The Podcast: Bad Butchered Town (Re-Release)

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Summary

In this week’s episode, we revisit one of our favorite Bellingham true-crime stories, the murder of a local butcher, Frederick Dames, in 1905. Though declared “solved” a few years later, doubts remain as to whether the supposed perpetrator was actually responsible for this particular crime. (More on him in next week’s episode!)

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 Gasparina and yours truly along with Good Time Girls founder Marissa McGrath.

Content warning for gruesome descriptions of this particularly heinous murder.

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Listen

Or listen to the episode at …

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Ephemera

1904 ad for the Palace Meat Market, F.L. Dames, Proprietor.

Elk street was renamed State Street in the 1920s.

Location of the butcher shop

On State Street, formerly known as “Elk Street” the building was remodeled in 1915 to add second story living quarters and an addition to the rear. The smaller building on the left was built as an addition to the meat market in the 1930s.

Interior of the "Sanitary Meat Market"

The shop was re-branded the "Sanitary Meat Market” circa 1911 under the Oberleitner family, who would operate at the location for over 50 years.

San Francisco Examiner, June 25, 1905

Article featuring photo of Dames in top-hat, his half sister, and an erroneous drawing of the murder location.

Local headlines, 1905

Davis and Donnelly, the main suspects

Dames final resting place

At Bayview Cemetery

FOR FURTHER READING, CHECK OUT MURDER IN THE FOURTH CORNER VOLUME 1 BY TODD A. WARGER

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