In January 1998, one of the worst ice storms in North American history brought St. Lawrence County, New York to a complete standstill.
For days, freezing rain coated trees, power lines, and roads with inches of solid ice, causing widespread power outages, collapsed infrastructure, and a humanitarian emergency across the North Country.

This episode tells the true story of the Ice Storm of 1998, focusing specifically on St. Lawrence County, where tens of thousands of residents lost electricity for days—and in some cases, weeks. Entire towns went dark. Homes dropped below freezing. Emergency shelters filled. Utility crews and the New York National Guard were deployed as the power grid collapsed under the weight of the storm.

Through real historical facts, verified reports, and firsthand accounts, this documentary-style episode walks through the storm hour by hour and day by day—from the first flickering lights to the long recovery that permanently changed how Northern New York prepares for winter.

This is not a dramatization.
This is not exaggeration.
This is what actually happened.

️ About the Beard Laws Network
The Beard Laws Network is home to multiple long-form storytelling shows focused on real events, forgotten history, true crime, disasters, and moments that shaped communities. Every episode is built to inform, engage, and preserve real stories—especially those tied to local and regional history.

If you lived through the Ice Storm of 1998—or want to understand how fragile modern life can be—this story matters.

Chapters / Topics Covered:

The weather system that caused the Ice Storm of 1998

Why St. Lawrence County was hit so hard

Power grid collapse across Northern New York

Life inside homes without heat or electricity

Emergency shelters and National Guard response

The quiet deaths and hidden dangers

How the storm permanently changed the region

If you enjoy deep storytelling, real history, and documentary-style episodes, consider subscribing to the Beard Laws Network.

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The Texas City Disaster of 1947 remains the deadliest industrial accident in U.S. history. In this episode of the Yore Town Podcast on the Beard Laws Network, we investigate the catastrophic SS Grand Camp explosion—a tragedy caused by 2,300 tons of ammonium nitrate that changed Texas history and safety regulations forever.

SUBSCRIBE for more dark history and local legends: [Insert Your Channel Link Here]

If you are looking for US history facts or an industrial disasters documentary, this episode breaks down exactly how the largest non-nuclear explosion ever recorded actually happened. We explore the timeline of the blast, the chemical hazards explained, and the controversial legal aftermath where the government was found "not liable."

In this video, we cover:

The SS High Flyer and SS Grand Camp explosions.

Why the fire department was wiped out in seconds.

The 5,000+ injuries and the mass civil lawsuit.

How ammonium nitrate created a tidal wave that destroyed the port.

Check out more from the Beard Laws Network: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VNGk6pLmVDE&list=PLjfRSzSIJjWwhAKxgNqM2np1HpRY5QJxu

#TexasCityDisaster #AmmoniumNitrate #IndustrialAccident #TexasHistory #YoreTownPodcast #BeardLawsNetwork #HistoryFacts #SSGrandCamp

Chapters

00:00 The Texas City Disaster: A Tragic Morning
03:18 Understanding Ammonium Nitrate and Its Risks
11:02 The Catastrophic Explosion and Its Aftermath
16:59 Lessons Learned and Historical Significance

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In 1932, one man did the impossible. He survived alone in the Yukon wilderness at $-40$ degrees, outran the Royal Canadian Mounted Police for weeks, and stood his ground against dynamite and an army of trackers.In this episode of the Yore Town Podcast, Matt (Beard Laws) and Meg dive into the chilling mystery of The Mad Trapper of Rat River. Who was Albert Johnson? How did he move faster than dog teams in waist-deep snow? And why, after his final stand, did he leave behind no fingerprints, no history, and no real name?From the first shot fired at a constable to the first-ever use of an airplane in a Canadian manhunt, we break down the survival tactics and the eerie silence of the man who chose to disappear into the ice.In this episode, we discuss:The brutal reality of survival in the Yukon Territory.How Albert Johnson turned his cabin into a ballistic fortress.The high-stakes manhunt that changed the RCMP forever.The mystery of Johnson’s perfect teeth and military precision.Subscribe to Yore Town for more true stories from the edge of history!

