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Salt Lake City's Avenues District is the oldest neighborhood in one of the oldest cities in The Mountain West. From polygamists, to golf promotors, a house that was used as the set of a horror movie, to a rumored rental of Ted Bundy, this old neighborhood played host to some of the strangest and most quirky stories in SLC. On this episode we hear Cevan LeSieur, author of two books about the avenues, tell us some of the more interesting stories from this small neighborhood with a big history.

PHOTO: This is Governor William Spry's home shortly after it was moved to I street. Photographer's name wasn't given.

Buy Cevan's Books:

Images of America

The Avenues of Salt Lake City

Sources:

A Bit about The LDS Church in Denmark

Otto Branning the Chili King

More about The Grabeteria

The Death of Mrs Moormeister and some more on that

Jeremy Pugh's Article about Mrs Moormeister's Murder "Utah's Black Dahlia"

A Bit About Joe Hill The Executed Labor Activist

Bomb Found at Governor Spry's Residence

Bomb Meant for Governor Spry Explodes in a Boxcar

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From Mark Twain to Saddam Hussein, Curt Cobain to John Wayne, Presidents, Dictators, Outlaws, and Artists have kept pets and on this episode we talk about some of the weirder ones.

Sources:

The Presidential Pet Museum Drunkard and Satan Presidential Cow
Jefferson's Ram killed a little boy Tiger cubs The Coolidge Pets
Presidential Alligators? The Yuki Johnson Duets The Carter Elephant
Reagan’s fish The Prince's Fish Biden’s dog Major
Biden's Dog Commander Hemingway Hunter S Thompson
Hitler and Blondie Stalin and HIs Bear Mao’s cricket Hitchcock dogs
Kubrick Cats Cobain Cats Sid Vicious Billy Joe’s Dog Escobar
USMC Dogs Mayor Max III

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Do you remember a house that you were warned to stay away from? On this episode we explore the truths of a legend that turned one unfortunate woman into a "witch" in the minds of her neighbors at the mouth of Parley's Canyon in Utah.

Please check out Jennifer Jones' Blog: The Dead History

If you'd like to visit Parley's Hollow Nature Park here's their website: https://www.slc.gov/parks/parks-division/parleys-historic-nature-park/

Sources:

Deseret News Article: https://www.deseret.com/1992/7/31/18997457/sugar-house-memories-br/

Susan Dudler's Death Certificate https://images.findagrave.com/photos/2018/166/105839865_f9631c0a-8883-4570-9215-2f3b4a02af39.jpeg

Susan Dudler's Obituary https://images.findagrave.com/photos/2013/56/105839865_136190971385.jpg

Amelia's Overdose: https://images.findagrave.com/photos/2013/56/105860220_136191426427.jpg

Joseph Dudler's Obituary https://www.newspapers.com/search/results/?date=1897&keyword=dudler®ion=us-ut

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In 1972 Mike Shay hitchhiked from Texas To Berkley, CA. He shares the odd, funny, and frightening things that happened to him on his trip and what he learned about being an American.

NOTE: I do not condone hitchhiking, but I think this is a good story.

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Putting the same amount of energy and passion that most artists reserve for marble or metal, Catherine Morris sculpts what she sees in her mind's eye into sand. If that wasn't hard enough, she lives thousands of miles from the nearest ocean. To find out how this Wyomingite who'd never even taken an art class got so good at sculpting sand in one of America's windiest states, check out this episode.

Visit Catherine's Facebook Page

See a video of Catherine Sculpting the fish from this episode

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In the early 1960's when it was believed that "only crazy people saw UFO's," psychologist Leo Sprinkle began to interview alleged UFO witnesses, but when he started to share his findings, many of his fellow scientists proved to be anything but inquiring or open minded. Find out what happened to a man who tried to use what he had learned about examining the world around him to get answers that many people still weren't ready for.

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What's it like living 30 minutes from a nuclear missile site? What's it like working in one? On this episode we explore working 60 feet underground waiting for Armageddon along with the dark humor and odd conditions that coincide with being able to turn keys and send nuclear firepower over the north pole in thirty minutes or less.

Visit the Quebec 01 Missile Alert Facility

Why Dominoes Stopped "Thirty Minutes or Less"

NOTE: This episode's photo was taken at a missile alert facility in South Dakota not Wyoming and features Missileer Tony Gatlin who does not appear on this episode.

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While Laramie, Wyoming doesn't seem like a hot spot for ska or punk, a handful of Wyomingites came together in the 90's to form a blistering, crisp ensemble of fast and hard ska that rivaled what was being played by bands from much bigger places. Here is the story of Charlie Pathetic...

Please check out their website

You can also listen to their album here

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