Richard and Marlene Witty suffered extensive damage to their home at 318 South Washington Avenue in a March 1998 tornado in St. Peter, Minnesota. The house to the south, at left in this photograph, was completely destroyed.
These apartments along West Jefferson Avenue were severely damaged in a tornado in March of 1998 in St. Peter, Minnesota. The Arboretum at Gustavus Adolphus College is across the avenue to the north.
A crumpled grain bin lies among other debris on Park Row, between South Front Street and South Minnesota Avenue after a March 1998 tornado in St. Peter, Minnesota. A crane is in use at the Nicollet Hotel, which is visible in the distance across the avenue.
This house on North Third Street was destroyed by a tornado in March of 1998 in St. Peter, Minnesota. A portion of the municipal swimming pool building can be seen in the distance at the far left.
Property at 522 North Minnesota Avenue is shown at the far left in this photo taken after a March 1998 tornado in St. Peter, Minnesota. The pink house in the distance is at 520 North Third Street.
Looking across Gorman Park from West Grace Street, the severely damaged St. Peter's Catholic Church at 600 South Fifth Street is visible in the distance after a March 1998 tornado in St. Peter, Minnesota. A Community Center was later constructed on the site.
The south end of the Americinn Motel at 700 North Minnesota Avenue is shown in this photo after a tornado caused considerable damage to the building in March of 1998 in St. Peter, Minnesota.
The lumber yard of the St. Peter Lumber Company was extensively damaged in March of 1998 by a tornado in St. Peter, Minnesota. This photo was taken from the east side of the 200 block of South Front Street, looking across Front Street.
The St. Peter Public Library at 101 West Nassau Street was destroyed by a March 1998 tornado that caused extensive damage in many parts of St. Peter, Minnesota.
The white house at 402 North Minnesota Avenue was completely destroyed in a tornado in March of 1998 in St. Peter, Minnesota. The blue house in the distance is at 420 North Minnesota Avenue.
The severely damaged house to the right of the center of this photo was located on the west side of South Fourth Street prior to a tornado in March of 1998 in St. Peter, Minnesota. The photo was taken from West Skaro Street, near its intersection with Fourth.
This house at 522 North Minnesota Avenue was damaged so severely by a tornado in March of 1998 in St. Peter, Minnesota, that it was not able to be repaired.
Willard and Odelia Hoehn lost their home at 522 West Evenson Street in a tornado in March of 1998 in St. Peter, Minnesota. This photo looks to the east from North Washington Avenue.
Standing in the rubble of the gymnasium of the Community Center, a news crew from KARE11 Television interviews a resident after a tornado in March of 1998 in St. Peter, Minnesota. South Washington Avenue is to the left of the cameraman, who is pointing his camera toward West Nassau Street.
Taken from the west side of Gorman Park, this photo looks to the north toward the remains of the Arts and Heritage Center and the Community Center beyond it in St. Peter, Minnesota. Both buildings, originally constructed as high schools, were damaged beyond repair in a March 1998 tornado.
St. Peter's Catholic Church at 600 South Fifth Street was damaged so severely in a March 1998 tornado in St. Peter, Minnesota, that it was not able to be repaired. This photo shows the east front and the north side of the church. At the far left, a portion of the John Ireland School building can be seen south of the church.
The St. Peter Evangelical Lutheran Church at 427 West Mulberry Street was severely damaged by a tornado in March of 1998 in St. Peter, Minnesota. A new church was soon constructed on the same site. This photo, taken from Gorman Park, shows the south front and the west side of the damaged church.
St. Peter's Catholic Church at 600 South Fifth Street was damaged so severely in a March 1998 tornado in St. Peter, Minnesota that it was not able to be repaired. This photo shows the east side of the church.
The St. Peter Evangelical Lutheran Church at 427 West Mulberry Street was severely damaged by a tornado in March of 1998 in St. Peter, Minnesota. A new church was soon constructed on the same site. The trees at the far right were in Gorman Park.
The spire of Christ Chapel at Gustavus Adolphus College was knocked over by a tornado that caused extensive damage in March of 1998 in St. Peter, Minnesota. This photo, which looks to the west, and was taken near the intersection of South Seventh Street and College Avenue, also shows the first building to be constructed on the college campus, Old Main.