If you're invested in true crime and believe in justice, hit the like button and subscribe to Yore Town Podcast!

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Follow on Socials

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Support the Show

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In this chilling narrative, we explore the harsh reality of winter in the Yukon Territory, where the cold weather is not just a season but an environment that demands respect. Learn about the dangers of frost bite and the unforgiving nature of winter life in this northern living landscape. This story reminds us that in the Yukon, survival is a constant challenge.

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On October 8, 1871, while the world watched Chicago burn, the deadliest wildfire in American history was destroying Peshtigo, Wisconsin. In this episode of the Yore Town Podcast, Beard Laws and Meg uncover the forgotten history of the Peshtigo Fire—a disaster so hot it created its own weather systems, fire tornadoes, and boiled rivers.

Most people know about the Great Chicago Fire, but few know that on the exact same night, a firestorm in Northeastern Wisconsin killed over 1,500 people and burned 1.2 million acres. Why did history forget this tragedy?

In this episode, we discuss:

How the logging industry turned the forest into "dry powder."

The science behind a "firestorm" and hurricane-force fire winds.

Terrifying survivor accounts of burying themselves in dirt to survive.

Why the Great Chicago Fire overshadowed this massive tragedy.

If you are a fan of dark history, survival stories, and forgotten American events, this episode is a must-watch.

#PeshtigoFire #AmericanHistory #YoreTownPodcast #DarkHistory #SurvivalStories #WisconsinHistory #Wildfire

About the Beard Laws Network The Beard Laws Network is home to weekly shows covering true crime, conspiracies, family-life comedy, sports legends, and strange local history. New episodes drop every week from:

Yore Town Podcast (True Crime) – Mondays Watch the Series Here

TTT Podcast (Conspiracies) – Tuesdays Watch the Series Here

Stay Outta My Fridge (Family Comedy) – Thursdays Watch the Series Here

Street Sign Storytime (Local Lore) – Sundays Watch the Series Here

Subscribe to never miss an episode!

Listen to Full Episodes & Clips ➜ Beard Laws Network Shorts: https://www.youtube.com/@BeardLawsNetwork/shorts ➜ Main Beard Laws Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@BeardLaws

Follow on Socials TikTok, Instagram, Facebook, and more → https://linktr.ee/beardlaws

Support the Show Like, comment, and share this episode — it helps the Network grow a TON!

If you're invested in true crime and believe in justice, hit the like button and subscribe to Yore Town Podcast!

Listen to Full Episodes & Clips

➜ Beard Laws Network Shorts: https://www.youtube.com/@BeardLawsNetwork/shorts

➜ Main Beard Laws Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@BeardLaws

Follow on Socials

TikTok, Instagram, Facebook, and more → https://linktr.ee/beardlaws

Support the Show

Like, comment, and share this episode — it helps the Network grow a TON!

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On July 30th, 1899, a small fire and a steady wind erased nearly two-thirds of Tupper Lake, NY in a single night.

In this episode of the Yore Town Podcast, we travel back to the late 19th century in the Adirondacks. Tupper Lake was a boomtown built for loggers, mill workers, and railroad laborers. It was fast, practical, and constructed almost entirely of wood. But it had one fatal flaw: No fire department.

We break down the timeline of the disaster, from the first spark behind King & Page’s store to the "continuous roar" of collapsing buildings that followed. We explore how 169 buildings—including homes, churches, and hotels—were lost, and the incredible decision the town made the very next morning: To stay and rebuild from the ashes.

In this episode:

Why Tupper Lake was a "tinderbox" waiting to explode.

The chaos of a town fighting a massive blaze with only buckets.

The morning after: How a town survives losing everything.

The transition from a temporary logging camp to a permanent community.

About Yore Town Podcast: Exploring the local legends, forgotten history, and true stories of the towns you think you know.

Subscribe for more local history and folklore!

