Tornado of 1920

On Palm Sunday, March 28, 1920, a tornado tore through Melrose Park. Thirty-two homes were destroyed and dozens more damaged. Seven residents lost their lives and approximately thirty others were injured. This gallery includes eighty-three original photographs of the aftermath.

Courtesy of Martie Huff, Gus Kraft home, 22nd Ave, Bellwood

Courtesy of Martie Huff, Gus Kraft home, 22nd Ave, Bellwood

Courtesy of Martie Huff, Gus Kraft home, 22nd Ave, Bellwood

Courtesy of Martie Huff, Gus Kraft home, 22nd Ave, Bellwood

Butz home and Essery Hall, Maywood

Courtesy of Mr. & Mrs. Art Prell, Butz home, Maywood

Courtesy of Mrs. Lydia Price, Butz home, Maywood

Courtesy of Mr. & Mrs. Art Prell, Essery home and hall, Maywood

Courtesy of Roger Beecham, Balzer home, 19th Ave, Maywood

Courtesy of Roger Beecham, Balzer home, 19th Ave, Maywood

Courtesy of Marian Korrell, Melrose Park School and Village Hall

Courtesy of Henry Liskauskas, Melrose Park School

Courtesy of Martie Huff, Melrose Park School

Courtesy of Mr. & Mrs. Art Prell, Melrose Park School

Courtesy of Mrs. Barbara Lauth, Melrose Park School

Melrose Park School

17th Ave, north of Chicago Ave, Melrose Park

Courtesy of Mr. & Mrs. Art Prell, Sacred Heart Church, 16th and Iowa

Courtesy of Beulah Burnett, Sacred Heart Church

Courtesy of Roger Beecham, Sacred Heart Church

Sacred Heart Church

Sacred Heart Church

Courtesy of Anna Vertuno, West side of Sacred Heart schoolyard.

Melrose Park State Bank, Broadway (19th) and Main

Broadway (19th Ave) and Main

Pool hall and theater, east side of Broadway (19th Ave)

Unidentified

Main St west of 18th Ave, possibly Fisher's Feed Mill

Main St west of 18th Ave, possibly Fisher's Feed Mill

Courtesy of Marian Korrell, Main St between 18th and 19th Avenues

Unidentified

Courtesy of Roger Beecham, 16th Ave and Walton

img230 Wednesday November 22, 2006 23:32 PM

Courtesy of Anna Vertuno, Vertuno Home, 15th & Augusta

Courtesy of Frank & Edith Tanton, Gregor Home, 16th and Rice

Courtesy of Louis Lynn Beecham, Gregor Home 16th & Rice

Couretsy of Louis Lynn Beecham, 15th and Augusta

Bell from Sacred Heart Church

img268 Thursday November 23, 2006 00:36 AM

Go back to the Gallery List | View all album images

To view view the next photo without waiting for the slideshow, mouseover the left-side or right-side of the image and click the arrow that appears there.

To print, please click in the center of the photograph you would like to print. The image will then open in it's own window. There you can select print from the file menu.

Melrose Park Historical Center

of the Melrose Park Public Library

Historic Melrose Park

Tornado of 1920