The remains of the Arts and Heritage Center at 320 South Fifth Street are shown after a tornado damaged many structures in March of 1998 in St. Peter, Minnesota. The building was constructed in 1870 as the community's first high school. This photograph shows the west side of the building.
A tornado in March of 1998 destroyed the Arts and Heritage Center in St. Peter, Minnesota. Originally constructed as the community's first high school in 1870, it was located on the northwest corner of the intersection of South Fifth and West Grace Streets, facing Grace. The building to the right was built in 1907 as a more modern high school. It served as the Community Center in 1998.
The home of Mark and Judith Ahlstrom at 202 North Third Street was extensively damaged by a tornado in March of 1998 in St. Peter, Minnesota. The house, which is listed on the National Register of Historic Places, was later restored.
Buildings along the west side of the 100 block of South Front Street are shown after a March 1998 tornado in St. Peter, Minnesota. The photo was taken from Levee Park, near the Park Row intersection.
A number of structures in the vicinity of the intersection of North Fourth and West Chestnut Streets were destroyed in a March 1998 tornado in St. Peter, Minnesota. This view looks mainly to the north from the intersection.
A large amount of debris from a March 1998 tornado accumulated on Park Row, between South Front Street and South Minnesota Avenue in St. Peter, Minnesota, including a crumpled grain bin. The crane visible in the distance is beside the Nicollet Hotel on the Avenue.
A home that was located on the southeast corner of the intersection of North Fourth and West Chestnut Streets was completely destroyed by a tornado in March of 1998 in St. Peter, Minnesota. Other houses shown in this photo on the west side of North Fourth Street survived, including those at 110 North Fourth, 116 North Fourth, and 122 North Fourth.
Looking northward from the west end of the Community Center, two members of the National Guard are shown surrounded by debris from a March 1998 tornado in St. Peter, Minnesota. The St. Peter Community Hospital is visible at the far left.
The American Legion Post 37, the Flame Bar, Johnson & Hoehn LTD, Pell's Insurance and Real Estate, the Brandt Law Office, and the Dahleen and O'Brien Dental Office along the north side of the 200 block of West Nassau Street were among many structures that suffered varying degrees of damage from a March 1998 tornado in St. Peter, Minnesota.
The severely damaged home of George Lesnar at 302 South Washington Avenue is visible beyond a damaged station wagon after a March 1998 tornado in St. Peter, Minnesota.
A tornado in March of 1998 destroyed the white house at 402 North Minnesota Avenue in St. Peter, Minnesota. To the north can be seen a blue house at 420 North Minnesota Avenue.
The home of Willard and Odelia Hoehn at 522 West Evenson Street in St. Peter, Minnesota, was destroyed by a tornado in March of 1998. This photo was taken near the intersection of West Evenson and North Washington Avenue. The roof and the west side of the Hoehn home were removed by the strong wind.
A large amount of debris is visible in front of a house on the west side of the 600 block of North Minnesota Avenue after a tornado in March of 1998 in St. Peter, Minnesota. The white house in the center of the photo was at 522 North Minnesota Avenue.
The historic E. St. Julien Cox house at 500 North Minnesota Avenue, owned by the Nicollet County Historical Society, was damaged in a March 1998 tornado in St. Peter, Minnesota. It was repaired and continues to be used for various functions by the Society. The Cox family's carriage house to the north was also repaired.
In March of 1998, the Community Center, which was originally constructed as a high school, was destroyed by a tornado in St. Peter, Minnesota. This photo was taken from South Washington Avenue at its intersection with West Nassau Street.
The Community Center was damaged so severely in a March 1998 tornado in St. Peter, Minnesota, that it was not able to be repaired. The narrow east front of the building on the 300 block of South Fifth Street and the long section on the south side of West Nassau Street are shown in this photograph.
The west end of the Community Center, which contained a gymnasium, lost its roof in a tornado in March of 1998 in St. Peter, Minnesota. The structures on that block, bordered by South Washington Avenue and West Nassau, South Fifth, and West Grace Streets, were damaged beyond repair.