#TupperLake #AdirondackHistory #YoreTownPodcast #GreatFire1899 #NYHistory #SmallTownHistory #DisasterHistory #TupperLakeNY

About the Beard Laws Network The Beard Laws Network is home to weekly shows covering true crime, conspiracies, family-life comedy, sports legends, and strange local history. New episodes drop every week from:

Yore Town Podcast (True Crime) – Mondays Watch the Series Here

TTT Podcast (Conspiracies) – Tuesdays Watch the Series Here

Stay Outta My Fridge (Family Comedy) – Thursdays Watch the Series Here

Street Sign Storytime (Local Lore) – Sundays Watch the Series Here

Subscribe to never miss an episode!

Listen to Full Episodes & Clips ➜ Beard Laws Network Shorts: https://www.youtube.com/@BeardLawsNetwork/shorts ➜ Main Beard Laws Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@BeardLaws

Follow on Socials TikTok, Instagram, Facebook, and more → https://linktr.ee/beardlaws

Support the Show Like, comment, and share this episode — it helps the Network grow a TON!

If you're invested in true crime and believe in justice, hit the like button and subscribe to Yore Town Podcast!

Listen to Full Episodes & Clips

➜ Beard Laws Network Shorts: https://www.youtube.com/@BeardLawsNetwork/shorts

➜ Main Beard Laws Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@BeardLaws

Follow on Socials

TikTok, Instagram, Facebook, and more → https://linktr.ee/beardlaws

Support the Show

Like, comment, and share this episode — it helps the Network grow a TON!

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A stranger answered a room-for-rent ad, passed every background check, and moved in. Then, he tortured his landlord and vanished into thin air.

In this episode of Yore Town Podcast, we cover the terrifying unsolved murder of Oakey "Al" Kite. In 2004, Al did everything right when renting out his spare room in Aurora, Colorado. He checked references, verified employment, and trusted the man calling himself "Robert Cooper."

But Robert Cooper didn't exist. We break down how this "Ghost Renter" fabricated an entire identity just to commit a calculated, torture-based murder. We discuss the DNA evidence left behind, the chilling ATM footage, and why investigators believe this man might still be out there, living under a new name.

In this episode, we cover: Intro: The crime that knocks first The Victim: Who was Al Kite? The Renter: Meeting "Robert Cooper" The Deception: How he faked a background check The Crime: A torture session in the basement The Aftermath: The ATM video and the vanishing The DNA: Building a face from biology The Theory: Is he a serial killer?

#TrueCrime #AlKite #UnsolvedMysteries #ColdCase #YoreTownPodcast #BeardLaws #RobertCooper #DNAphenotyping #MurderMystery

About the Beard Laws Network The Beard Laws Network is home to weekly shows covering true crime, conspiracies, family-life comedy, sports legends, and strange local history. New episodes drop every week from:

Yore Town Podcast (True Crime) – Mondays Watch the Series Here

TTT Podcast (Conspiracies) – Tuesdays Watch the Series Here

Stay Outta My Fridge (Family Comedy) – Thursdays Watch the Series Here

Street Sign Storytime (Local Lore) – Sundays Watch the Series Here

Subscribe to never miss an episode!

Listen to Full Episodes & Clips ➜ Beard Laws Network Shorts: https://www.youtube.com/@BeardLawsNetwork/shorts ➜ Main Beard Laws Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@BeardLaws

Follow on Socials TikTok, Instagram, Facebook, and more → https://linktr.ee/beardlaws

Support the Show Like, comment, and share this episode — it helps the Network grow a TON!

If you're invested in true crime and believe in justice, hit the like button and subscribe to Yore Town Podcast!

Listen to Full Episodes & Clips

➜ Beard Laws Network Shorts: https://www.youtube.com/@BeardLawsNetwork/shorts

➜ Main Beard Laws Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@BeardLaws

Follow on Socials

TikTok, Instagram, Facebook, and more → https://linktr.ee/beardlaws

Support the Show

Like, comment, and share this episode — it helps the Network grow a TON!

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We investigate the dark truth behind the Lawson Family murders of Christmas Day 1929—the eerie family portrait, the "brain injury" theory, and why one son was left alive.

In this episode of Yore Town, we uncover the chilling story of Charlie Lawson, the tobacco farmer who took his family into town for new clothes and a portrait just days before systematically ending their lives on Christmas morning. It remains one of the most haunting unsolved mysteries in North Carolina history.

