyed. Bonners Ferry, a small town on the Kootenai River, was right in the fire's path. Burning embers from the fire miles away fell on the small community. The town was evacuated and left to fire firefighters to try and save. But just as quickly as it started, the fire blew out. The winds died down and the head of the fire got into a previously burned out area. Bonners Ferry was saved. In 36 hours, the Sundance Burn destroyed 54,000 acres of timber. In some areas, all vegetation was burned off completely. There is no accurate count as to how many animals were killed in the fire. The only human casualties were the two men working on the bulldozer. To this day, the Sundance Burn is considered one of the most violent forest fires in North America. Students of fire science study it. The image of the huge smoke plume that we watched from our front yard sticks in my mind to this day. The Sundance Burn is forgotten by all but a few now, but it taught everyone that witnessed it the frightful power of Mother Nature.
That's an incredibly sad and sobering story. Tough job finding wisdom at the end of it like you did. You did a good job with this video. Its uncomfortable. But I suppose unknown hundreds of families burning or suffocating to death is extremely uncomfortable. Makes me want to give my sleeping son a kiss on his head and appreciate how good our lives are right here and now. And how lucky we are and have been.
Well this leaves me in a cheery mood as I sit at home in Berkeley, Ca and 4 huge fires each in a different direction still manage to come closer and closer and pall of smoke blocks out the sun and hangs like a shroud over our city. But still, as usual, great story telling. Thanks.
I live in the area. Please do another segment of this fire. You forgot to mention how it jumped the bay of Green Bay, and set fire to Door County, where the community of Brussels is. To give you an idea of the bay distance, I don’t believe you can see land from one side to the other. Also, people jumped in wells trying to survive. Horrible tragedy. BTY, area folk don’t say Pesh- TEE-go, but the TEE sounds like (sorry, tit.) So Pesh-ti-go. LOVE LOVE LOVE your history lessons. Son-in-law is a big history fan, and he keeps me on my toes. Thank you for all that you do.
1 of the more touching stories I’ve heard you tell. It would be nice to have you at the campsite to tell stories around the camp fire 🔥. Especially this 1.
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Hey! I'm a curator at the Peshtigo Fire Museum and I know this an old video but I want to thank you for making it! While I was working the other day a gentleman came into the Museum all the way from Florida because of this video! It's sad that even to this day, 148 years on, the Peshtigo Fire still is less known and has little coverage (there are even Peshtigo natives who know nothing about it!), but it's because of people like you and all those who pass the story on that the memory of those lost can still live on. Again, thank you for telling the story in an accurate way and, if you've never been to our museum stop on by! We’d love to have you!
7:05 and on says it all.
Randall Carlson, and others, suggest passing meteor stream due to several large fires on the same day.
It's pronounced PESH-tig-o
.. not PESH-tee-go here in Wisconsin.
It could also be pronounced Pesh-TA-go
@@donaldberry4150 and the fact it was during the torrid meteor stream that year. And the fact that the flames came from the sky. And the fact that these fires started around the same time. And the heat of the fire burnt roots of trees out of the ground show me any forest fire that is that hot. I'm a tree surgeon it is almost impossible to burn roots underground ... Not only that but these were experienced lumberjacks fighting forest fires was a common part of life but they saw this one and most eyewitness accounts are convinced it is the apocalypse lots just fell to there knees in prayer and where burnt alive. Nothing about this day makes sense unless you invoke an extra terrestrial source for the fires.
Thank you, History Guy, for acknowledging and remembering the poor souls at Peshtigo. May they be at peace. 🌹
Native of Peshtigo here. Awesome to see this on here, well done. Fun fact, the last day the Fire Museum is open every year is 10/8
Yeah, have to wait till next year to go now, lol. It gives me time to plan where else to visit out there since it's a far ways to travel for me.
Didn’t one house survive? My parents are from Marinette and told me a house made out of green would survived.
10/8 , eh ! The idea that there is any way this would happen again at Peshtigo is EXTREMELY SLIM !
