Despite the fact that the new St. Benedict's Hospital boasted of a modern heating system, an operating room, two private rooms, wards, and a kitchen, only ten patients were received during the first two months. The sisters began to worry about their hospital project until a cyclone swept over St. Cloud and the neighboring towns killing 58 and injuring hundreds. It wrecked all in its wake but the hospital which became the center for rescue work. The sisters toiled for 48 hours before relief came from the Twin Cities and neighboring towns. The catastrophe broke down the prejudice against hospitals and, thereafter, St. Benedict's Hospital did not lack patients; at the close of the second year of service, the number of patients received reached 400. When over-crowded conditions forced the sisters to build a new hospital, St. Benedict's Hospital was converted to an academy of art and music (Saint Benedict's Monastery Archives , McDonald, page 254).
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.
The Armistice Day Blizzard of November 11, 1940, hit New Brighton hard. On the day following the blizzard, Phil Hadock and Sid Weber stand behind a big drift next to Butch Schmalzbauer's Jack Sprat Food Store to talk about the weather. Many New Brightonites took stranded travelers into their homes overnight.
The Armistice Day Blizzard of November 11, 1940, found many residents of New Brighton providing food and shelter for storm victims. Many cars were stranded and travelers rescued by New Brighton residents during the fierce storm.
The west side of the 100 block of South Minnesota Avenue in St. Peter is shown on November 11th, 1940 during the famous Armistice Day Blizzard. The Nicollet Hotel Bar, the Seitzer Ford automobile dealership, and a part of the Ludcke Theater can be seen behind the snow that has been removed from the avenue.
The west side of the 300 block of South Minnesota Avenue in St. Peter is shown on November 11th, 1940 during the famous Armistice Day Blizzard. The Red Owl grocery store can be seen in the Masonic Hall building, and the Nicollet County Bank is visible at the far right. Large mounds of snow can be seen between the avenue and the stores.
The west side of the 200 block of South Minnesota Avenue in St. Peter is shown on November 11th, 1940 during the famous Armistice Day Blizzard. The Central Meat Market, the Rolling Pin Bakery, and the Kurth Beauty Shop are visible behind the mounds of snow that have been removed from the avenue.
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.
A timber was impaled through a fourteen inch oak tree by the force of the 1883 tornado. The tornado struck Rochester in the early evening of Aug. 21, 1883.
This picture shows Peterson with saw and sawhorse, cutting wood for the fire, on a path that goes past a house and yard in a snowy St. Peter neighborhood. In the distance is the Swedish Lutheran Church, located at 4th and Elm Streets.
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.
Several people are viewing the damage from the 1883 tornado. A man is standing next to a piece of furniture and a boy is sitting with a large toy horse. Among the debris on the ground is a stove, windows and an umbrella. The inscription on the photo is: ""Cascade Park, 20 houses destroyed, 8 persons killed near here."" The tornado struck Rochester in the early evening of Aug. 21, 1883.
Spectators assess damage to the Chicago Great Western Railroad bridge during the flood of 1908. The mill and elevator can be seen in the background. The Zumbro River overflowed its banks in Rochester early on the morning of June 26, 1908.
Spectators are walking along the Chicago Great Western Railroad bridge assessing the damage from the flood waters. Much of the ground supporting the tracks has been washed away. The Zumbro River overflowed its banks in Rochester early on the morning of June 26, 1908.
Two children are sitting on piles of bricks at the rear of the destroyed Rochester Harvester Works building. Piles of lumber and bricks surround the children. The tornado struck Rochester in the early evening of Aug. 21, 1883.
View is to the west from the Moorhead side of the Red River. About 16 children stand on Moorhead bank at left and wade in the river. Tree foliage indicates this was a summer rain flood.
A large tank stands where it always did but the brick walls around it are gone. Also remaining is a fire hose reel. This was the city building in Tyler, Minnesota.
People, standing on the College Street bridge, are looking at the flood waters and the sagging Chicago Great Western Railroad tracks after the flood of 1908. The Zumbro River overflowed its banks in Rochester early on the morning of June 26, 1908.
Spectators are watching the raging flood waters from the College (4th Street) Street bridge. The Chicago Great Western Railroad bridge is also visible After several days of drenching rains along the Zumbro River basin, the river overflowed its banks in Rochester early on the morning of early on June 26, 1908. The river rose at a rapid rate (four feet in 20 minutes) and did extensive damage to the business and residential sections of the city.
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 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.
The destroyed C. Smith's residence is shown with the roof on the ground. In front of the collapsed building in a pile of rubble is a boot and a stove. The tornado struck Rochester in the early evening of Aug. 21, 1883.
Overall view looking southwest of the destruction following the cyclone of 1886. A man stands in the foreground with devastation all around him including a dead cow lying in the lower right section of the shot. The Mississippi river can be seen in the distance.
Westward view of the devestation of a street in Sauk Rapids following the cyclone of 1886. Five men are standing in the foreground amongst the destruction.
The cyclone's destructive power is evidenced through this shot of a lone, bare tree standing amongst the debris. Nine structures (including the Davis House) survived the storm.
Local relief committee inspecting some damage caused by the cyclone of 1886. Members of the committee met with state appointed committee members to assess damages and decide how to properly distribute donated funds for food, clothing, health care and for repair and new construction of structures.
Splintered trees and debris litter this scene captured after the cyclone of 1886 near the Schultz farm. Seven fatalities were initially recorded at this site before the death toll rose to twelve.
View of the Benton County courthouse which was leveled by the cyclone of 1886. Some structures are left standing in the background, one of which is the Davis House.
View of the Benton County courthouse in ruins following the cyclone of 1886. A safe, chairs, storage shelves and bureaus are stacked close to a partially destroyed vault. A bent oak tree is prominently seen in the foreground on the right.
View of all that remains of the Charles Schultz farm following the cyclone of 1886. The farm is located four miles south of Rice's Station. This is the site where twelve people (including the groom and minister) died attending a wedding celebration.
View of all that remains of the Charles Schultz farm following the cyclone of 1886. The farm was located four miles south of Rice's Station. This is the site where twelve people (including the groom and minister) died attending a wedding celebration.
View looking southwest towards the Mississippi River of uprooted and snapped trees amongst the debris following the cyclone of 1886. Surviving residences and buildings are also shown.
Damaged and overturned flat cars are seen in foreground with surviving and damaged grain mill and freight storage buildings in background. This scene was captured after the cyclone of 1886.
Part of the destroyed residential section is shown in this photo taken after the 1883 tornado. Several homes are badly damaged and many are completely destroyed. The tornado struck Rochester in the early evening of Aug. 21, 1883.
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.