Turning Points
in Wisconsin History
An eyewitness history of the New Richmond tornado, 1899
History of the New Richmond Cyclone of June 12, 1899
On June 12, 1899, a deadly tornado struck the town of New Richmond, killing 117 and injuring 150 more. With a circus in town, the population had swelled as people came for the festivities. The tornado had originated as a waterspout on Lake St. Croix and then moved northeast to New Richmond. Shortly after the circus had ended, the tornado passed through the center of town, leveling a strip of land 1000 feet wide and 3000 feet long. Over 300 buildings were destroyed and multiple deaths were reported in at least 26 families: six families had four or more deaths. Mrs. A.G. Boehm wrote this book about the tornado in 1900 which includes first-hand accounts from New Richmond residents. It concludes with a report on the damages submitted to the governor for the distribution of relief money.
| Related Topics: |
Early Native Peoples The Physical Geography of Wisconsin |
| Creator: | Boehm, A.G., Mrs. |
| Pub Data: | St. Paul, Minn: Dispatch, 1900. (F589 N53 B6 1900 rare books) |
| Citation: | Boehm, A.G., Mrs. History of the New Richmond Cyclone of June 12, 1899. (St. Paul, Minn: Dispatch, 1900); online facsimile at http://www.wisconsinhistory.org/turningpoints/search.asp?id=1543 Online facsimile at: http://wisconsinhistory.org/turningpoints/search.asp?id=1543; Visited on: 4/26/2024 |
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