However , that date of closing is somewhat suggestive that those in charge of it potentially seek shelter under a rock on that date , just in case !
LOL !
Eric, do you remember the wierd ass doll room that they had in the museum? Creepy stuff, I swear I checked under my bed for weeks as a kid after our annual field trip to make sure that wouldn't be the night I was murdered by a 19th century doll.
@@TacosFromMars I hadn't thought of it in years! The smells and sounds of the Historical Days are more vivid to me
My great grandmother was 1 year old in 1871. Her father took the family to the river with a blanket. He went the blanket and put it over their heads. We were told that the air was so hot, they wouldn’t have survived without keeping the blanket wet over their heads. I have been to Pestigo. COVID kept me from returning this year. Do hope the museum can keep this history.
Thank you for doing this! As a retired Firefighter i've read alot of fire history, this one always seem to be forgotten!
I've read books about this fire and watched videos. All these years later, it still breaks my heart.
Years ago in the fire academy
we studied this fire a truly catastrophic event
As a native ‘Sconi, growing up around Wausaukee, and like all grade-schoolers in the region, I all made the pilgrimage to Peshtigo to learn about that horrible moment in history. Thanks for bringing it to wider audience. It deserves remembrance. (And it’s PESH -te- go, but many have called that out. It’s a minor thing and WI is full of befuddling town names)
This one really did need to be remembered, History Guy. Thank you for bringing it to us.
When I was in school I flunked every subject EXCEPT HISTORY! I CAN STILL NEVER GET ENOUGH AND YOUR PRESENTATIONS ARE SUPERB!
In the book about the fire my family name's in it. 2 great uncle's were lost, by running into a swamp. 1 great grandpa and my great great grandma dropped into the well and survived the fire. Most folks have never heard of the peshtigo fire. Thx, history guy for reporting on it
Several viewers have noted that the locals pronounce the town name Pesh-ti-go rather than Pesh-tee-go.
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The History Guy: Five Minutes of History my grandma (who was born in 1902) grew up in the Door pennuslaa
It's ok. Many Wisconsin towns have american indian names which are hard for people who don't live here to pronounce. We always love it when the university of wisconsin football team is able to go to a bowl game and a reporter will ask locals of the bowl town to pronounce Wisconsin town names....Waukesha, Neenah, Pewaukee, etc.
Them crazy cheeseheads lol.
Ya, we say Pesh-ti-go here in Wisconsin. Keeps the cheese from spitting out.
The 1894 Hinkley, Minnesota fire was another large fire disaster due in part to logging practices. At least 418 people were killed in this large fire disaster. The 1871 Peshtigo fire was larger in terms of acres burned but the Hinkley fire of 1894 was a major disaster event. A telegrqph operator saved the lives of many people coordinating trains to rescue people in and out of the town. Observors at the time made references to a fire tornado. hinckley.govoffice2.com/?SEC=FD8DC19D-5036-4403-8C87-061FFE2E781A
Of all your videos, this one hit me pretty deep. Not because of a connection to the fire nor the event itself, but for the moral or lesson you sum it up with in the end. Never take anything in this life for granted. That message is so very enormous. Thanks for your great videos.
I like to say "Anything can happen, and usually does."
Made me so sad my eyes are leaking.
Made me think of the 19 fire fighters who died fighting the Yarnell Hill fire in Arizona back in 2013. Those guys were hot shot pros and they still got killed. Just shows that fire can kick your ass no matter how well you're trained to deal with it.
So thinking a bucket brigade could take care of any forest fire was foolish thinking? Lol.
It's like "the sum becomes greater than it's parts" comparison. The fires take on an unimaginable size and fury that goes beyond predictions.
@Despiser Despised Fire fighters would not be from the same pool of Govt. workers as most of the others.
For those of you who think that the gov't employees who fight fires are akin to someone who pushes paperwork...you have no idea what you're talking about.
