From: JANET IRENE SEYMOUR <janet.seymour@wisconsinhistory.org> Subject: "Rio Train Wreck" program on Sunday, October 27 Date: Mon, 30 Sep 2019 20:06:49 +0000 Message-id: <DM6PR06MB50502F0BBD34F475FEBE31C087820@DM6PR06MB5050.namprd06.prod.outlook.com>
Sunday 27 October 2019 at 3:00 pm
Rio High School Commons
411 Church Street Rio WI 53960
Rio Train Wreck Talk by Steve Gilbert
Former Rio High School history teacher, Steve Gilbert, is speaking about th
e Rio Train Wreck of October 1886. He has been researching this topic for m
any years. The research is ongoing even in his retirement. Student projects
during his teaching career also contributed to the research.
At the time it happened, this train wreck was one of the worst in the count
ry. It was covered in the New York Times as well as many local newspapers.
In the middle of the night with a switch left in the wrong position, the tr
ain derailed causing overturned cars and a fire. With the wreck being just
east Rio, the village fire wagon was too far away for timely help. Many peo
ple died. There is a common grave in the local cemetery in Rio. A court tri
al followed. Much information has been collected, but many questions remain
to be answered.
If you have an interest in history, please join us for this Rio Area Histor
ical Society sponsored event.
Janet Seymour
Interim Director of Outreach
Wisconsin Historical Society
c/o Department of History, UW-Eau Claire
105 Garfield Avenue Eau Claire WI 54701
715-836-2250 (O)
janet.seymour@wisconsinhistory.org
Wisconsin Historical Society
Collecting, Preserving and Sharing Stories Since 1846<http://www.wisconsinh
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