On Sunday, October 13, Tom Wadsworth returns to Lost Lake Community to tell us the story of Dixon’s Darkest Day: The 1873 Collapse of the Truesdell Bridge. In terms of total deaths and injuries, the tragedy still stands as the worst road bridge disaster in American history. This one-hour PowerPoint presentation includes many original photos and images from 1873, and it features some fresh research and insights that have reported nationwide.

A native Dixonite, Tom Wadsworth has been hired for decades as an entertaining speaker for audiences from coast to coast and internationally. He holds two master’s degrees and a PhD and is now a local history columnist for the Dixon Telegraph. Tom’s interest in this topic is personal: his great-great-great grandmother drowned in that disaster, while his great grandmother survived.

The event includes light refreshments and starts 2:00 p.m. at 404 Lake Court, Dixon, and is open to the public.