Some call it the Great Midwest Fire, others the Peshtigo Fire - and most remember it from history as "The Great Chicago Fire" of 1871. Remember the misteaching of Mrs. O'Leary's cow that kicked over the lantern? It turns out that the whole story was based on legend - but it was the same fire in Chicago that gave birth to the name "The Forgotten Fire" - because on the same day in October - the worst and most devastating fire in U.S. History occurred up in Wisconsin, Northern Illinois, and Western Michigan - fueled by high winds and lengthy forest fires around the region - and it completely overshadowed the event. One particular town, Williamsonville, was completely wiped off the map and never rebuilt - left as a permanent ghost town in ash. Come join this podcast episode as we explore "The Forgotten Fire of 1871"