Dark La Crosse Stories

Follow Dark La Crosse Stories
Share on
Copy link to clipboard

Podcast looks at the seedier side of La Crosse, Wis., history. This podcast is a partnership between the La Crosse Public Library and the La Crosse Tribune. The stories, which are all at least 50 years old, cover everything from the city’s red-light district and counterfeiters, to a double homicide and suicide, and murder over a pearl when La Crosse had an established pearl industry. For more information and to see video versions of these episodes featuring historic photos and headlines, click here >> http://bit.ly/darklacrosse

La Crosse Tribune and La Crosse Public Library


    • Sep 28, 2021 LATEST EPISODE
    • infrequent NEW EPISODES
    • 11m AVG DURATION
    • 50 EPISODES


    Search for episodes from Dark La Crosse Stories with a specific topic:

    Latest episodes from Dark La Crosse Stories

    Dark La Crosse Stories Episode 50: A Celebrated Recluse II

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 28, 2021 18:05


    A lot of rumors swirled around the "celebrated recluse" of La Crosse, Mary Ann Parker — but was there any truth that she murdered her husband? See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    Dark La Crosse Stories Episode 49: A Celebrated Recluse I

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 21, 2021 13:02


    Mary Ann Parker was a strange woman who had been holed up in her house ever since her husband died. Were the rumors true about her? See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    Dark La Crosse Stories Episode 48: Red Light District

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 7, 2021 10:09


    You may visit this now family-friendly block to get ice cream and sweets, but it has a sordid history in La Crosse. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    Dark La Crosse Stories Episode 47: The Big Fellow

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 24, 2021 9:51


    One of the biggest shadows to loom in the La Crosse Police Department. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    Dark La Crosse Stories Episode 46: The Boss Bigamist

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 10, 2021 12:40


    "The boss bigamist of the United States belongs to La Crosse." See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    Dark La Crosse Stories Episode 45: La Crosse's Drug Problem

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 27, 2021 12:13


    The issues of drugs and addiction are nothing new to La Crosse. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    Dark La Crosse Stories Episode 44: Specters in the Night

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 26, 2021 10:01


    What's the scariest La Crosse ghost story you've ever heard? See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    Dark La Crosse Stories Episode 43: Officer Down!

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 30, 2021 11:01


    "Halt" would be the last word officer Perry Gates ever said. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    Dark La Crosse Stories Episode 42: The Great Fire of 1886

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 15, 2021 10:17


    It started with a spark. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    Dark La Crosse Stories Episode 41: Death on the Tracks

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 1, 2021 12:23


    Four members of the Goose Green Gang cause trouble on the area segment of the Milwaukee Road. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    Dark La Crosse Stories Episode 40: Lucky Lindy & the Widow Murder

    Play Episode Listen Later May 18, 2021 9:30


    In 1927, famous aviator Charles Lindbergh flew over the city of La Crosse, dropping a note — but it wasn't the top headline of the day. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    Dark La Crosse Stories Episode 39: Love at First Shot

    Play Episode Listen Later May 4, 2021 12:02


    A young La Crosse woman's wedding day was going perfectly — until an ex decided to take a "shot" at stopping the big day. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    Dark La Crosse Stories Episode 38: Tragedy on the Docks

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 20, 2021 14:48


    One of La Crosse's most known tragedies, told through the voice of someone who was onboard the ship. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    Dark La Crosse Stories Episode 37: Cameron House Bears and Other Stories

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 6, 2021 16:53


    A $133 bank robbery, a bear's layover, a courtroom brawl and more interesting vignettes from La Crosse's history. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    Dark La Crosse Stories Episode 36: The Mistress

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 23, 2021 9:56


    This latest, gruesome episode tells the story of one affair between a La Crosse couple came to an end with a hammer on Dead Man's Curve. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    Dark La Crosse Stories Episode 35: Ballad of Brinkman Ridge Part 2

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 16, 2021 12:44


    The twists and turns continue in part two of this Brinkman Ridge story. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    Dark La Crosse Stories Episode 34: Ballad of Brinkman Ridge Part 1

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 8, 2021 11:13


    This first episode in a two-part story begins to unravel a mystery full of twists and turns from one family on Brinkman Ridge. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    Dark La Crosse Stories Episode 33: The Bodega Ghost

    Play Episode Listen Later May 19, 2020 10:47


    Here's why many people believe this longtime building in downtown La Crosse is haunted. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    Dark La Crosse Stories Episode 32: The Pearl Button Murder

