Yore Town - The Attica Prison Riot | Yore Town Podcast Episode 28

The Attica Prison Riot | Yore Town Podcast Episode 28

10/16/23 • 25 min

14 Listeners

For whatever reason I cannot stay away from the 70’s and NY jails so here is another wild story from the 70’s in a little place called Attica NY. I wonder if I was a prisoner in my past life in the 70’s in a jail or something.

Attica is a town in Wyoming County, New York, United States. The population was 7,702on the last census. The Department of Corrections is a major employer, as both the maximum security Attica Correctional Facility and medium-security Wyoming Correctional Facility are located here.Since the 1930s Attica had been a prison town, and most correctional officers live here or nearby with their families.

The Attica Prison Riot, also known as the Attica Prison Rebellion, the Attica Uprising, or the Attica Prison Massacre, took place at the state prison. it started on September 9, 1971, and ended on September 13 with the highest number of fatalities in the history of United States prison uprisings. At the time it was the 10th of notable prison riots from 1929 to 1971. What was wild there were 4 prison riots in 1971 and 6 in the ’70s.

In this riot, 43 men died. 33 of them were inmates and 10 were employees of the jail. all but one guard and three inmates were killed by law enforcement gunfire when the state retook control of the prison on the final day of the uprising. The Attica Uprising has been described as a historic event in the prisoners' rights movement.

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The Creepiest Small Town In America | Yore Town Podcast Episode 27

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Every once in a while I stumble upon a story that leaves me thinking wow there is no way this is true. This story is one of those. From stories of the past to some a little more present dark and twist might be an understatement. If you read the title you know what town this is. If you haven’t well it’s Skidmore Missouri. This town puts the misery in Missouri.

Skidmore is a city in Western Missouri. The population in the latest census is 245 people. When you look up this town everything that it’s known for is not good. Not good at all. We use Wikipedia for a lot of stuff and you know this place is pretty dark based on it’s Wikipedia. It’s legit the shortest Wiki page I have ever seen. There are multiple major stories this town has seen I’m not even sure where to begin. Talking with a friend from near the area he suggests starting with the town bully.

The town bully is officially known as Ken Rex McElroy. He was born in 1934 the 15th of 16 kids born to a poor migrant tenant farming couple Tony and Mabel. He dropped out of school at 15 and was known as a thief, cow rustler, and womanizer. For over 20 years he was suspected of being involved in theft of anything from grain to gas to booze to livestock. Somehow was never charged in any of the 21 convictions. He ended up having more than 10 kids with multiple women.

In the ’60s and ’70s, he was more than the town bully and often referred to as a dictator. He ran the town from everything I have read and heard. He legit raped and pillaged for over 2 decades. If he thought you were pretty you were now his. It didn’t matter if you were 12 or older. He would steal whatever, whoever, whenever, and if you didn’t like it, watch out. He stole a 12-year-old girl that he did terrible things to and married and made her have his child at 14. The parents fought back he stalked them, burned their house down, and killed their pets. When the girl escaped and went back home he did the same exact thing to that family again and took her back.

Just like myself, you are thinking how in the heck could he do this? He had such a stronghold over anyone who wanted to press charges. He had a mob-connected lawyer, he would harass you like no other. He would stalk you, shoot you anything he wanted and so feared the police wouldn’t do anything. There is a story that in the summer of 1973 he was arrested for arson, assault, and statutory rape. He was released on a 2500 bail. His very young wife and their maybe fled and were put into foster care in a nearby town. When he got out he sat outside the foster home for hours at a time. He then told the foster family that they would trade him a girl for a girl so he could get his child back. He even threatened the foster family as he knew where their biological daughter went to school and which bus she rode. A few weeks before the dust settled on this he then shoots a farmer twice with a shotgun after the farmer told him to stop shooting on his property. He was charged with assault with intent to kill. He was acquitted after some locals came to his rescue.

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Next Episode

Las Vegas Mole People | Yore Town Podcast Episode 29

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Join us on a thrilling underground adventure in the latest episode of the Yore Town Podcast with your hosts, Matt and Megh! In this intriguing installment, we journey deep beneath the glitzy facade of Las Vegas to uncover a hidden world that few have ever witnessed - the mysterious realm of the Las Vegas Mole People.

Beneath the neon-lit streets of Sin City, a subterranean community of people lives in the shadows, away from the dazzling lights and endless entertainment. Who are these enigmatic individuals, and what led them to this hidden existence beneath the desert? Matt and Megh dive headfirst into the subterranean world, unveiling the secrets, struggles, and stories of those who call the underground passages of Las Vegas home.

As we explore the history, urban legends, and real-life accounts of the Las Vegas Mole People, you'll be taken on a gripping journey filled with intrigue, compassion, and a newfound perspective on the City of Entertainment. Join us for a captivating episode that peels back the layers of this world-famous city and shines a light on a community that few even know exists.

Tune in to the Yore Town Podcast, where history meets mystery, and discover the untold tales of the Las Vegas Mole People. Subscribe now to unearth the secrets beneath the surface of one of America's most iconic cities.

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