Community Corner

108 Years Ago, a Tornado Hits St. Louis Park

Three Park residents were killed in the Aug. 20, 1904, storm.

On Aug. 20, 1904, a deadly tornado started in South Dakota and made its way through St. Louis Park, killing three local residents.

In all, 14 people died in the storm, the St. Louis Park Historical Society reports. According to Hennepin County Emergency Management, winds from the storm hit 110 mph in St. Paul—the highest official wind speed ever recorded in Minnesota of more than one minute.

The historical society notes that the damage was extensive:

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The storm continued on to St. Paul and Stillwater. Significant damage was done to both downtown Minneapolis and St. Paul. In the Park, the storm heavily damaged the Sugar Company, Malleable Iron Works, Fosston, Monitor, the Peavy and Great Western Elevators, and 20 houses.

The St. Louis Park Village Council did have a response—in September of 1904, it appropriated $100 for the victims of the cyclone. We're sure that number would be a bit higher today.

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