Imagine being part of a Helittack crew, repelling out of a helicopter with an axe, helmet, fire tent, radio, rope, chainsaw, shovel, and water. Then you go to work...either you are ahead of the fire hacking and chopping down bush, or behind it, going after hotspots in 100°F heat & choking on smoke. This goes on for 12 hours a day, 2 weeks on, 3 days off, all fire season long. Sure, there are days when it rains, but lightning strikes change every plan made the day before.
Those men in Arizona are missed and loved by their families. Their deaths shook every wildfire-fighter in North America...because if it could happen to those guys, it could happen to anyone.
Soldiers are respected for the battles they face...these men and women need to be respected as well. And if you think it's so easy, every fire season needs more personnel: sign up or shut up.
I know quite a few people who lost their property in the Yarnell fire. It was only about 15 miles from our house in Wilhoit. Luckily none of the folks I know died in the fire. Poor firefighters.
As a Wisconsin wildland firefighter I appreciate your coverage of this event. I spent time in recent years staged to that area from southern Wisconsin to help protect that are when conditions were dry. It's an important story. Thank you
History Guy- thanks so much for this short docu!
I've grown up hearing about this conflagration from my mom's northern Wisconsin family. My great-great-grandfather, Joseph Prudhomme, as a youth
survived the Fire by going into the river with his sister and they splashed water on each other.
It's a marvel of God's Grace anyone survived at all and I'm Very thankful my forefather made it through and my branch of the family exists today!
My grandmother still gets wildfire nightmares from the all the stories she heard as a little girl growing up in Peshtigo.
Wow.
I grew up in Chicago, and in grade school we were all told of Mrs. O' Leary's cow who kicked over the kerosene lamp that (supposedly) started the fire. But until just now, I'd never heard of of the Peshtigo fire. Thanks for bringing out this bit of history to be remembered!
I suspect it's one of the reasons a tiny side street off of Grand right by Navy Pier is named Peshtigo Street.
It's sad that the story was made up by some reporters trying to create a better scoop for their article. 😕
@@cnD64 Yep. Lack of journalistic integrity isn't a new concept, for sure!
Great presentation. My great grandparents were survivors of the Peshtigo fire. One of the Hanson family survivors lived with my family until she died. Thanks much.
"You can't take anything in this life for granted, that the world can change in one, terrible instant." I wish more people would realize that.
Thank you for educating about this! There’s a band called O’Death who made a song called Fire on Meshtigo as a tribute. The song is frightening and haunting, showing how frantic and horrified the people of the town were. It talks about those who passed, describing the feeling of breathing “breathless air,” and talking about frantically running, no matter who you stepped on, just to get to a river that you thought would be your savior, but in the end still actively killed people.
4th grade 1968 western Wisconsin we learned about this disaster and I remember it was made clear the extent of the carnage and was mentioned a few times through the next couple grades. That was the last I’ve heard about it until this came up on the recommendations. Never forgot about it!!! Thanks for posting!
One of the things that I appreciate about your channel is that you don't hide your emotions. Several stories have demonstrated that even sad history deserves to be remembered. These are the stories that I need to know because they simply have happened. Thank you for bringing this story to me. I've never heard of it before.
My parents grew up in this area, so I heard about this fire often. Have been to Peshtigo and have been to Goodman Park on the Peshtigo River. Beautiful area.
Me too....Goodman Park is a gem. My parents were born in the Wabeno area. My dad built their 1st home of vertical logs outside of Townsend (1946) and it still stands.
Thank you. So well spoken. As for the solemn ending, always tell the ones you love that you love them every time you part because you never know......
Having grown up around Chicago, I've heard about this event many times. But your telling puts a more "first hand" feel to it. Can you imagine the fear those helpless people felt in that situation? Wow!
My girlfriend and I were through Pestigo to visit the cemetery just a few weeks ago. I recommend the visit; it's quite sobering.
