This is an original picture, taken by Wilize (?) at the time, showing the ruins of Gladstone Hall, Red Wing, after the building had collapsed under the heft of 3 or 4 feet of heavy snow. The picture was gotten from W. S. Scott, Red Wing, Minn., in June, 1933. Note that Bush Street is covered and completely blockaded by stone and snow. (B. Eide)
The Northrop School was leveled by the 1883 tornado. This school served students of the Third Ward. The tornado struck Rochester in the early evening of Aug. 21, 1883.
The Chicago & North Western Railroad yards received severe damage from the 1883 tornado. Box cars, buildings and stock pens were destroyed. The tornado struck Rochester in the early evening of Aug. 21, 1883.
The T. P. Hall Buggy Works lost part of the roof and the side of the building in the 1883 tornado. Carriages and wagons are visible as well as the remains of an freight elevator structure. The business was located on the corner of College Street and Main Street. The tornado struck Rochester in the early evening of Aug. 21, 1883.
This view of North Rochester shows the most heavily settled section of the city. Very few houses are still standing after the 1883 tornado. This photo was taken from Cole's Mill. The tornado struck Rochester in the early evening of Aug. 21, 1883.
This photo was taken from Cole's Mill and shows the extensive property damage from the 1883 tornado. The tornado struck Rochester in the early evening of Aug. 21, 1883.
One building in this scene of a section of Broadway is still standing. All other buildings have been destroyed by the 1883 tornado. The wooden walkway is also damaged in several sections. The tornado struck Rochester in the early evening of Aug. 21, 1883.
Most of the houses have been destroyed in this view of a street in Rochester after the tornado of 1883. The buildings left standing are all heavily damaged. The tornado struck Rochester in the early evening of Aug. 21, 1883.
Only a few houses remain standing after the 1883 tornado. This is the view from Cole's Mill showing the residential section of Rochester. The tornado struck Rochester in the early evening of Aug. 21, 1883.
Vedder's Farm Machinery Depot was the largest in Southeastern Minnesota. It was built in 1879 and located on the corner of 5th and Broadway. About 75 feet of his store was destroyed. Albert D. Vedder and his wife were in the cellar and saved from death by heavy timbers that lodged above them and kept the ruined masonry from crushing them. The tornado struck Rochester in the early evening of Aug. 21, 1883.
The force of the winds from the 1883 tornado blew the railroad bridge into the Zumbro River. The tornado struck Rochester in the early evening of Aug. 21, 1883.
This photo shows debris caught in trees, trees with no leaves and piles of rubble everywhere. The tornado struck Rochester in the early evening of Aug. 21, 1883.
This large building was completely destroyed by the 1883 tornado. Roof timbers are broken and laying on a pile of loose bricks. The caption reads ""Machine Shop"". The tornado struck Rochester in the early evening of Aug. 21, 1883.
The west end of Cole's Mill was blown in, the roof blown off, the corner of a wall torn out, the machinery damaged and the cooper shop destroyed. Eight box cars were overturned and two carloads of flour were in the mill race. John M. Cole, the proprietor of the mill was found dead in the street between the mill and his residence. He had apparently left the mill to go home when he was killed by the storm. In the foreground is the leveled home of Paul Thompson, who worked for the mill and occupied a home rented from the mill. The stove is all that is recognizable of any of the house furnishings. The tornado struck Rochester in the early evening of Aug. 21, 1883.
This photo was taken in North Rochester near the Cook and Proud residences. People are looking through piles of rubble. A dead horse is in the foreground, possibly impaled with a tree or branch. The tornado struck Rochester in the early evening of Aug. 21, 1883.
Two women are walking among the debris, another woman is sitting down. The trees have lost their leaves in the storm. Very little is recognizable among the piles of rubble except a chair and a wagon wheel. The tornado struck Rochester in the early evening of Aug. 21, 1883.
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.
The Zumbro River flooded a residential section of the city in this photo taken from the brewery. The area in the background would later become Soldiers Field Park. 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.
Judge C. E. Callaghan's home at the corner of College Street (4th Street SE) and Dubuque Street (3rd Avenue) is surrounded by the flooded Zumbro River. The smokestack from the water works can be seen in the distance. 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.
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.
People looking at debris two blocks east of Main Street. The picture is looking to the northwest with a lone upright piano standing along with damaged houses.
Many people standing and cars parked on Main Street looking south. Many buildings are left with roofs partially gone or completely gone and debris is everywhere.
Looking to the southwest , all that is remaining are stripped tree trunks and what appears to be a buildings foundation with none of the building present,
Six people looking through debris on the west side of Tyler, Minnesota, after tornado swept through town. It looks like a chair is the only useable item.
Central Hillside; Weather Bureau building was built in 1904 and served until February 1950; the address has changed though the building was not moved 631 W Seventh Street; 631 Skyline Parkway; the address from March 1950 to October 1959 was 705 West Ninth Street
Contributing Institution:
University of Minnesota Duluth, Kathryn A. Martin Library, Northeast Minnesota Historical Collections
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.
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.
Winter view of Roseau in 1893. It is believed to be the first picture taken of Roseau. The winter stagecoach is loading people in front of the hotel. O. B. Ekman's Land Office is across the street and Lindberg's Store is the building with the exterior staircase.
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).
Joe Lommel Jr. was painting his father's tavern in Luxemburg and decided to a take a dip in nearby Beaver Lake. The message to his father says it all: "Too Hot Went to Lake."
The water is flowing rapidly under the College Street bridge during the flood of 1908. The businesses on College Street that are visible in the photo are (left to right): Riverside Livery (McConnell and Conway); furniture store of Cliff E. Elliott (formerly Coon and Allen) on the corner of College (4th Street) and Broadway. The furniture and undertaking business of P. F. Johnson is on South Broadway, across the street west of the Cliff Elliott furniture store. The Conley Camera Company is located just west of P. F. Johnson. 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.
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.
Winter scene looking south towards Okabena Lake from the top of the courthouse. On back of the photograph: "Foreground - Top of Jail, Across street - Tom Palmer home (later owned by French family)."
Flood waters over flowing Lake Okabena at Lake Street and 2nd Avenue in Worthington. Railroad tracks are getting washed away. Mann House visible across the lake.