The Italian Hall Disaster in Calumet, Michigan, on Christmas Eve, 1913

Striking Miner’s Children Die in Stampede when someone yells “Fire.”

A shipment of coffins arrives in Calumet for the 59 children and 14 adults that died in the panic.

As many of you know, I do a lot of events throughout the year. I’m often asked about the Italian Hall Disaster in Calumet, Michigan, where someone yelled “Fire” and dozens of children were trampled in a panicked stampede for the door, and if there is something in my books about it. The answer is no, but a fellow Michigan author, Steve Lehto, has written extensively about it in a book called “Death’s Door.” This book, in my opinion, is the definitive history of the event.

Recently Steve Lehto gave a talk on the Italian Hall Disaster (also known as the Italian Hall Massacre) at Lake Superior State University.  LSSU has posted that talk online. It is worth a watch. I attended and found the talk engaging and informative. Steve is an excellent speaker. He takes you through a lot of information quickly, but it is a gripping tale that will satisfy any curiosity on the subject. Follow the link below for Steve’s enlightening talk on the subject.

Writers Series – Steve Lehto – Death’s Door: The Italian Hall Disaster – LakerCast (lssu.edu)