H.H.Holmes in Chicago 1893!

[sdreid]

Perhaps it's because I'm from Illinois but I thought Holmes was fairly well known. There were several books about him.

Incidentally, some of the Harpes' murders occurred in what would become the future state of Illinois. The same holds true for the prospective state of Mississippi. Other slayings happened in Kentucky and Tennessee which were a part of the union at the time of the killings.

[Celesta]

Here's the link to SPE's book. I thought it must have been written shortly after Holmes was caught. Dates to 1896. Thanks, Stewart.

http://www.hhholmesthefilm.com/memorabilia.html

[sdreid]

Regarding Hollywood, I believe there's some speculation that the 1932 two-color film Doctor X might have been inspired by Doctor H.

[Archaic]

Stan, I think Holmes is very little known outside Chicago; it's strange.

Celesta, thanks for that terrific link!

I especially love the 1954 "pulp" cover 'Castle of Horrors'...
nothing like a little historic realism, lol!

Best regards, Archaic

[sdreid]

Yes, I love those wonderful old detective magazines with the water color covers. The golden age was actually the 1930s when the covers were works of art in my view. By the 1950s, they were more the illustration quality you see in this example.

I remember seeing The Torture Doctor in book stores back in the 70s and considered purchasing it but didn't. At least I have The Devil in the White City now.

Interesting that the site doesn't list Harold Schecter's book on Holmes, Depraved: ..., that came out in 1994.

I have a few examples of Lights Out on CD but unfortunately the Holmes radio program is not included. The Radio Spirits Catalog has two CD volumes of the show but I don't see it listed there either.

[Archaic]

Hi, Stan, have you ever gone on one of the 'Haunted Chicago' tours? Do they go by the old site of the Holmes "Castle"?

I'm also wondering if anyone, perhaps the police, took photos of the interior before the building burned.

And is it true that it did not "burn to the ground" as is usually claimed?
Is there anything left of it today?

Thanks & Happy 4th of July! Archaic

[sdreid]

Hi Arc,

No, I haven't been on any of the tours. Perhaps I'll take one in some day.

I'm a couple of hours away from Chicago and don't get up there too often. We're those hayseeds who live south of I-80.

[Archaic]

Stan, I've abandoned city life & become a hayseed myself!


Archaic

[j.r-ahde]

Hello you all!

Celesta, there seems to be loads of books about mr. Holmes!

Stan, if I ever visit The States, which place is worth seeing in Illinois after The Windy City?!

All the best
Jukka

[sdreid]

Hi Jukka,

Since we're primarily an agricultural state, our main geographical feature is the horizon.

We do have:

President Lincoln's home as well as his tomb in Springfield.

President Grant's home in Galena where he lived out his life and wrote his memoirs.

Caterpillar Inc. - the global monopoly.

And two that I will go into later when I have time - Starved Rock and Nauvoo

[sdreid]

Starved Rock is about an acre sized mesa where atop, around 1770, a band of Peoria Indians was trapped by another tribe. There they chose to starve to death and die of thirst rather than surrender.

It is also the site of a famous murder in 1960. Then, three well-to-do Chicago women were killed while visiting the landmark. A man named Chester Weger was convicted of the slayings but some people think he was railroaded. In a rather creepy aspect to the case, when the film in one of the women's cameras was developed, a shadowy figure can be seen lurking in the background. The presumption is that this was the murderer.

[sdreid]

The town of Nauvoo, IL was founded by the prophet of the Mormon religion, Joseph Smith. As the leader there, he announced that he was running for President of the United States in 1840. He was then arrested for conspiracy and housed with his brother in the jail at nearby Carthage, IL. While incarcerated there, a mob stormed the place and murdered them both.

[Archaic]

Hi, Stan...

What, nothing about Deep-Dish Pizza, old Chicago Blues,
and Al Capone???

Regards, Archaic

[sdreid]

Hi Arc,

Along with the deep-dish pizza, don't forget the Eli's Cheesecake.

I was answering Jukka's question about what to see outside of Chicago and I forgot the butter sculpture of the cow at the State Fair.

And now back on topic. I wonder if the site of the castle is currently in a neighborhood where I could go or am I "wearing the wrong uniform".

[HollyDolly]

H.H.Holmes in Chicago in 1893

I'm surprised no one has done a movie about him yet.
Go to www.prarieghosts.com,Troy Taylor's website. Under Haunted America he has something about H.H.Holmes and the fate of the murder castle, or just Google H.H.Holmes.
I learned about him from my dad. Now how daddy heard of him, I'm not sure.
But yes, he is a forgotten serial killer.

Also, I found by accident about Andrew Kehoe, and the Bath michigan school massacre.This took place in the 1920s. He was a farmer and school board member. His life was going down the drain,so he decided to get back at everyone by blowing up the school.
www.trutv.com has something on this, and I have seen it elsewhere.
Go to their Crime Library and I think he is under serial killers.
Also, go to Amazon and Barnes and Noble for the following book.

Bath Massacre:America's First School Bombing
University of Michigan Press,2009 by Arnie Bernstein
Most people know absolutely nothing about this.