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 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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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 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.
An amphibious vehicle can be seen heading westward along the flooded Belgrade Avenue in North Mankato, Minnesota, in 1951. The Marigold Dairy at 216 to 220 Belgrade Avenue is along the left side of the photo, and the Mission Covenant Church at 215 Belgrade Avenue is at the far right. Texaco and Pure service stations can be seen in the distance, closer to the Minnesota River.
These homes along Center Street, across from the Tanley Field ballpark in North Mankato, Minnesota, had severe damage from the flood water of the Minnesota River in 1951.
These houses along Center Street in North Mankato, Minnesota, were flooded by the Minnesota River in 1951. Part of the Tanley Field ballpark can be seen at the far right of the photo.
The Municipal Building at 443 Belgrade Avenue and Howard Helgerson's service station at 503 Belgrade Avenue in North Mankato, Minnesota, were among the many businesses and residences that were flooded by the Minnesota River in 1951.
Much of North Mankato, Minnesota, was flooded by the Minnesota River in 1951, as can be seen in this aerial photo. The Tanley Field ballpark is visible in the upper left quadrant of the photo, and the grain elevators of the Hubbard Milling Company in Mankato, Minnesota appear in the upper right corner.
Boats were used for transportation in flooded North Mankato, Minnesota, in 1951. The spire of the Mission Covenant Church at 215 Belgrade Avenue can be seen in the distance. The Marigold Dairy at 216 to 220 Belgrade Avenue is visible at the far right side of the photo. Most of the city was flooded by the Minnesota River that year.
Taken from the bank of the flooded Minnesota River, this photo shows the bridge that connected North Mankato, Minnesota, with the city of Mankato in 1951. Across the river, the Saulpaugh Hotel and other buildings in Mankato can be seen, as well as a portion of the railroad depot.
From left to right, the following businesses are shown in flooded North Mankato, Minnesota, in 1951: the Urban Cafe and the Urban Lanes bowling alleys at 243 to 247 Belgrade Avenue, the Jaehn and Buck barber shop at 249 Belgrade Avenue, the R and J Liquor Store at 253 Belgrade Avenue, and Spinner's Bar at 301 Belgrade Avenue. Most of the city was flooded by the Minnesota River that year.