Wild Quincy

Few people had as interesting perspective of history unfolding as did Quincian, Orville Hickman Browning. Orville was an early settler here whose early legal career would blossom into politics and would go on to hold some of highest offices in the country. We dig into his influence in and around Quincy and Washington as well as his lifelong friendship with Abraham Lincoln, not to mention his time...

Unfortunately not all crimes are solved but this 1966 double murder of two young females was an open and shut case, thats until the Miranda Rights ruling came down from the Supreme Court. Learn how a Quincy murderer, who confessed to the killings, walked away a free man and how that decision ended up ultimately costing the life of another person. Support Wild Quincy and you can unlock additional b...

When we want to take a trip to St. Louis we jump in the car and go, but not too long ago what takes just a couple hours would take days by horse and buggy. That all changed in the 1800's when the steamboat became the premier way to travel. However, taking a steamboat to your destination was not the safest way to travel, not by a long shot. In this episode we learn about steamboat travel on the Mis...

When you think aviation pioneers you probably first think of none other than the Wright Brothers. But in the early 1900's Quincy's own Thomas Baldwin was just as much in the light as Wilber and Orville. In this, our second episode about Baldwin, learn about his new California Arrow and how gained aerial supremacy with just one flight. Support Wild Quincy and you can unlock additional bonus content...

Let’s face it, there are SO many uniquely designed homes and businesses in the Quincy area. Pick just about any street and find some neat home or find a grand building along in one of the business districts, there is just a ton of fascinating architecture in Quincy. In this episode, Chris and Travis pick out buildings that they find interesting and dig into the history and the architecture of thes...

As we continue with our mobster series, we look into the historical record involving Don Hammond. A notorious name in Quincy's past, was he a criminal with mob ties or a hotel/bar owner just making a living giving the public what they wanted?....or both? Join us as we look into the 70s in Quincy, an era where Quincy went to great lengths and had to get creative with local laws and regulations as i...

There have been a fair share of tragedies that have hit the country over the last 200 plus years but one event has received very little attention since it happened, and yet it may have had the greatest impact on the Gem City. In this episode we dive into how the depression hit Quincy.   Support Wild Quincy and you can unlock additional bonus content. Email us at wildquincy@gmail.com and don't forg...

We’re kicking off this season’s first “people episode” with none other than Quincy’s own Brooke Trantor. After heading to Los Angeles to pursue acting, Brooke expanded her craft into producing, directing, and writing. And next month, she’s bringing her short films home to the State Street Theater as well as setting up for film production for a new movie right here in the Gem City! Have a Happy Tha...

Chances are if you've lived in Quincy over the last...say...130 years, you have most likely gone to this place for some event. But the history of Turner Hall is much, much more than just concerts and banquets. To kick off season 7 we find out about the origins of this fascinating building that was a staple of Quincy entertainment, social gatherings and place of rock for nearly 130 years. ---------...

John Wood Community College just finished celebrating its 50th anniversary, and within those 50 years one instructor has been there for an astonishing 38! In this episode get to know the instructor that you probably had if you were a JWCC student, Professor Mike Terry. -----   Support Wild Quincy  and you can unlock additional bonus content. Email us at wildquincy@gmail.com or call/text our listen...

You've heard about it, may have even visited it, but do you know the history of Adams Counties most well known cave? In this double feature episode, Chris gives a brief background into the history of the wild Burton Cave and Travis talks about the history of, for a lack of a better term, newspapers in the past called "wild men" in our last unexplained episode of season 6. -------------------------...

Not all of Quincy Illinois history is unicorns and rainbows and this was certainly true back during the turn of the century with evidence of all the various houses of ill repute. In our past episodes we only scratch the surface. This time we're back to really get down in the weeds. In this first of a multi-part series we set our eyes upon 210 Broadway a notorious brothel that at some points in the...

A German Catholic town would almost seem incomplete without a brewery and for Quincy, Illinois one wasn't enough! Find out about the fascinating history of breweries in town with special guest Bret Austin, current owner of the Dick Brothers Brewery. ------------------------------------------   Support Wild Quincy  and you can unlock additional bonus content. Email us at wildquincy@gmail.com or cal...

