The Exoneration of Cate O’Leary

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In the early evening of October 8, 1871, a fire broke out in a barn behind 137 DeKoven Street in Chicago. This much is true. Most everything else that people think they know about the origins of the fire, and the lady who was blamed for starting it, is pure bunk. This ElliePresents program puts the audience members in the place of the reporter who interviewed Mrs. O'Leary on the 20 anniversary of the Great Chicago Fire to examine the myths and legends behind the tragic event.