Shadows From the Tree

History remembers the names of men first. It carves them into buildings, headlines, and verdicts, while the women caught between them become footnotes. They were called muses, temptresses, excuses. In tonight’s episode, we follow two love triangles separated by circumstance but bound by pattern: one played out beneath the electric lights of Gilded Age New York, the other behind closed doors where jealousy and control went unnoticed until it was too late. At the center of both is not romance, but power masqueraded as love, and violence justified as passion. The real story lived in the silence history left behind.

In this episode, we shine light on two stories involving arsenic poisoning. First is the true story of the Watkins family of Manchester, Michigan, whose children were slowly poisoned by arsenic-laced wallpaper in their Victorian home. As well as the infamous tale of Belle Gunness, who had a habit of collecting insurance payouts from fires and the deaths of her husbands.

In this episode of Shadows from the Tree, we discuss the 19th century fear of being buried alive, taphophobia. This wasn't an abstract of irrational fear for people of the era, but a response to genuine medical uncertainty. Listen in to hear more about the tales of Essie Williams Dunbar, a South Carolina woman with 2 funerals. As well as the interesting lengths the Pursel family of Pennsylvania, went to avoid such a fate.

In our next episode of Shadows from the Tree, we take a turn and uncover tales of heroic endeavors of men who thought nothing of risking their own lives to save a child in need. Ralph A Cook, a motorman saved a woman and child in Sundersvillle, MA- 1908 from imminent death. We also cover the story of Iowa man, Edward Maloy a traveling salesman who jumped into a well to save 18 month old Donald Venema in 1927.

In this episode of Shadow from the Tree we uncovered two intriguing tales of women lost at sea. Marie Empress (Mary Taylor) a silent movie actress who never made it to port in NY off the RMS Orduña on October 27,1919. As well as Southern elite Rebecaa Lamar's tale of the harrowing explosion of the Pulaski Steamer in June 1838.

Listen in to this episode of Shadows From the Tree, where we delve into the darker side of genealogy with the tales of the Monongah Mine Disaster in WV, and the Great Molasses Flood of 1919 in Boston, MA. Both harrowing tales of industrial accidents that shaped the necessity for increased work place safety regulations.

In 1927, Carrie Buck was sterilized under Virginia’s eugenics law—labeled “feebleminded” and unfit to reproduce. Decades earlier, Amanda Dickson, the mixed-race daughter of a Georgia plantation owner and an enslaved woman, inherited her father’s fortune but not society’s acceptance. Both woman’s lives reveal how law and lineage were used to police purity and power in America. Some marks aren’t chosen—they’re marked by birth.

In this episode of Shadows from the Tree, we explore two stories bound by belief — one silenced by hysteria, the other revived by a haunting. In 1692 Salem Village, Rebecca Nurse, a devoted mother and respected elder, was accused of witchcraft and executed, her voice lost to fear and frenzy. Centuries later in Greenbrier County, West Virginia, a murdered woman’s spirit would speak through her mother, revealing the truth that led to her killer’s conviction.From witch trials to ghost testimony, both stories blur the line between superstition and justice, between what we believe and what we fear. Each reminds us that the dead are never truly silent — and sometimes, they demand to be heard.

This episode of Shadows from the Tree we discuss tales of natural disasters that affected many lives. The Peshtigo Fires were nearly forgotten, having occurred the same day as the great Chicago fires in 1871. A rare audio clip of survivor, Charlie Bateman, paints the harrowing picture of the tragedy. Also we shed light on the survival story of Ignatius Roth, during ice bridge crack, on February 4, 1912, in Niagara Falls, NY.

Join us in this exciting season opener, where we uncover intriguing stories of prison breaks. From bars to headlines in 192os, the tale of William Griffith, a West Virginian coal miner who took to a life a crime, making several successful escapes from the state penitentiary. We also cover the 1902 Pittsburgh jailbreak of the Biddle Brothers, with the assistance of the warden's wife, Kate Soffel.

Join us for Season 3 of Shadows of the Tree- returning late September 2025. This season, expect the return of listener favorites like:Love trianglesNatural DisastersDeathbed Confessions… plus brand-new themes, including:Prison Breaks - following fugitives in the family lineBuried Alive- stories of premature burials and mistaken deathsIndustrial Accidents - where early labor often came with a fatal cost… and many moreThis season also introduces Shadow Spotlight, where at the end of each episode, we feature a listener submitted story tied to the theme - bringing even more ancestral voices into the light.Your ancestors left more than a name. Are you ready to hear their story?

Listen in to this episode of Shadows From the Tree, where we delve into the darker side of genealogy by exploring stories pulled from newspaper archives and using historical records to find the truth behind them. This week we focus on stories of the intertwined families of Phetteplace, Harris, and Young. Was there trauma from a generational curse or inherited genetics.

Listen in to this episode of Shadows From the Tree, where we delve into the darker side of genealogy by exploring stories pulled from newspaper archives and using historical records to find the truth behind them. This week we focus on stories of revenge, highlighting Wade Murphy aka Harry Lyle, starting his tale with small pox and ending in murder. As well as Claude Rosaire's strange anonymous letter revealing his potential identity.

Listen in to this episode of Shadows From the Tree, where we delve into the darker side of genealogy by exploring stories pulled from newspaper archives and using historical records to find the truth behind them. This week we focus on stories of the ghost towns of Wild West Bodie, CA and forbidden forest of Dudleytown, CT.

Listen in to this episode of Shadows From the Tree, where we delve into the darker side of genealogy by exploring stories pulled from newspaper archives and using historical records to find the truth behind them. This week we focus on stories of The Schoolhouse Blizzard of 1888, and Melva tornado on March 11, 1920.