My narrowly escaped the Camp Fire in Paradise California. I was 10 miles away that morning and stuck in traffic for hours. Hearing about this fire brings back such bad memories. My mother's car was surrounded by flames. She gave up and resigned herself to die in the fire. She was going to get out of her car as to not suffer longer. Luckily she was on the phone with my sister. My sister screamed at my mother to STOP BEING A BABY AND STAY IN YOUR CAR AND SMASH THE GAS PEDAL AND DRIVE THROUGH THE FIRE. My mother did what she told her and she lived. The next week I replaced the air filter and cabin filter in my mother's car. They were both full of ashes and nearly 100% clogged up.
Thank you for these videos History Guy. You really share some amazing things most have never heard of.
Thank you for this video. I had never heard of this fire. Having been a witness to the much less dire but no less frightening Gatlinburg, TN of 2016, I can appreciate what can happen very quickly when multiple conditions converge to create disaster.
Puts my experience in the CampFire of 2018 in perspective.
Access to automobiles and dedicated and maintained roadways while directed by trained emergency responders having modern communication gear and network.
All did not go perfectly, and many lost their lives, but it could have been so much worse without those modern advantages,
without the toil of hundreds of professionals while in extreme danger to save thousands...
Everything gone in just four, five, hours...
Always say something to those you love
before you leave for the day. You may never get to return.
Excellent video, very moving. It's stunning to realize that such a horrific disaster is almost completely unknown.
It’s very well known.🤦♂️
I never knew about this until today.
Awww, that was so well presented, thank you. Lived in Michigan all my life and never heard of this. Visited Hardwick Pines where you can see just how huge those pines were cuz it's virgin forest. I cant imagine no rain for eleven weeks, that's just unheard of around here. Thanks for all you do, been living on these during 2020 when I'm not working.
Wow. Reminds me of the huge blaze, or indeed blazes, we had here in Victoria in 2009. It was 48 degrees Celsius and 173 people died :-/
As a student, I did not care for history lessons at all. Now as an adult I am very happy to have learned so much history from this channel. Thank you for making history interesting and enjoyable to learn. Your style and methods are very easy to understand. I wish my history teachers were as excited to share historic stories as you are. Thank you! Subscribed and beleive I have seen every one one your videos.
It seems inappropriate to give this video a thumbs up considering the content, but I did. The loss of so many many lives, the complete destruction of a town, and the burning of millions of acres...is worth remembering.
Thank you for taking the time to make this history snippet.
My father is a retired fireman, training officer and chief. This video gave me pause and I stopped a moment to be thankful for his safety during the many fires throughout his career.
Love your channel, thanks.
As a Wisconsinite , I grew up in Antigo. A city not too far from Peshtigo.
We were thought about this great tragedy in grade school.
I visited the museum , although many years ago.
It gave me a great feeling to have you do this memory justice.
As only you could.
Thank you , Sir.
I'm from Antigo as well and have been to the museum too. Learned about the fire very early on.
Thank you for remembering the Peshtigo Fire that was overshadowed by the Great Chicago Fire.
You might also want take a look at another Great fire in Minnesota on or about the same time commonly known as the Hinkley Fire that was of the same magnitude.
Thank you.
Jim McLean
Please , don't ever stop bringing your knowledge to us ! I didn't know I was a serious history fan until you.
I live where this happened . The southeast part of Marinette County is a gorgeous area with lots of wildlife . But I can't even imagine how miserable it must have been for those living here at that time AND for many years after . Nature gave us a beautiful land over time . I'm blessed to live in this region and wish everyone could experience this part of America . And thank you for this channel . Absolutely one of my favorite TH-cam channels .
I really enjoyed your closing comments. Life has risks, some real, some imagined, and some that never occur to us. I have watched over half your videos and the one thing that I can take away from all of them is that none of the players in these moments woke up that morning and said they were going to make history today. They did wake up and embrace the day and with that attitude, they made history. I try to embrace life every day as if it will be my last. Thanks for the great lessons, I really enjoy watching them.
