The Podcast: (Return to) Bad Arson Town

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(Return to) Bad Arson Town

Summary

“Spider Biles, The Fire Bug” is memorialized on a cement marker in the cobblestone alley next to Skylark’s Café in Fairhaven, now a quaint historic shopping district in Bellingham, Washington. In this episode Kolby and Marissa take a deeper dive into the life of Frank “Spider” Biles, arrested for a string of arsons in Fairhaven in the summer of 1892.

This episode is a re-release from the 2020 season of “Bad Town” on the City of Subdued Podcast, hosted by Annika Fleming, Maria Dalla Gasperina and yours truly along with Good Time Girls founder Marissa McGrath.

We are taking a break to focus on some research and development for the next season, meanwhile we are going to offer up for your listening enjoyment, re-released episodes from the City of Subdued Podcast Season 2 - BAD TOWN - featuring yours truly.

Some of you will have heard these before and if so feel free to revisit or not. For those who haven’t these were recorded back in 2020 during peak pandemic. We were the guest hosts of Annika and Maria on the City of Subdued Podcast, along with Marissa McGrath, founder of the Good Time Girls Tours. We discussed a lot of Bad Bellinghistory - some of our darkest tales, lots of true crime.

Please do give us a shout and tell us what you’d like to hear from us meanwhile. Keep following us on social media and the rest as we have some fun events both in person and virtual planned for the dark months ahead.

We would love to hear from local businesses looking to advertise. We love to support local businesses and we also love support for our labors of love! Win win!

Meanwhile, enjoy this little trip down the recent memory hole.

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Listen

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Ephemera

Wardner Hose Co. No. 2

Frank Biles is on the top right.

"Tontine Saloon. Spider Biles Nabbed Here. Oct 1, 1892."

Historical marker in Fairhaven.

Location of Marker

In cobblestone alley between CreativiTea and Skylarks Cafe on 11th Street.

Fairhaven Herald, Oct 2, 1891

“The Fire Bug Captured”

Frank Biles Mug Shot

Walla Walla State Penitentiary

The Blonden Block

Frank Biles was caught near the domed building, after setting fire to others in the same block.

The site today

The Blonden Block was torn down 1950. A double-decker bus has been parked on the lot since the late 1980s.

Sanborn map, 1891

Block where Frank Biles burned many buildings, and was eventually caught in October of 1892.

Frank Biles mugshots

from McNeil Island Prison

Fred Biles Mugshots

Franks twin brother does not appear to have been identical, yet the courts couldn’t tell them apart.

Headline from 1931

When Frank was drunk at the fur warehouse.

Obituary

RIP Spider Biles. He passed in Seattle in 1935, at age 65.

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