You've heard the name now find out the complete story of the man known as the "Father of the Modern Parachute," Thomas Baldwin. In this first part we talk about his earlier years performing in the circus and how an idea of building a parachute created a lifelong career in the world of aviation. Trust us when we say what you know about Thomas Baldwin is just the tip of the iceberg. Be looking for p...

There's been a lot of talk recently of drone activity not only across the United States but also in our own backyard. We've invited back paranormal researcher and ufo enthusiast Teri Mosby to come and talk about all this strange activity and if there is more to come.     Support Wild Quincy  and you can unlock additional bonus content. Email us at wildquincy@gmail.com or call/text our listener com...

Unfortunately some murders in the Quincy area go unsolved, and for nearly 40 years the mysterious murder of nine year old Patty Ann Smith was one of them. But a new revelation, given by a relative may just have given closure to the family and finally put a name to the person who did the horrible act. Find out about this story with WGEM news anchor Rajah Maples. ------------------------------------...

Those who have grown up in the Quincy, Illinois area are most likely familiar with the Native American Mounds within the Indian Mounds Park area, but most probably don't know that there were and are many, many more mounds in the area. Join us as we dig into the history of the various mounds in the area as we start to investigate just who these mound building people were that were here long before...

History can not be made without planning. That is a quote that Chris made up but it probably should be in a book somewhere. Who better to talk to about the future (and past) of Quincy than the man who has been planning it for 30 years, Quincy City Planner Chuck Bevelhiemer joins us in our first people episode of the year!   Support Wild Quincy  and you can unlock additional bonus content. Email us...

The Pfanschmidt Murders remains one of the biggest unsolved murder cases in the tri-state area. After reading the book " The Man from the Train: The Solving of a Century-Old Serial Killer Mystery " by authors Bill James and Rachel McCarthy James, we realized we needed to revisit the topic and present the theory from the book. We go over the theory and compare apples to apples. Find out about the m...

We continue with our ongoing quest to find out more about the underbelly of the Quincy area over the last century. As we've been researching this topic an interesting character (with an interesting nickname to boot), surfaced many times. Find out about Murl R. Job, or as Quincy knew him best; "Turkey" Job in our first crime episode of the season. Support Wild Quincy  and you can unlock additional...

If you were looking for summertime fun on the river in Quincy, Illinois, there was only one place to go, Hogback Island. In our kick-off to season 6 we explore over a century of stories about this location and find out how it was both famous and infamous. So get your beach towels, relax, and enjoy the history of this fasinating island.   ------------------ Support Wild Quincy  and you can unlock a...

He's been in your living rooms giving you weather forecasts for over 20 years. Now get to know the other side of WGEM Chief Meteorologist Brian Inman on our last episode of season 5. --- Support Wild Quincy  and you can unlock additional bonus content. Email us at wildquincy@gmail.com or call/text our listener comment line at (612) 666-9453. Don't forget to subscribe to Wild Quincy on the podcast...

For nearly 30 years and up to his death a man lived in Quincy that was a sort of celebrity in the psychic world. His name? Ted Serios. His ability? Using his mind to create pictures on a polaroid camera. If it sounds to unbelievable, you're not alone, many skeptics claimed his abilities were fraudulent. Were they right, or was it genuine, we'll talk it over. Find out about this intriguing man in t...

Certainly ranking up there as one of the more gruesome murders to ever take place in the Gem City. Peace and Love turned to bloodshed when Stanley Goodside was found in pieces, in different parts of the state. Was it a love triangle gone wrong, a bad drug deal or something else? Find out about this 1976 murder on this episode with returning guest Rodney Hart. Support Wild Quincy  and you can unloc...

Think politics seems crazy today? Let us tell you a story of when the country was being ripped in two by slavery and tensions between parties and those voting became so intense that blood was shed. Oh, and this didn't happen in Washington D.C. or New York, nope, right here in just south of Payson and Plainville in Adams County! Learn about The Stone's Prairie Riot here on this episode of Wild Quin...