The spire of the Nicollet County Courthouse was destroyed by a tornado in March of 1998 in St. Peter, Minnesota. From left to right on the east side of South Minnesota Avenue are the following buildings: the former Armory, the former St. Peter Public Library, the Courthouse, and the Nicollet County Jail.
The remains of the Arts and Heritage Center at 320 South Fifth Street are visible at the far right after a tornado damaged many structures in March of 1998 in St. Peter, Minnesota. The building in the background was then being used as the Community Center. Both buildings were originally constructed as high schools.
The Arts and Heritage Center, originally constructed in 1870 as the city's first high school, was destroyed by a tornado in March of 1998 in St. Peter, Minnesota. It was located on the northwest corner of the intersection of South Fifth and West Grace Streets, facing Grace. The building at the far right was built in 1907 as a more modern high school. It was being used as the Community Center when the tornado destroyed it.
The Mark and Judith Ahlstrom home at 202 North Third Street suffered extensive damage from a tornado in March of 1998 in St. Peter, Minnesota. The house was later restored. It is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
Originally constructed in 1870 as the first high school, this building was used in later years as the Arts and Heritage Center until its destruction by a March 1998 tornado in St. Peter, Minnesota. The building was located at 320 South Fifth Street.
The New Sweden Feed Store began as a general store, but had been converted to a feed store by the time this 1985 photograph was taken in New Sweden, Minnesota.
The Pizza Villa in St. Peter was once located at 301 South Minnesota Avenue. Nu Way Cleaners was located at 303 South Minnesota Avenue for many years. The Pizza Villa building is one of the oldest buildings in St. Peter. It has been the home of many different businesses over the years.
The Pizza Villa in St. Peter was once located at 301 South Minnesota Avenue. Nu Way Cleaners was located at 303 South Minnesota Avenue for many years. The Pizza Villa building is one of the oldest buildings in St. Peter. It has been the home of many different businesses over the years.
The Ben Franklin Dime Store and Burch's Shoe Store in St. Peter are shown in this photograph. Both businesses operated for many years in St. Peter before other businesses moved into the buildings. They were on the west side of the 300 block of South Minnesota Avenue.
The Hallmark store, the Ben Franklin Dime Store and Burch's Shoe Store in St. Peter are shown in this photograph. These businesses were eventually replaced by other businesses that moved into the buildings. They were on the west side of the 300 block of South Minnesota Avenue.
One of the buildings of the Standard Lumber Company in St. Peter is shown during the process of demolition. The truck shown was facing south along Front Street. The building on the far right is on the north side of Park Row.
The brick building at the right was the office of the Standard Lumber Company in St. Peter at 100 Park Row. Front Street is at the far left. This photograph was taken during the demolition of the lumber storage building that had been on the southwest corner of the intersection.
The Standard Lumber Company in St. Peter was located at 100 Park Row. Demolition of this building was in progress at the time this photograph was taken. The large doors on the north side of the building were along Park Row, near its intersection with Front Street.
The brick building at the right was the office of the Standard Lumber Company in St. Peter at 100 Park Row. Front Street is at the far left. This photograph was taken following the demolition of the lumber storage building that had been on the southwest corner of the intersection.
Looking southward along South Minnesota Avenue in St. Peter from a location near the intersection with Broadway. The signs of many businesses that have since disappeared can be seen, such as Stensby Cleaners, Big John's Restaurant, the State Theater, Gannon's Restaurant, and the Odell Pharmacy.
The appearance of South Minnesota Avenue has changed considerably since this photograph, which looks to the north from a location between Nassau and Grace Streets, was taken in 1968 in St. Peter, Minnesota.
Ritt's Electric Center, the Skelly Service Station, and the State Theatre are among the businesses that have disappeared since this 1968 photograph was taken. The view looks to the south along South Minnesota Avenue in St. Peter, Minnesota, from a location between West Nassau and West Grace Streets.
During the 1965 flood, water diverted from Sunrise Drive in St. Peter is shown flowing along West Madison Street toward the Recreation Field on the east side of North Fifth Street. It then made its way to the Minnesota River. The building beyond the North Fifth Street sign was at the site of the local ice skating rink.
