“Eat drink and be merry for tomorrow we die.” “Carpe Diem” “Gather ye rosebuds while ye may, Old time is still a-flying; And this same flower that smiles today Tomorrow will be dying.” What do all of these sayings have in common? They can describe the city in California nearby Sacramento that boomed for just a month. The people knew it wouldn't las…

Queho was and is known for being Nevada's first serial killer who was never caught. To read click this link This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit rickymortensen.substack.comBy Ricky Mortensen

Butch Cassidy is a famous outlaw so this episode I share the story of one of his “Wild Bunch” a guy known as News Carver To read the Article version Click here This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit rickymortensen.substack.com…

Calaveras County in Northern California Absolutely loves frogs, they are obsessed. Frog murals, frog statues, frog plaques, a frog walk of fame and of course they have the annual Jumping Frog Jubilee where they have the annual Jumping frog competition. So why is Calaveras County, Angels Camp in particular, frog obsessed? To the point there was a co…

Yankee Jim was the victim of mistaken identity, there were two criminals back in the early 1850's known by the name Yankee Jim. Both were tall, both were criminals but one more so than the other. Nowadays most don't know there were two and make the same mistake the court in San Diego made and combine the two men into one. Intrigued? This is a publi…

Could I have stumbled upon THE John from the Irish folk song John Kanaka? Come along with me and learn the story of a Kanaka who was never supposed to be and his adventures in California. Prefer to read? Click here Sponsor links below Hawaiian State - Book 1 Hawaiian Legacy - Book 2 Hawaiian Legend - Book 3 This is a public episode. If you would li…

Get ready to challenge everything you thought you knew about one of California's most notorious outlaws...Joaquin Murrieta, the infamous figure known as the 'Robin Hood of the El Dorado.' Join me and delve deep into the dusty archives of history, to uncover the truth behind Murrieta's notorious exploits and separate fact from fiction. This episode …

Do you ever think about how animals are relocated? I'm sure you've seen a horse in on of those trailers on the road or put your dog on a plane but I'm talking about wild animals. Like Beavers. Idaho has quite the story about relocating a bunch of beavers after World War Two and I will tell you that story. Sponsor Hawaiian State - Book 1 Hawaiian Le…

Living on the west coast in the United States you might think that to see Civil War artifacts, you gotta head on down to the South where it was fought or go to a museum. What if I told you there are some Civil War Cannons in plain sight in Northern California? But before I tell you about that… This is sponsored by The Hawaiian State book series by …

My professional photographer Grandpa and I went out for a photography trip up at Mount Rainer here in Washington. As a history lover I always have my eyes set out to learn the local history around me and sure enough I came across something pretty interesting. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get …

In this episode, I will be telling you all about 5 different men, John Sutter, Sam Brannan, Sam Barlow, James Savage, and Doc Maynard. Each of these men made some kind of impact on the western United States. You can listen now but This episode will be premiering in all its glory on YouTube at 7.15pm tonight. on 2/21/24 each of the 5 will be posted …

Listen, Watch or Read. The Choice is yours. Ancient Celtic Druids base their holidays on the wheel of the year. The Celtic year was divided into 2 halves the light and the dark. Within The halves, there would be 4 fire festivals. Samhain was the name of the fire festival that marked the beginning of the dark half of the year. During Samhain, it is …

Opportunity is one of the many words that you can use to describe The United States, sure not everyone will succeed and not everyone will get the same opportunities but you get a heck of a lot more than you would in most if not all other countries. This is why so many people immigrated here and still do today. Well, even within this country there w…

An old man is laying in a bed, he's not really all that old in his late seventies. He would like nothing more than to not be stuck in his bed, weak and slowly dying. trapped in his thoughts knowing his time is near and drawing closer every minute. This man is extremely wealthy, has very few real friends, and many posers. His whole life has been tha…

Listen, Watch, or Read. I got you covered. Hey everybody in this episode of Ricky's Historical Tidbits I am going to do something a little different. A Tidbits Blitz, What that is, is a handful of tidbits in one episode. These tidbits are short but worth telling so instead of posting a super short episode for each one I'm going to do a bunch in one…

Have you ever heard of the Orson Welles Controversy concerning the War of the Worlds Broadcast he did one day? Well if you haven't or even if you have but haven't heard the full broadcast for yourself, you are in luck. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit rickymort…

"Regal? Overrated? Captain of men? Friend and benefactor? Bellicose firebrand? Robert Stockton was many things to many people, but in two things he was constant: he was unwavering in his dedication to his state and to his country, and he never failed to strive for glory. Regardless of what history makes of his achievements, and there were inarguabl…