Mr HG, you are truly amazing. This is history I’ve never heard and definitely deserves to be remembered.
In addition to the Chicago and Peshtigo fires around a dozen fires occurred that night across the whole area. The interesting thing being that they all started about the same time, around 9:00 pm if memory serves. Although not known for sure, a good candidate for the cause is a meteor or small asteroid breaking up in the atmosphere, hitting the ground and igniting the various flames.
Bill Kipper Intense heat & lots of dry timber doesn’t need a meteor to get lit. Look at California the last few years.
@@GrahamCStrouse yeah but dozens of fireall at thesame frigging time?????
The new theory is this was a result of a comet
@@randallgates3679 *meteorite
This story stuck with me when I watched this video. Today, I’ve written to two news organizations because they have been calling the Camp Fire in California the deadliest in American history and ask them to make the correction.
The locals (I live in Green Bay) pronounce the name PESH ti go. Aside from that, y' done good History Guy. To this day you can STILL find tree stumps from trees burned in that fire. The museum is worth the drive to see.
Dale Raby someone else had pointed that out as well. Thanks! If I redo this one I will change the pronunciation. I do want to get up to visit the museum.
I saw that, but he did not mention which sylable got the accent. Lots of towns up here are hard to pronounce, i.e.: Suamico, Wauwatosa & Allouez to name just a few. You didn't do so bad.
If/when you visit the museum, gimme a shout. I can suggest a few other historical items that might interest you... i.e.: the Cobia in Manitowoc. I don't do Facebook, but my email is firstlastname@gmail... and yeah, I am the same guy who wrote the book on blacksmithing among others.
+Dale Raby take him to Marinette to see the logging museum. My relative’s picture is in there somewhere.
I just found out about this and unfortunately the museum is closed for the winter. I looked at all the pictures of it online though. Kind of a long ways for me to go anyways just for that. Gives me time to plan my trip to go somewhere else as well that interests me. Thinking maybe the railroad museum in green bay.
are you saying that there were fire storms before the fires in california?? impossible!!....... and again we see that the normal has been overhyped on the coast's and us folks in the middle know better. huh. who'da thought.
Your channel teaches us so much more than history. I cannot express in words how much I appreciate your channel. God bless you, H.G.
Thank you for telling this horrible event with such kindness and compassion. I stopped by Peshtigo once on my many trips thru WI. Never saw the museum but there was a plaque on the road I was on and I was horrified that so many people were trapped and died. I did not catch that it was bigger than the Chicago fire nor that it was on the same day. I agree with the other people here, you have a gift for making history interesting. It's stories about people and we all have them! Memorizing dates is useless for kids, tell them the stories. The dates can always be looked up. It was never fun in school but I look forward to your videos popping up! Thank you!
Thank you for publishing this story as it really does need to be remembered. Another story I think needs to be remembered is the hanging of three innocent men in Duluth MN which took place about 100 years ago by a vigilante mob.
You are correct- the people and the Peshtigo fire needs to be remembered.
I want you to know you are doing an amazing job. Thanks for all the work and research you put into making these videos.
Extra information, there were more fires that day. There were fires in Michigan in what is commonly called the thumb area. Holland, Manistee and Port Huron Michigan burned at the same time. The Northwoods was a rough and tumble area in those days. They use to wonder which was hotter on Friday night, hell, Hurley or Hayward. They wondered after the fires if it was aliens or maybe pieces of the Comet Biela. American and British military studied the firestorm of Peshtigo to create firestorm conditions from bombing. Like Dresden and Tokyo. Another side effect of the fire in Chicago is the change in building materials. One being brownstone quarried from the shores of Lake Superior. The Thumb fire of 1881 was partly do to the fire from Port Huron plus ecological effects of the logging of the time. The next day was called Yellow Day because of the smoke. Minnesota was not spared from the fires of the time period. The Great Hinkley Fire of 1894, the Baudette fire of 1910 and the Cloquet fire of October 1918.
Amen, thanks for remembering those folks.
