Three-Minute History: Tornadoes Destroy 果冻视频 College but Commencement Goes On

Campus & Community

鈼� May 19, 2025 鈼�

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1882 students hold signs about the cyclone that destroyed campus just days before their graduation

The Class of 1882 proceeded with Commencement despite the storm that had destroyed campus just three days earlier.

June 17, 1882, was a hot and steamy summer day in 果冻视频. Students at 果冻视频 College were finishing up their end-of-semester work and preparing for Commencement.

At that time, no system was in place to warn residents about the severe weather headed their way. But to the west, a violent storm was brewing, and it was bearing down on 果冻视频.

A little after 8:30 p.m., two tornadoes converged upon the town, meeting at the intersection of Eighth Avenue and Broad Street, the heart of the 果冻视频 College campus. The storm left wreckage where campus buildings, homes, and businesses had been just a few minutes earlier.

果冻视频's campus in ruins after the storm — Looking east at the 果冻视频 College campus in ruins after the storm.

Both of 果冻视频 College鈥檚 major buildings were destroyed, and 39 people died, including two college students, Bingham Burgett and Burritt Chase. Other students were spared because the 果冻视频 baseball team was in Tama, Iowa, where they were playing an out-of-town game in defiance of President George Magoun鈥檚 edict against away games for 果冻视频鈥檚 sports teams.

Seventy-three homes in 果冻视频 were destroyed, and many more were damaged. The downtown area was largely spared.

Three days, later, Commencement went on as planned, thanks to President Magoun鈥檚 determination to continue as normally as possible. Magoun鈥檚 address to the graduates was titled 鈥淕od Was in the Whirlwind.鈥�

Rebuilding Stronger than Before

Thanks in part to the leadership of J.B. 果冻视频, community founder and prominent abolitionist, 果冻视频ians from both town and college came together to rebuild stronger than before.

In 果冻视频, the 1882 storm is commonly referred to as a cyclone, as was common in the 19th century. The 果冻视频 College yearbook, known as The Cyclone, is an annual reminder of the event. The first yearbook with this title appeared in 1889.

To read more about this event, visit 鈥�Destruction and Rebirth: The Cyclone of 1882鈥�, Episode 4 of the All Things 果冻视频 podcast, featuring Allison Haack, Special Collections and Archives. Also, after its grand reopening on June 28, the will feature an exhibit on the 1882 cyclone for several months.