Exploring Howes Cave: History, Tragedy, and Tourism
Historian and author Dana Cudmore, a former tour guide and current chronicler of Howes Cave, Howe Caverns, and Schoharie County's "Cave Country," gives us a lay of the land and recalls the oft-repeated question, " Anybody ever die down here?"
Cudmore recounts in his 2024 book, The Cave Electrician’s Widow: The Tragedy at Howe Caverns & Dramatic Courtroom Fight for Justice, the story of two Howe Caverns employees who tragically asphyxiated in response to a nearby dynamite blast on April 24, 1930. The conversation describes the events of that tragic day, as well as the continuing allure and industrial significance of the caves and surrounding area.
Buy a copy of The Cave Electrician's Widow here, and use code KAATSCAST for 25% off plus free shipping!
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00:00 Introduction: The Popular Question
00:16 History of Howe Caverns
02:04 Touring Cave Country
03:18 Lester Howe's Discovery of Howe Caverns
06:20 Secret Caverns and Fraternal Rivalries
11:17 The 1930 Tragedy
21:56 Modern-Day Mining in Howes Cave
22:52 Conclusion and Author's Reflections
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