So sad. Love learning history I've never known. But this made me cry. Even you had a hard time with it. History is sometimes sad but worth remembering. Love this channel.
You're an awesome guy. The way you told that bit of history shows that you really felt for these people as they died in this terrible tragedy. Life is precious and any moment could be our last. Thank you History Guy.
Congrats on that 1 million milestone Sir. Well deserved.
Thanks for this video. Growing up in a small Wisconsin town I learned of this fire in school. It is nice that this video exists to carry their story on. It got me thinking, perhaps you could do a story on Soldiers Grove, WI, the town that had to move because of constant flooding year after year. Thanks for the great videos!
A member of my wife's family survived by jumping in the marsh area. One story says a train carried many to safety and that the train was on fire as it left the town.
The tree shown at 1:41 looks more like a cedar than a white pine.
I learned about this fire when I was in fourth grade, as my history class was more focused on the history of Wisconsin. I lived in the South western part of the state. I thought this was well known at least in the state if not the country due to how wide spread it was.
The summing up you did for the end of this video should be enshrined as the motto for 2020. Thanks for the videos history guy.
I spent many summers in northern Wisconsin and knew about the fire, but people I mention it to are always skeptical that the Chicago Fire was the worst in history. Thanks for doing this piece.
I love history too. Hated it school! Thank you Mr. Hanson!! This was in Wisconsin, yet I learned about this fire from my parents!
This hits close to home, as I live just a few miles from where the Marshall Fire was in Colorado. It happened the same way - major drought and hurricane-force winds. That was one terrifying day! I was actually between that and a smaller fire, freaking out and wondering if I would have to evacuate, then glued to the internet most of the night. It wiped out about nine square miles, nothing compared to the Peshtigo fire, but it was almost three times the size of the Great Chicago Fire. It sure traumatized our community. Seeing entire neighborhoods looking like they've been nuked is hard to wrap your head around. It's amazing that only two people died.
I love hearing about Wisconsin and midwestern history. Thanks much! You're doing a great service to youtube with this series.
Catching up on old episodes...VERY powerful episode! Your cadence and delivery tone were outstanding for such a somber topic. I truly appreciated your summary and reminder of the fragility of life.
My elementary school visited the museum many years ago. Thank you for covering this.
It's fascinating and sad to me how many incredibly tragic and heroic stories are out there waiting to be told, knowing most never will be.
The closing comments are SO appropriate for the world we are now living in.
Wisconsin is my state of origin. As a little kid in the '60s we were taught about Peshtigo, as well as Chicago.
Whenever I get a chance through the seasons with my kids here in Minnesota I point out how life was incredibly rough 150 years ago, here we grew up with the great Hinckley fire which killed over 400, when I went to Chicago as a kid most folks didn't know anything about locations or such as so much time has passed, this was well done, hope you can cover the Hinckley fire someday
+The History Guy, I never heard of this until I found your excellent presentation. You are truly admired by your fellow history buffs. Thank you so much!
You do a great job of this series. May you never run out of material. The vignette style is especially good allowing for short viewing and discussion or just a quick history lesson. Your delivery reminds me a bit of James Burke and I wish you equal success and recognition is you seek that. Thank you again. The great raft of the red river and captain Shreve is an interesting story. Good info can be had at the corps of engineers museum in shreveport.
I find the moments in history that you share to be most fascinating, and they elicit, in me, a broad spectrum of responses. This particular story was very moving, and i appreciate you sharing this epic tragedy that I had not known occurred. Your channel is superb, and your enthusiasm toward history is contagious.
Born & raised in WI, 2 hrs south of Peshtigo. A teacher in grade school was from Wrightstown, about an hour south of Peshtigo, and she had a book about the fire. Maybe it wasn't the best subject to read to kids ages 6 to 10, this was a two room school, but I've been aware of fire safety since then. Thanks History Guy & Gal!!!!