    Play Episode Listen Later May 5, 2020 13:12


    A paycheck dispute leads to foreman being shot to death in 1910. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    Dark La Crosse Stories Episode 31: George Brooks' bloodhounds had a nose for solving crimes

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 21, 2020 15:12


    Dogs trained by a soda jerk at the Bodega Lunch Club were valuable in a variety of criminal and missing persons investigations. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    Dark La Crosse Stories Episode 30: The nine husbands of Emma Cameron

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 7, 2020 11:32


    She was known to some as the Toast of the Northwest and to others as a femme fatale. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    Dark La Crosse Stories Episode 29: 1927 jail break had tragic consequences

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 25, 2020 8:59


    A friendly fire incident in La Crosse turned deadly. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    Dark La Crosse Stories Episode 28: La Crosse's Darkest Hour Part 2

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 17, 2020 10:25


    This is the second in a two-part story that describes how a political celebration turned ugly in 1884. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    Dark La Crosse Stories Episode 27: La Crosse's darkest hour

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 10, 2020 8:41


    This is the first in a two-part story that describes how a political celebration turned ugly in 1884. The second part will be released March 17. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    Dark La Crosse Stories Episode 26: Woman on trial for performing an abortion in 1912

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 25, 2020 14:16


    00000000 00000210 000007F5 000000000306FF7B 00000000 01A5B65F 00000000 00000000 00000000 00000000 00000000 00000000 See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    Dark La Crosse Stories Episode 25: Long ago newspaper editor accused of treason

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 11, 2020 12:46


    La Crosse newspaper man Marcus ‘Brick' Pomeroy took a controversial position during the Civil War. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    Dark La Crosse Stories Episode 24: 1859 scuffle over property rights turned deadly

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 28, 2020 10:42


    See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    Dark La Crosse Stories: The secret killer of officer Donndelinger

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 14, 2020 10:38


    The story of the 1937 murder of a beloved La Crosse police officer. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    Dark La Crosse Stories Episode 22: Dr. Frank Powell was city's greatest showman

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 31, 2019 14:24


    The sharp-shooting physician and politician, who called himself White Beaver, made his fortune selling cough syrup and his fame through dime-store novels full of outlandish tales of his frontier exploits with friend William "Buffalo Bill" Cody. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    Dark La Crosse Stories Episode 21: Death of woman of the night was murder most foul

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 10, 2019 11:51


    The story of the 1888 overdose of Annie Daniel and the local doctor who was responsible for her death. Advisory: This episode includes description of violence against women. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    Dark La Crosse Stories Episode 20: The Mystery of Dr. McLoone

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 26, 2019 11:10


    The 1947 story of a prominent La Crosse physician who was shot four times along Hwy. 16 while making house calls. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    Dark La Crosse Stories Episode 19: 1940 Armistice Day storm hits La Crosse area

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 12, 2019 9:52


    On the 19th episode of Dark La Crosse Stories, the archives team at the La Crosse Public Library tells the stories of the deadly storm that hit the upper Midwest on Nov. 11, 1940. The Dark La Crosse Stories series… See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    Dark La Crosse Stories Episode 18: The Black Maria and Other Stories

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 29, 2019 9:16


    On the 18th episode of Dark La Crosse Stories, the archives team at the La Crosse Public Library breaks the tension with a few short vignettes into mysterious but funny events of the past. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    Dark La Crosse Stories Episode 17: The Disappearance of Evelyn Hartley

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 15, 2019 15:44


    On the 17th episode of Dark La Crosse Stories, the archives team at the La Crosse Public Library explores the recent disappearance of a local teenager in a tale that haunts the city to this day. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    Dark La Crosse Stories Episode 16: Rough-and-Tumble Detective Coady

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 1, 2019 11:25


    On the 16th episode of Dark La Crosse Stories, the archives team at the La Crosse Public Library shares the story of one of the city's first and most beloved police officers, and his legacy that stretched from the river… See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    Dark La Crosse Stories Episode 15: Murder in the Mormon Coulee

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 17, 2019 9:03


    On the 15th episode of Dark La Crosse Stories, the archives team at the La Crosse Public Library uncovers a sordid tale of two pioneers, the end to their shared dream of finding riches in the mid-18th Century frontier and… See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    Dark La Crosse Stories Episode 14: Murder on the River