You have likely had one of the Ghirardelli squares before, have you ever wondered about the history not of the company exactly but the man that started it? Well I have and I did the research and MANNNNN did this guy have a tough time in business yet he persevered along with his family. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/sh…

I tell you a brief explanation of 4 kinds of gold and then the stories of 3 gold nuggets This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit rickymortensen.substack.comBy Ricky Mortensen

The Jenny Lind Steamboat Disaster claimed 32 lives in the bay area back in 1853. In this episode, I'll tell you all about it. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit rickymortensen.substack.comBy Ricky Mortensen

According to E. Clampus Vitus legend, St. Vitus devoted 37 years of study and unbiblical contemplation to seek out the fundamental truths bound up in the mystic title of the order. He began writing a cabalistic treatise on the subject in 83 volumes. Still, so far as anyone has been able to discover, he got no further than the first 3 words: Credo Q…

Many moons ago there was a big lake in the western territory of the United States. Native American tribes called it dá’aw which translates basically to “lake”. Some say there is a 60-foot monster like the loch ness monster that lives in the deep known today as Tahoe Tessie, some say there are hundreds of bodies at the bottom perfectly preserved fro…

In this episode of Ricky's Historical Tidbits, I share with you the story of my favorite criminal, Charley Boles also known as Black Bart. He robbed 28 stagecoaches in his bandit career and was eventually caught and sent to San Quentin. I'm really excited about this episode. Books Recommended Black Bart - George Hoeper Black Bart: Search is over - …

In this episode of Ricky's Historical Tidbits, I share with you the story of a man who made his mark everywhere he went. Whether it was mining for gold, building a telegraph line across the country, constructing railroads, potentially inventing the pony express, and most notably Consul for the Chinese people in the United States. His name? Frederic…

In this episode of Ricky's Historical Tidbits, I share with you the story of a lady named Lucy Ann Stoddard Wakefield Batterman, who was known to most for her pies but there’s something else she’s known for. She is part of the Miners on Main series which is a scavenger hunt coming soon to Main Street in Placerville highlighting local people of hist…

This short episode of Ricky's Historical Tidbits is about a lady named Eliza Mckinstry. She is part of the Miners on Main series which is a scavenger hunt coming soon to Main Street in Placerville highlighting local people of history that had some kind of impact on the city of Placerville. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this…

In this short episode of Ricky's historical tidbits, I share with you a little bit about a man who will be featured in the city of Placerville's “Miners on Main” scavenger hunt on Main Street. Known to history for a few things but is mostly known as Judge Blanchard. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers …

This is a short episode about Dorothea Zeisz, a woman who had 10 kids then her husband left the country for "business" This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit rickymortensen.substack.comBy Ricky Mortensen

“One of the best detectives on the Pacific Coast; prompt, vigilant, and firm; always sober, reticent in his business affairs; knew no fear of danger; confided into the fullest extent of his employers, and generally esteemed by all who have the pleasure of his acquaintance.” that is a description of a man known today as the Sherlock Holmes of the wi…

You may have heard of Studebakers in terms of cars or old wagons but do you know the full story of the man behind it all, it is quite the story and you will enjoy every second of this episode all about it. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit rickymortensen.substac…

Robbers Roost is a place where the notorious Gassaway Gang hung out and robbed an unknown amount of people until they finally got caught and were sent to jail. Though short, this is their story. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit rickymortensen.substack.com…

It was 1979, a man named Ed Duffy, a carpenter, had bought an old home in Sacramento and was working on fixing it up. under the staircase, he happened upon an old trunk and when he opened it he was astonished at what he found. In this episode I will be sharing with you the story of May Woolsey and the trunk under those stairs. This is a public epis…

The very interesting history and demise of a family-run brewery in Placerville, CA. "The proper beer to drink and the purest and best is the beer from the Giebenhain brewery in Placerville California. Our staff of physicians have found that this beer yields the greatest tonic strength so much desired to assist digestion and that it it keeps down th…

Preston Castle is 45 minutes East of Sacramento now known for its haunts and for simply being spooky looking In this episode you will learn all you need to know about Preston Castle, the old juvenile detention center meant for reforming and teaching the trades. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or ge…

Snowshoe Thompson was a mailman who delivered mail on skis from Placerville around South lake Tahoe and up to Carson city and back. His story is one that cannot be ignored, it is simply too fascinating. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit rickymortensen.substack.c…

Most people have never heard his name before, most don't know his story. A man who came to America in the 1830s and made his way to becoming the first millionaire of California before the gold rush. Had he not died so young who knows what riches he would have accumulated. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscr…