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 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.
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.
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. This photo was taken from the Third Street mill overlooking Mayo Park. The little round bandstand is visible in the trees in the center of the photo. The Center Street bridge is in the left rear.
Spectators are seen watching the flood waters from the College (4th Street) Street bridge. The Riverside Livery is visible on the right. 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, 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.
The rising water drowned out the fires at the Water Works, shutting down the pumps. All the manufacturing plants including the city light and power house were shut down due to lack of water. The Zumbro River overflowed its banks in Rochester early on the morning of early on June 26, 1908.
The destructive force of the tornado is evident in this scene of destroyed homes in the residential section of North Rochester. In the early evening on Tuesday, August 21, 1883, a cyclone devastated the city of Rochester. About one third of the city was completely destroyed and the remainder was heavily damaged. North Rochester, or Lower Town was the hardest hit. This section of the city was largely inhabited by working people.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
The destroyed Proud's residence is shown in this photo with the wagon wheels among the debris in the front. The tornado struck Rochester in the early evening of Aug. 21, 1883.
A man is leaning against a wall of the Weber's residence. Another wall lies flat on the ground and the roof is missing. The tornado struck Rochester in the early evening of Aug. 21, 1883.
Cole's Mill is viewed from the mill race showing six overturned railroad cars and another railroad car at the end of the race. The mill was extensively damaged by the 1883 tornado. 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. 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.
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.