A series of frightening snake sightings kicked off on this date in 1953 in Springfield. Known as the Great Cobra Scare, the event led neighbors of a pet shop to find close to a dozen venomous snakes. A man later confessed to releasing them because of a beef with the shop’s owner.

Based upon content from the book Missouri 365: This Day in Missouri History by John W. Brown, broadcaster and Missouri historian. Get your copy at Reedy Press.

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