We analyze the strange behavior leading up to the crime, the eerie silence of the house that morning, and the "sequence" of events that suggests this wasn't a snap decision—it was a plan. Was it a traumatic brain injury? A dark family secret? Or something more sinister?

In this episode, we cover: Intro: The Silent House on Christmas Day The Warning Signs: The "New Clothes" & The Portrait The Sequence: How the tragedy unfolded in Germanton, NC The Survivor: Arthur Lawson's story The Theories: Brain injury vs. Premeditated evil The Aftermath: A tourist attraction built on tragedy

#LawsonFamilyMurders #TrueCrime #ChristmasTragedy #YoreTown #CharlieLawson #UnsolvedMysteries #TrueCrimePodcast #BeardLaws #1929Crime

About the Beard Laws Network The Beard Laws Network is home to weekly shows covering true crime, conspiracies, family-life comedy, sports legends, and strange local history. New episodes drop every week from:

Yore Town Podcast (True Crime) – Mondays Watch the Series Here

TTT Podcast (Conspiracies) – Tuesdays Watch the Series Here

Stay Outta My Fridge (Family Comedy) – Thursdays Watch the Series Here

Street Sign Storytime (Local Lore) – Sundays Watch the Series Here

Subscribe to never miss an episode!

Listen to Full Episodes & Clips ➜ Beard Laws Network Shorts: https://www.youtube.com/@BeardLawsNetwork/shorts ➜ Main Beard Laws Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@BeardLaws

Follow on Socials TikTok, Instagram, Facebook, and more → https://linktr.ee/beardlaws

Support the Show Like, comment, and share this episode — it helps the Network grow a TON!

If you're invested in true crime and believe in justice, hit the like button and subscribe to Yore Town Podcast!

Listen to Full Episodes & Clips

➜ Beard Laws Network Shorts: https://www.youtube.com/@BeardLawsNetwork/shorts

➜ Main Beard Laws Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@BeardLaws

Follow on Socials

TikTok, Instagram, Facebook, and more → https://linktr.ee/beardlaws

Support the Show

Like, comment, and share this episode — it helps the Network grow a TON!

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

We investigate the tragic Bardstown Murders, the unsolved true crime case that shattered the innocence of a small Kentucky town and captivated the nation.

In this powerful episode of the Yore Town Podcast, we take a deep dive into the string of shocking, interconnected, and still unsolved murders that rocked Bardstown, Kentucky. This is a small town with big secrets. We explore the details of the initial crime, the suspects, the subsequent investigations, and the devastating impact this wave of violence had on the community.

From the quiet streets to the national headlines, this case raises chilling questions about how well you can ever truly know your neighbors. If you are interested in unsolved true crime, small-town mysteries, and cases where justice is still waiting, this episode is essential listening.

#YoreTownPodcast #BardstownMurders #KentuckyTrueCrime #UnsolvedMurders #SmallTownSecrets #TrueCrimePodcast #BeardLaws

About the Beard Laws Network

The Beard Laws Network is home to weekly shows covering true crime, conspiracies, family-life comedy, sports legends, and strange local history. New episodes drop every week from:

Yore Town Podcast (True Crime) – Mondays

TTT Podcast (Conspiracies) – Tuesdays

Stay Outta My Fridge (Family Comedy) – Thursdays

Street Sign Storytime (Local Lore) – Sundays

Subscribe to never miss an episode!

If you are fascinated by cold cases and unsolved mysteries, hit the like button and subscribe to Yore Town Podcast!

If you're invested in true crime and believe in justice, hit the like button and subscribe to Yore Town Podcast!

Listen to Full Episodes & Clips

➜ Beard Laws Network Shorts: https://www.youtube.com/@BeardLawsNetwork/shorts

➜ Main Beard Laws Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@BeardLaws

Follow on Socials

TikTok, Instagram, Facebook, and more → https://linktr.ee/beardlaws

Support the Show

Like, comment, and share this episode — it helps the Network grow a TON!

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.