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 3, 2019 10:20


    On the 14th episode of Dark La Crosse Stories, the archives team at the La Crosse Public Library dives deep into the history of the Black and Mississippi Rivers, the logging industry and a deadly conflict that arose between two… See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    Dark La Crosse Stories Episode 13: South Side Counterfeiter

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 20, 2019 11:39


    On the 13th episode of Dark La Crosse Stories, the archives team at the La Crosse Public Library explores a tenuous link between the city's current mayor, Tim Kabat, and a counterfeiter who lived on the south side over a… See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    Dark La Crosse Stories Episode 12: Guilty Soldier on the Run

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 6, 2019 8:47


    On the 12th episode of Dark La Crosse Stories, the archives team at the La Crosse Public Library becomes embedded in the past with a story about service, struggle and murder. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    Dark La Crosse Stories Episode 11: Frankie La Salle talks about city's Red Light District

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 23, 2019 12:34


    On the 11th episode of Dark La Crosse Stories, the archives team at the La Crosse Public Library tells the stories of Frankie La Salle, a veteran of the world's oldest profession during its golden age in downtown La Crosse. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    Dark La Crosse Stories Episode 10: The Pit on French Island

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 9, 2019 10:04


    On the tenth episode of Dark La Crosse Stories, the archives team at the La Crosse Public Library digs deep into a tale of a medical anomaly, desperation and finally, relief. The Dark La Crosse Stories series is made possible… See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    Dark La Crosse Stories Episode 9: A Close Shave

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 25, 2019 8:22


    On the ninth episode of Dark La Crosse Stories, the archives team at the La Crosse Public Library chases down a tale connecting the city of La Crosse to infamous mobster, John Dillinger. The Dark La Crosse Stories series is… See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    Dark La Crosse Stories Episode 8: The Enticer

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 11, 2019 7:34


    On the eighth episode of Dark La Crosse Stories, the archives team at the La Crosse Public Library takes a look at a #metoo worthy story involving a "doctor" and an aspiring actress in the early 20th century. The Dark… See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    Dark La Crosse Stories Episode 7: Unrequited Love

    Play Episode Listen Later May 28, 2019 9:10


    On the seventh episode of Dark La Crosse Stories, the archives team at the La Crosse Public Library explores heartbreak and suicide in the late 19th century among the city's struggling logging industry. The Dark La Crosse Stories series is… See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    Dark La Crosse Stories Episode 6: Prohibition in La Crosse

    Play Episode Listen Later May 14, 2019 15:36


    On the sixth episode of Dark La Crosse Stories, the archives team at the La Crosse Public Library take a deep dive into old Tribune clippings from the roaring 20s to provide a glimpse into what life was like for… See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    Dark La Crosse Stories Episode 5: Railway Ghost

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 30, 2019 10:28


    On the fifth episode of Dark La Crosse Stories, the archives team at the La Crosse Public Library travels back in time to revisit a bone chilling tale of ghosts, ghouls and unexplained happenings at the La Crosse railway yard.… See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    Dark La Crosse Stories Episode 4: Sensational Trial

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 16, 2019 11:46


    On the fourth episode of Dark La Crosse Stories, the archives team at the La Crosse Public Library travels back in time to revisit a stabbing at one of the city's saloons from the perspective of a key witness whose… See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    Dark La Crosse Stories Episode 3: North Side Body Snatchers

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 2, 2019 8:35


    On the third episode of Dark La Crosse Stories, the La Crosse Public Library archives team weaves a horrid true tale of grave robbing, mutilation and a possible haunting in a mystery that alludes police to this day. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    Dark La Crosse Stories Episode 2: Jealousy and Revenge

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 19, 2019 9:10


    For the second episode of Dark La Crosse Stories, the archive team at La Crosse Public Library travels back in time to revisit a story of jealousy and revenge, heartbreak and murder that left three dead, one of which was… See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    Dark La Crosse Stories episode 1: Jailbreak!

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 5, 2019 8:47


    For the inaugural episode of Dark La Crosse, the archive team at La Crosse Library travels back in time to revisit a jailbreak and car chase that rocked the city. The Dark La Crosse series is made possible by a… See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    Claim Dark La Crosse Stories

    In order to claim this podcast we'll send an email to with a verification link. Simply click the link and you will be able to edit tags, request a refresh, and other features to take control of your podcast page!

    Claim Cancel