Footnotes to History Archives - Useless Information

Useless Information

Fascinating True Stories From the Flip Side of History

On the Web Since 1994

Podcasting Since January 2008

Footnote – 1950: Dog Saves Lives of 60 Men College Students

Published on May 10, 2022

Posted in: Animals & Pets, Death and Murder, Escape and Survival, Footnotes to History, Tidbits

The lives of 60 dormitory residents were endangered by carbon monoxide poisoning. A pooch named Piedmont was credited with saving their lives.

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Footnote – 1949: Nimrod Gives Bizarre Excuse

Published on May 6, 2022

Posted in: Animals & Pets, Crime & Punishment, Footnotes to History, Tidbits

Can you tell the difference between a deer and a groundhog? These two hunters in Maryland apparently could not.

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Footnote – 1935: Tarantula in Britches

Published on May 3, 2022

Posted in: Animals & Pets, Footnotes to History, Tidbits

A Montgomery, AL officer had to deal with an erratic banana truck driver who had a tarantula in his pants!

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Footnote – 1934: Cat Becomes Flaming Torch

Published on April 29, 2022

Posted in: Animals & Pets, Footnotes to History, Tidbits

Just how much damage can a flaming cat do to a home? Mrs. Victor Barbaglia of Vineland, NJ witnessed what could happen.

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Footnote – 1911: Jealous Husband Guards Wife With Rattlesnakes

Published on April 26, 2022

Posted in: Animals & Pets, Footnotes to History, Tidbits

James Stoner used rattlesnakes to keep other men away from his wife. His attempts to do so backfired on him.

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Footnote – 1974: Unusual Theft

Published on March 25, 2022

Posted in: Crime & Punishment, Footnotes to History

Some thief was in for a surprise when he or she listened to the tapes that he stole from a car in Dallas.

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Footnote – 1959: Guinea Pigs Stolen

Published on March 22, 2022

Posted in: Animals & Pets, Footnotes to History

Just who would steal four guinea pigs? A very odd robbery, although these guinea pigs were highly valued.

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Footnote – 1952: Grab Pants, Said Sign

Published on March 18, 2022

Posted in: Crime & Punishment, Footnotes to History

Bandits in Toronto took clothing store operator Abraham Goody for his word. The sign said grab pants and that is exactly what they did.

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Footnote – 1936: Coughs Up Roll

Published on March 11, 2022

Posted in: Crime & Punishment, Footnotes to History

Doctors in Buffalo got an unusual surprise when Robert Ford coughed up a roll of money.

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Footnote – 1933: Bandit Steals Golden Smile

Published on March 4, 2022

Posted in: Crime & Punishment, Footnotes to History

A robber was upset that he was only able to steal $5. Then he noticed that the service attendant had gold teeth...

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Footnote – 1950: Pitcher Falls Off Bench

Published on February 25, 2022

Posted in: Footnotes to History, Tidbits

Jack Bruner injured his elbow while seated in the bullpen at Yankee Stadium in New York City.

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Footnote – 1949: 14 Tonsils Taken In Family Surgery

Published on February 22, 2022

Posted in: Footnotes to History, Science, Technology & Medicine, Tidbits

Mr. & Mrs. Lester Backer decided to have the tonsils removed from all seven of their children at the same time...

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Footnote – 1939: A Surprise In A Bottle

Published on February 16, 2022

Posted in: Animals & Pets, Footnotes to History, Tidbits

Tom Gilroy can teach you an important lesson: Don't ever stick your finger on a bottle that has a wasp in it it!

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Footnote – 1936: Failed to Pay Alimony

Published on February 8, 2022

Posted in: Footnotes to History

Anna Folgert dragged her husband Anthony into a Buffalo court because he had failed to make his alimony payments. Yet, he had receipts...

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Footnote – 1953: Man Brings Sink and Daughter Too

Published on December 31, 2021

Posted in: Footnotes to History

In 1953, 4-year-old Joan Williams got her finger stuck in the kitchen sink. Dad showed up to the hospital with the sink still attached to Joan.

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