The Cyclone of 1883:
A photo essay of two minutes that made Beloit history

 

In light of the recent hurricanes and tropical storms pounding the south eastern United States, we think it of interest to our readers to take a look at Beloit’s most historic storm. On June 11, 1883, at 6:00 p.m., a cyclone hit Beloit, killing one man, severely wounding a dozen others, and caused $100,000 worth of damage (nearly 2 million in today's dollars.) The two minute blast had a dramatic impact on nineteenth-century Beloiters and was a topic of discussion into the mid-twentieth. Following is a photo-essay from the Society’s archives.

Northwest corner of State and Grand. Emerson Drugs of the corner.

 

Rear view of Kinsley Carriage Works on North State St.

 

Presbyterian Church, southeast corner Broad and Pleasant.

 

Chicago Northwestern railroad bridge.

 

Across from the Presbyterian Church, Broad and Pleasant.

 

The Rock River Paper Mill.

 

Southwest corner of State and Grand.

 

The Rock River Paper Mill. The photo was marked with an "x" to indicate where Edward Halloran's body was found, the only fatality.

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