Three days before Christmas in 1893, Whittle’s sawmill by the river exploded and the disaster proved to be a portent of trouble ahead on the streets of Knoxville. While for some, Christmas was a quiet, family affair, with gifts and Christmas trees, for others it was a time for looking for some fun or for some trouble. The ensuing mayhem meant that it was a Christmas period like no other. Jack Neely chronicles the balmy twists and turns of the Christmas season that year when madness and mayhem prevailed.
Written by Jack Neely and read by Todd Ethridge.
Produced by the Knoxville History Project. Sound design and editing by Pete Carty.
Knoxville Chronicles is brought to you by the nonprofit Knoxville History Project.
This episode is made available that to funding by federal award number 21.027 awarded to the City of Knoxville by the U.S. Department of the Treasury and the Arts & Culture Alliance.
Learn more at KnoxvilleHistoryProject.org