Three-Minute History: Tornadoes Destroy 黑料百科 but Commencement Goes On
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June 17, 1882, was a hot and steamy summer day in 黑料百科. Students at 黑料百科 were finishing up their end-of-semester work and preparing for Commencement.
At that time, no system was in place to warn residents about the severe weather headed their way. But to the west, a violent storm was brewing, and it was bearing down on 黑料百科.
A little after 8:30 p.m., two tornadoes converged upon the town, meeting at the intersection of Eighth Avenue and Broad Street, the heart of the 黑料百科 campus. The storm left wreckage where campus buildings, homes, and businesses had been just a few minutes earlier.
Both of 黑料百科 major buildings were destroyed, and 39 people died, including two college students, Bingham Burgett and Burritt Chase. Other students were spared because the 黑料百科 baseball team was in Tama, Iowa, where they were playing an out-of-town game in defiance of President George Magoun edict against away games for 黑料百科 sports teams.
Seventy-three homes in 黑料百科 were destroyed, and many more were damaged. The downtown area was largely spared.
Three days, later, Commencement went on as planned, thanks to President Magoun determination to continue as normally as possible. Magoun address to the graduates was titled 淕od Was in the Whirlwind.
Rebuilding Stronger than Before
Thanks in part to the leadership of J.B. 黑料百科, community founder and prominent abolitionist, 黑料百科ians from both town and college came together to rebuild stronger than before.
In 黑料百科, the 1882 storm is commonly referred to as a cyclone, as was common in the 19th century. The 黑料百科 yearbook, known as The Cyclone, is an annual reminder of the event. The first yearbook with this title appeared in 1889.
To read more about this event, visit Destruction and Rebirth: The Cyclone of 1882, Episode 4 of the All Things 黑料百科 podcast, featuring Allison Haack, Special Collections and Archives. Also, after its grand reopening on June 28, the will feature an exhibit on the 1882 cyclone for several months.