Diverted flood water from Sunrise Drive is shown along West Madison Street in St. Peter during the 1965 flood. The image was taken from a location slightly west of the intersection with North Washington Avenue. The white house at the center of the image is at 325 North Washington Avenue.
In order to relieve stress on a sandbag dike on Sunrise Drive during the 1965 flood in St. Peter, water was diverted to this street, West Madison. This image looks toward the Recreation Field from a location near the intersection of Madison with North Washington Avenue. The volume and force of the water was enough to remove the pavement from the street.
People are inspecting the damage done to West Madison Street in St. Peter at the time of the 1965 flood. This water came from the west, not from the Minnesota River. It was diverted from Sunrise Drive to the Recreation Field shown here in the distance. From there it made its way to the river. This photograph was taken from near North Washington Avenue.
Water diverted from Sunrise Drive during the 1965 flood in St. Peter has removed pavement from West Madison Street to create a waterfall at the intersection with North Washington Avenue. The house with the purple siding and white trim was the home of Howard Thomas at 324 North Washington Avenue.
The First Lutheran Church in St. Peter at 1114 West Traverse Road can be seen in the distance in this 1965 view of flood water along Sunrise Drive. The approaching car is going south past sandbags and piles of sand at the site of a dike that was built to hold back the water.
Flood water from the Minnesota River invaded farm buildings in the area of Spring Lake east of St. Peter in this 1965 image. The view, taken from Highway 99, is toward the south.
This image shows remnants of the large amount of snow that had covered the St. Peter area early in 1965. Warm weather caused the snow to melt before the ground thawed, which resulted in extensive flooding in Nicollet County and other portions of Minnesota.
Men were working along Old Minnesota Avenue in St. Peter at the time of the 1965 flood of the Minnesota River. The school buses in the background were owned by the Boucher Chartered Bus Service operated by Floyd Boucher.
A line of sandbags diverted water from Sunrise Drive during the 1965 flood in St. Peter onto North Eighth Street. The water was first sent through a ravine along the south side of the Earl Fitch house at 416 North Eighth Street. The water ultimately made its way to the Minnesota River. The large white house behind the two men standing by the sandbags faced West Madison Street.
A sandbag dike protects a house threatened by the flood water of the Minnesota River in St. Peter in 1965. The photograph was probably taken along South Front Street.
Three men who helped build sandbag dikes in St. Peter are shown in this photograph. The men were sitting on some of the sandbags that were used to protect the building in the background.
A number of houses in St. Peter were threatened by the flood water of the Minnesota River in 1965, including this one. A sandbag dike helped to protect the house.
The sandbag dike system that is shown in this photo was constructed in order to direct flood water from a controlled release from a dike along Sunrise Drive in St. Peter during the 1965 flood. The dike along Sunrise Drive was in danger of being overwhelmed, so water was sent from there to a ravine that ran along the south side of the Earl Fitch home at 416 North Eighth Street, onto North Eighth Street, onto Madison Street, and into the large Recreation Field near the swimming pool. The water could then make its way to the Minnesota River along the streets and through storm sewers.
A view mainly to the south along North Eighth Street, showing a dike built to send water from Sunrise Drive to Madison Street and the Recreation Field in St. Peter, Minnesota during the 1965 flood. The water ultimately made its way to the Minnesota River. The photo was taken near 416 North Eighth Street.
The remains of one of the many sandbag dikes that were constructed in the St. Peter area during the 1965 flood of the Minnesota River are shown in this image.
This image shows a sandbag dike along Highway 169 in North Mankato at the time of the 1965 flood. The Seven Up Bottling Company at 207 West Elm Street in Mankato is visible across the Minnesota River near the left edge of the photograph.
A long dike made of sandbags was built on Webster Street in North Mankato during the 1965 flood. The bluffs on the west side of the Minnesota River Valley can be seen in the distance.
