Running Into History

Exploring Harrisburg's underworld and all the crazy stories attached to it over the years. From the Mafia to the Budd Dwyer scandal, and much more.

Harrisburg's Hidden UNDERWORLD: Magnelli, Dwyer, Favasuli, Cantone, Magaro, Smith, Bufalino Names. Addresses. Gambling raids. Murders. Political corruption.An...

More information about the Etters/Yocumtown B-24 crash 82 years ago today (1944).

The only survivor, Norman Shuey Jr., jumped out of the plane with a parachute shortly before crashing.

Norman Shuey's son sent me a photo of the blade his father kept from this crash. My interview with Norman's son can be listened to on all podcast platforms (iTunes, Amazon Music, Youtube, etc.) but here is the link to the Spotify version.

https://open.spotify.com/episode/40KProRtKKqiaQwZef3jHP?si=mDCnl1weRLOpD_Iqaf5AWQ

82 years ago today.
My video finding this crash site and others is here:
https://youtu.be/NBn5FxpPBgA?si=B8pLQdAf5ovhdgpH

https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1AscoeZKQQ/

On today's date in 1934, my Great- Grandfather passed away in Harrisburg at age 41. He lived at 1323 Swatara St.

He served in WWI as an Engineer and participated in the St Mihiel Offensive in September of 1918.

He also participated in the final campaign that would end the war and become the deadliest campaign in U.S. Military history. The Meuse-Argonne Offensive (September - November 1918). 120,000 American casualties, with 26,277 killed.

My video about his service is here:
https://youtu.be/Tv0JDETZ8h8?si=wTswMKS7gLNcjX8p

On Friday May 31st, 1889, the citizens of South Fork Pennsylvania would wake up to pouring rain. They were always concerned about the deteriorating dam above them but there were so many false alarms that led to nothing. They had no idea that at 2:50 that afternoon a catastrophic wall of water and debris would take it's first 4 victims in South Fork, before reaching Johnstown and taking 2,209 lives.

https://youtu.be/TNrr-WIRQQI?si=BTQoVNJNz4d0_v0N

In honor of Evelyn Sharp who crashed her P38 in New Cumberland on April 3rd, 1944. She did not survive. Her memorial is in the woods off of I83, just north of the Turnpike.

In honor of my 2x Great-Uncle Frank (Maternal). Killed in WWI during the Battle of Marne. His photo was captured in France on June 27th, 1918, three days prior to being killed in battle. His mother would find it printed on the front page of the April 19th, 1919 Harrisburg Telegraph.

Uncle-Frank was born in Harrisburg, PA and joined the 28th "Keystone" Division.

I tell his story here:
https://youtu.be/Tv0JDETZ8h8?si=IkOr3efoQxl0_k9F

In honor of my Great Uncle Ralph (Paternal). Killed during the Battle of the Bulge when his 3rd Army Division was deployed by General Patton to relieve the 101st Airborne (Band of Brothers).

I tell his story here:
https://youtu.be/btTiGvdLmOQ?si=msmBbV-EcMweC2uY

Found this crazy story while researching my upcoming production about the Bufalino Mafia family in Harrisburg PA.
A sad ending though.

On December 8th, 1985, 44-yr-old Harrisburg PD Detective Richard Stilo, was working an overtime detail at the bar in the Holiday Inn, downtown Harrisburg. Retired Pro Heavyweight Boxer Gerry Cooney was at the bar with his bodyguards. Cooney was training in the area for a comeback fight against Michael Spinks.

At the bar, Cooney allegedly pushed a hotel security guard so Det. Stilo stepped in and identified himself as a police officer, and displayed his badge. Cooney's 6ft, 290lb bodyguard poked Det. Stilo in the stomach and asked "What are you going to do fat belly." 5'10" 205lb Det. Stilo just had triple bypass heart surgery the year prior.

The bodyguard then grabbed and ripped Det. Stilo's sweater. Det. Stilo responded with a right cross, hitting the bodyguard in the jaw - knocking him unconscious instantly.

Among many other hilarious phone calls and nicknames Det. Stilo received afterwards, Nick Cantone sent him a $30 gift card. It also turned out that the bodyguard was an ex-police officer.

I started to search for Det. Stilo to see if he was willing to talk about his knockout from 44 years ago. Unfortunately I found that he passed in 2008, age 66. I mentioned to my wife that he was from her hometown of Enola. She asked if he might be related to a girl she went to East Penn HS with, Melissa Stilo. I looked her up and discovered that Melissa was Det. Stilo's daughter, but sadly, she also passed away in 2019, age 49.

Melissa's memorialized page includes several posts in reference to pancreatic cancer.

Spent last weekend deep in West Virginia. Beautiful area, but it was sad to see the amount of abandoned farm houses and land. Who would not want to live at this abandoned homestead? Looks like paradise.

We also discovered the Nathaniel Mountain Wildlife Area. The Nissan did great getting up some really sketchy roads into that wilderness, only to get rear ended once we reached the highway on the way home. Fortunately it was just a fender bender and nobody was hurt.

On the way out we visited Stonewall Jackson's HQ in Wi******er VA. It was interesting to see the room and desk that Jackson met with his mapmaker (former Lykens PA School Teacher), Jedediah Hotchkiss, to plan his successful 1862 Shenandoah Valley Campaign.

Camera: Sony a7iii
Lens: Viltrox 16mm 1.8
Drone: DJI Mini 5 pro