I'm a retired firefighter, I became interested in Conflagrations and fire storms, I read the book writren about this fire, thanks for making this video! To quote a famous saying Fire is a dangerous servant and a fearful master!
Thank you for the story. I grew up in N.E. Wisconsin and we learned about this fire in grade school. It actually burned on both sides of the bay (Green Bay).
Amazing and sad history. Thank you
Anyone who doesn't like this channel is no friend of mine.. period.
You are so heartfelt in telling this story. I really enjoy your lessons
How the hell is this not in history books 1500 dead dam
grew up on a KS farm. chicago fire used about half a page in my history book. the plains wars took a whole chapter. it's all relative
I'm from Wisconsin, not too far from Green Bay either...Only fire I ever heard about was the Great Chicago fire...nice
@@eyerawkutube If you went to eighth grade in Wisconsin, you were supposed to have heard about the Peshtigo fire.
@@kaliberimaging5579 "supposed to have heard"
The "media" of the day was newspapers and "word of mouth". Sensational news, like the present, "sells". The general public never heard of Peshtigo, like the other tragedies of that time. Chicago "won" the headlines because it was internationally known. Even the newspapers had no idea yet of what occurred for even a day. No radio or TV then, right? Today, even history books neglect to print honest truths of real life, kinda like Columbus "discovered" America. WHAT?!
I am now reminded of the conditions now existing in northern california. they sound very similar to the conditions described in you piece about the peshtigo fire. The town of Paradise California can attest to the effect. Thanks for the posting.
Thank you! This is a fact I didn’t know even though I’m a history nut. I got started when I was given the job writing the history of the installation where I was stationed in, in Germany. Once started I eventually found out that I was the 22 person given that job. Luckily I was multilingual.
Wow...It IS utterly amazing, the happenings of history, that go unknown and for so long! I realize that at the time of the event, the town was kinda out in tha boonies. And, as was stated, technology wasn't at all what it is today and so the Peshtigo Fire was eclipsed by the fire in Chicago. But what I am disappointed in, is the fact that this story has been left out of the pages of history that we are taught as students in the public school system. True, I have learned many things, as I think we all have, by watching this channel, that I wasn't taught in school. But this story seems so devastating. Not only to the people it impacted, but to the environment, the economy...The number of towns and acreage involved are just mind boggling to me. Such terrible destruction. And not a word of it shared with the next couple of generations" who might could learn a thing or two" from such a catastrophe. Though, as THG said, there isn't a great deal to divine, as far as "lessons" go, from this tale. But that isn't what qualifies the educational value of a subject, is it? Some things just beckon to be learned of, highly worthy of our time and forever deserving remembrance. So, though there is no day of remembrance set aside or even a brief paragraph in our US History books to prove it happened, we do have something even better in THG, dare I say. A true teacher with a caring soul. Thank you once again sir, for all that you contribute to the world, your legacy is tremendous- but thank you also for what you do for them- the underdogs of history- be they people or sparrows, house cats or hats...thank you for the sheer revelation of truth in all it's historical splendor...
The scary thing is this kind of fire still happens and the only thing saving most of us is slightly more advanced warnings and the occasional lucky air lift.
How terrible and sad,up until today I had not heard of the Peshtigo fire,your description was vivid and disturbing,I am glad to have been educated about this and feel so sad for those people at least they will not be forgotten through videos like yours,best wishes from chilly Liverpool England xx
I love history. It is our only means of context.
I'm a new viewer to your amazing, educational, accurate, and patriotic channel. Thanks from a blue collar guy!
Great video, you have a fantastic way of delivering the information. Well done sir
I wish there something more than a thumbs to express my appreciation for some of your videos.
Horrific. Wow I've heard this story before, you are an excellent storyteller and I appreciate your channel and the way tell the story. Thank you
I love you, man. History guy I consume this stuff like potato chips. I go back and watch them again. Because sometimes I watch them. When I'm stressed. My memory isn't always good like that. But it gets me out of my head at the time. Keep them coming. You set him up. I'll knock them down.🇺🇸🦅🌆
Thank you for remembering.
