Mt. St. Helens erupted on May 18, 1980. The volcanic event was the deadliest in the history of the United States. Here are a few postcards showing the beauty and destruction of the mountain before and after. This first postcard was produced by the Washington State Progress Commission. Here’s a view of Portland, Oregon withContinue reading “The Eruption of Mt. St. Helens”
Tag Archives: City in Ruins
S.S. Morro Castle Disaster
The S.S. Morro Castle disaster is one of the strangest and most fascinating disasters in American history. On September 5, the Morro Castle departed Havana, Cuba, headed for New York. For two days there were no problems, but on the third day tragedy of multiple kinds befell the four-year-old luxury liner. The ship was metContinue reading “S.S. Morro Castle Disaster”
Fire at Stern’s Residence – August 5, 1906
Taken from The Sun newspaper on August 6, 1906: Middletown, N.Y, Aug, 5 – Fire this morning practically destroyed the residence of Lehman Stern, on Highland Avenue, the wealthiest section of the city. Adjoining were the houses of Edson G. Lavidge and Mrs. James Morton, formerly of New York. Each of these residences is valuedContinue reading “Fire at Stern’s Residence – August 5, 1906”
The Great Bellows Falls Fire – Bellows Falls, Vermont – March 26, 1912
WHAT: City/Building Fire WHEN: March 26, 1912 WHERE: Bellows Falls, Vermont FATALITIES: Zero dead – three building and numerous businesses were destroyed What proved to be the most disastrous fire as far as loss of property was concerned, that ever visited Bellows Falls, broke out Tuesday morning at 2 o’clock, and before It was extinguished,Continue reading “The Great Bellows Falls Fire – Bellows Falls, Vermont – March 26, 1912”
Rock Island Train Wreck – Green Mountain, Iowa
WHAT: Train wreck WHEN: March 21, 1910 – 8:17 a.m. WHERE: Between Green Mountain and Gladbrook, Iowa FATALITIES: 52 dead, 39 injured From the front page of the La Crosse Tribune, Monday, March 21, 1910: The worst wreck in the history of Iowa railroading occurred at 8:17 a. m. today four miles north of GreenContinue reading “Rock Island Train Wreck – Green Mountain, Iowa”
Gulf Hotel Fire – September 7, 1943
Fifty-five men, many of them elderly and living off government relief, died in the early morning of September 7, 1943 in the worst hotel fire in Houston, Texas history. The fire started around 12:10 a.m. the front desk clerk was alerted to a problem on the second floor. A lit cigarette inadvertently caused a mattressContinue reading “Gulf Hotel Fire – September 7, 1943”
The Terminal Hotel Fire – Atlanta, Georgia
WHAT: Hotel fire WHEN: May 16, 1938 around 3:00am WHERE: Atlanta, Georgia FATALITIES: 35 dead, as many as 15 injured On May 16, 1938 the most disastrous fire in Atlanta’s history at time based on the loss of life, broke out in the kitchen of the Terminal Hotel. Located in the Hotel Row District in Atlanta at the corner of Spring andContinue reading “The Terminal Hotel Fire – Atlanta, Georgia”
Barton Hotel Fire, Chicago, Illinois – February 12, 1955
WHAT: Hotel fire WHEN: February 12, 1955 WHERE: Chicago, Illinois FATALITIES: 29 HUMAN TORCH BLAMED FOR START OF FIRE At approximately 2 a.m. on the morning on February 12, 1955, C.W. Harvey, night manager of a West Madison Street (Skid Row) flophouse called the Barton Hotel heard a commotion coming from the second floor of the 49 year-old hotelContinue reading “Barton Hotel Fire, Chicago, Illinois – February 12, 1955”
Kerns Hotel Fire – December 11, 1934
Around 5:30 a.m. on the morning of December 11, 1934 a fire broke out at the Kerns Hotel in Lansing, Michigan. The hotel, built in 1909, was four stories tall and originally contained 162 rooms at a cost of over $50,000. The hotel was a very popular place in Lansing. Communities members and state politicians enjoyedContinue reading “Kerns Hotel Fire – December 11, 1934”