Volunteers are shown constructing a sandbag dike along Sunrise Drive in St. Peter during the 1965 flood. This image was taken from a location on the east side of Sunrise Drive. The city water tower and the Myrum Memorial Fieldhouse can be seen to the south. Melted snow was unable to soak into the frozen ground west of Sunrise Drive, which created a very large pool of water that threatened to flood homes in St. Peter to the east.
Water from a controlled release at a sandbag dike along Sunrise Drive in St. Peter was sent through this ravine onto North Eighth Street to begin a lengthy journey to the Minnesota River during the 1965 flood. The house on the left side of this photo is located at 416 North Eighth Street. It was the home of the Earl Fitch family. The view is to the east.
During the 1965 flood, water from Sunrise Drive in St. Peter was diverted into a ravine that ran along the south side of the Earl Fitch home, at right, in St. Peter. The water was then diverted onto North Eighth and West Madison Streets until it reached the Recreation Field east of North Fifth Street. From there, it was able to make its way to the Minnesota River.
During the 1965 flood, water from Sunrise Drive in St. Peter was diverted down the length of this ravine that ran along the south side of the Earl Fitch house at 416 North Eighth Street.
Water that could not soak into frozen ground to the west of Sunrise Drive in St. Peter was diverted to this ravine located along the south side of the Earl and Elaine Fitch home at 416 North Eighth Street in order to avoid flooding many houses in the city. The water was ultimately sent to the Minnesota River.
The effects of the flood water of the Minnesota River in 1965 on the railroad tracks that were located east of St. Peter can be seen in this image. The river can be seen at the right, to the west of the tracks. The photograph was taken near the intersection with Highway 99.
The Peavey Grain Company's elevator east of St. Peter along the railroad tracks is shown in this image that was taken at the time of the 1965 flood of the Minnesota River. Pavement destroyed by the water is in the foreground.
The O'Brien home along the north side of Highway 99 east of St. Peter is shown partially submerged by flood water from the Minnesota River in this 1965 image. The road that is visible goes to Ottawa.
The O'Brien home along the north side of Highway 99 east of St. Peter is shown partially submerged by flood water from the Minnesota River in this 1965 image.
A portion of North Minnesota Avenue was covered by flood water from a controlled release from a dike along Sunrise Drive in St. Peter in 1965. That water was sent onto North Eighth Street, diverted to Madison Street, and allowed to spill into the large Recreation Field as it made its way to North Minnesota Avenue and the nearby Minnesota River. The approaching truck in the center of the photo has reached the intersection at Chestnut Street in this view from a location near the Broadway intersection.
This image was taken from the southbound lane of Highway 169 on the northern edge of North Mankato. It shows a large building that was partially covered by the flood water of the Minnesota River in 1965.
Water diverted from Sunrise Drive is shown flowing along North Eighth Street in St. Peter during the 1965 flood. It was sent eastward on West Madison Street (visible at the left) to the Recreation Field on the east side of North Fifth Street. From there, it made its way to the Minnesota River.
This image shows the dike that was constructed along North Eighth Street in St. Peter during the 1965 flood in order to send water from fields west of Sunrise Drive to the Minnesota River. The back of Oscar Swanlund's house at 727 West Madison is in the upper left corner.
Water diverted from Sunrise Drive in St. Peter is shown flowing along North Eighth and West Madison Streets during the 1965 flood. The water ultimately reached the Minnesota River after crossing the Recreation Field east of North Fifth Street. The home of the Henry and Adeline Kretschmer family at 324 North Eighth Street is shown in this image.
A dike that was started near the Mill Pond in St. Peter to protect the buildings of the St. Peter Light and Water Department had to be abandoned, because the flood water of the Minnesota River rose too high to maintain it. This image was taken from Nassau Street. The mill pond is at the left, and the main utility building was to the right, outside of the view shown here.
The sandbag dike in the foreground was construced at the west end of the mill pond in St. Peter during the 1965 flood in an attempt to contain the rapidly rising water of the Minnesota River. The river water later submerged the dike, and a second dike was constructed on higher ground beside the electrical substation on the north side of the east end of Nassau Street, which is visible in the center of the photo. At the time, the offices of the Light and Water Department were located a short distance to the west (left) of the dike shown here. The offices were later flooded by the continued rise of the river.