Listen in to this episode of Shadows From the Tree, where we delve into the darker side of genealogy by exploring stories pulled from newspaper archives and using historical records to find the truth behind them. This week we focus on stories of Deathbed Confessions featuring Minnie Tjaden, abducted by her father and Levi Wilson, the Count of Monte Cristo, of RI.

Listen in to this episode of Shadows From the Tree, where we delve into the darker side of genealogy by exploring stories pulled from newspaper archives and using historical records to find the truth behind them. This week we focus on stories of love on the Civil War battlefield, featuring the love letter written by Sullivan Ballou to his wife. As well as a fearless woman soldier, Kady Brownell.

Listen in to this episode of Shadows From the Tree, where we delve into the darker side of genealogy by exploring stories pulled from newspaper archives and using historical records to find the truth behind them. This week we focus on stories of overturned convictions featuring George aka "John" Benway accused of polygamy and George Washington Davis found guilty by gossip of the Rock Island Railway wreck.

Listen in to this episode of Shadows From the Tree, where we delve into the darker side of genealogy by exploring stories pulled from newspaper archives and using historical records to find the truth behind them. This week we focus on stories of rebellion, featuring Walter Reeder and his daughter Elbertine of the Children Crusaders, as well as "Smilin" Sid Hatfield who was infamous in West Virginia during the Coal Wars.

Listen in to this episode of Shadows From the Tree, where we delve into the darker side of genealogy by exploring stories pulled from newspaper archives and using historical records to find the truth behind them. This week we focus on stories of bigamy featuring young Kate Mott and swindler Dr. Charles H. Roemer, a couple colorful characters to say the least!

This episode focuses on the theme of Love Triangles and the impact it had on the lives of those involved. Join us as we shed light on these often overlooked stories and gain a deeper understanding of the challenges those involved faced- specifically a party thrown by Rose Zoldoske leading to the poisoning of Ella Maly and separately the paternity case of William J. Tiernan.

After a summer break, we are back with more salacious stories from the past. Join us for season 2 of Shadows from the Tree!

Listen in on Episode 10.3 of Shadows from the Tree, we delve into the darker side of genealogy, focusing on a story from our own family tree. Involving Danielle's third- great grandfather, William Ide and his mistress, Jeanette Davis Putnam. This episode provides closure to the events in 1878. We dive deep into family trees, vital records, and newspaper archives to learn more about these evocative family members that jump to life.

Listen in on Episode 10.2 of Shadows from the Tree, we delve into the darker side of genealogy, focusing on a story from our own family tree. Involving Danielle's third- great grandfather, William Ide and his mistress, Jeanette Davis Putnam. We dive deep into family trees, vital records, and newspaper archives to learn more about these evocative family members that jump to life.

Listen in on Episode 10.1 of Shadows from the Tree to hear about the early lives of the bad seeds from our family tree. With details pertinent to the revealing of a dramatic conclusion in our next episodes. We dive deep into family trees, vital records, and newspaper archives to learn more about these evocative characters that jump to life.

Listen in on Episode 9 of Shadows from the Tree to hear about family feuds, specifically a kidnapping of Angelo Mareno by the Black Hand, based in Chicago. As well as a family dispute over highly desirable art work by Joseph Blackburn. We dive deep into family trees, vital records, and newspaper archives to learn more about these evocative characters that jump to life.

Listen in on Episode 8 of Shadows from the Tree to hear about the robberies that intrigued and enraged society, with the stories of Florence Harmon, and Sexton P.J. Hale. We dive deep into family trees, vital records, and newspaper archives to learn more about these evocative characters that jump to life.

Listen in on Episode 7 of Shadows from the Tree to hear about the adoptions of 3 children and where they find families. Reunited and it feels so good. We dive deep into family trees, vital records, and newspaper archives to learn more about these evocative characters that jump to life.

Listen in on Episode 6 of Shadows from the tree to hear about the hoaxes that hoodwinked people with faulty science about radium water and elaborate schemes involving a doll mother. We dive deep into family trees, vital records, and newspaper archives to learn more about these evocative characters that jump to life.

In this episode of Shadows from the Tree, we delve into the darker side of family trees by exploring stories pulled from newspaper archives and historical records. Specifically, this episode focuses on the theme of scandals. Through meticulous research, we uncover and share the stories of individuals scandalized and the impact it had on their lives. Join us as we shed light on these often overlooked narratives and gain a deeper understanding of the challenges our ancestors faced.

In this episode of Shadows from the Tree, we delve into the darker side of our family tree by exploring stories pulled from newspaper archives and historical records. Specifically, this episode focuses on the theme of sickness within households. Through meticulous research, we uncover and share the stories of individuals in our family tree who have experienced various illnesses and the impact it had on their lives. Join us as we shed light on these often overlooked narratives and gain a deeper understanding of the challenges our ancestors faced.

This week we uncover stories of beloved pets. A Yellow Dog named Bismarck bravely saves the live of 2 children. The story of another dog hero who was to be buried in the family plot caused quite the uproar. These stories take place in the late 1890s and early 1900s. Journey into the past with us to hear about the love of pets in times gone by.

Join us while we discuss the stories of the Broadway Mystery Romance of Ann Murdock, and Alf Hayman. As well as the unfortunate tale of Rose Ambler's love life. The twists and turns will have you guessing who done it?

Dive into the rabbit hole with us while we follow the trails of missing persons, who simply disappear. Newspaper archives shedding light on the details. Listen in to uncover if or when they turn up from the shadows. We discuss the equally intriguing stories of Robert Dunbar, Bruce Anderson, and Charles C. Krom.

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