Thanks for the video. I grew up in Peshtigo. Lived there from 1970 to 1992 and my mother, sister and her family still live there. I attended high school just a block from the museum. My grandmother volunteered at the museum. The older I get, the more I understand the gravity of the Peshtigo fire. As noted in the comments, the pronunciation is PESH-tigo (emphasize first syllable and short i sound in the 2nd syllable)
Thanks! The history books almost never mention that fire. Also it was a bad year for fires! Too many of them too! Thank you again for uncovering that disaster.
Thank you, History Guy, for sharing this most important but awful account. I was ignorant of it, but from now on, upon hearing any mention of the Great Chicago Fire, I will be sure to inform folks of this terrible incident as well. *It most certainly deserves to be remembered!*
My father was a forester for a railroad company in the Pacific Northwest. One of my first memories was of a forest fire in North Idaho known as the Sundance Burn. We lived in a small town just across the border in Washington state. On or about Labor Day, 1968, a lightning caused fire that had been contained jumped the fire line and exploded because of high winds blowing out of the south. It took off with such ferocity and heat that fire scientists later estimated that at its peak, it was equal to three Hiroshima-sized atomic bombs going off every minute. All people could do was get the hell out of the way. It blew out the Pack River Valley in hours. The heat melted the metal supports of a bridge. Two bulldozer operators were killed when the fire overwhelmed them. Lookout towers were evacuated as quickly as possible ahead of it. The lookout on Roman Nose Peak wasn't gotten to in time, but managed to survive by tucking himself into a narrow crevice of the peak with a portable radio. He gave a running account of what was happening until the radio batteries ran out. His tower, like many others, was destroyed.
Bonners Ferry, a small town on the Kootenai River, was right in the fire's path. Burning embers from the fire miles away fell on the small community. The town was evacuated and left to fire firefighters to try and save.
But just as quickly as it started, the fire blew out. The winds died down and the head of the fire got into a previously burned out area. Bonners Ferry was saved.
In 36 hours, the Sundance Burn destroyed 54,000 acres of timber. In some areas, all vegetation was burned off completely. There is no accurate count as to how many animals were killed in the fire. The only human casualties were the two men working on the bulldozer.
To this day, the Sundance Burn is considered one of the most violent forest fires in North America. Students of fire science study it. The image of the huge smoke plume that we watched from our front yard sticks in my mind to this day. The Sundance Burn is forgotten by all but a few now, but it taught everyone that witnessed it the frightful power of Mother Nature.
That's an incredibly sad and sobering story. Tough job finding wisdom at the end of it like you did. You did a good job with this video. Its uncomfortable. But I suppose unknown hundreds of families burning or suffocating to death is extremely uncomfortable.
Makes me want to give my sleeping son a kiss on his head and appreciate how good our lives are right here and now. And how lucky we are and have been.
Well this leaves me in a cheery mood as I sit at home in Berkeley, Ca and 4 huge fires each in a different direction still manage to come closer and closer and pall of smoke blocks out the sun and hangs like a shroud over our city.
But still, as usual, great story telling.
Thanks.
I live in the area. Please do another segment of this fire. You forgot to mention how it jumped the bay of Green Bay, and set fire to Door County, where the community of Brussels is. To give you an idea of the bay distance, I don’t believe you can see land from one side to the other. Also, people jumped in wells trying to survive. Horrible tragedy. BTY, area folk don’t say Pesh- TEE-go, but the TEE sounds like (sorry, tit.) So Pesh-ti-go. LOVE LOVE LOVE your history lessons. Son-in-law is a big history fan, and he keeps me on my toes. Thank you for all that you do.
To be burned alive is a horrible thought and to think of so many people going out this way is overwhelming.
Thank you!
1 of the more touching stories I’ve heard you tell. It would be nice to have you at the campsite to tell stories around the camp fire 🔥. Especially this 1.
Much love from Wisconsin