An additional 58 adults and children suffered injuries in the explosions. He was convicted for one of the murders, though it is suspected that he was responsible. Published march 16th 2009 by the university of michigan press. A farmer and school board member used explosives to destroy his farm buildings, and the consolidated school, in bath, michigan. Yet, we seem to have a relentless fascination with them. To see what your friends thought of this book, please sign up. A native of chicago, arnie bernstein is the author of the hoofs and guns of the storm. The schools creation was controversial, but monty ellsworth wrote in his book about the disaster that consolidated schools had. Evil of bath school disaster remembered 89 years later.
On may 18, 1927, the small town of bath, michigan, was. Arnie bernstein talked about his book bath massacre. In his book he presents a history of the worst school attack in. Michigans bath school massacre remains deadliest of its. On may 18, 1927, in a horrific conflagration of dynamite and blood, a madman forever changed a small michigan town. The horror of the sandy hook school shooting that left 20 children and seven others dead is immense, and there are parallels between the connecticut tragedy and a 1927 school massacre in michigan. Collins was at the center of a series of high profile homicides, known as the michigan murders, that rocked the ann arbor and ypsilanti areas in 19671969. Ninety years ago, a school in bath, michigan was rigged with explosives in a brutal act that stunned the town the bath school bombing in 1927 remains the. Thirtyeight children and six adults were dead, among them kehoe, who had literally blown himself to bits by setting off a dynamite. Michigan the states most notorious criminal cases by tobin t. About 10 miles northeast of lansing, bath township, which contains the unincorporated village of bath, was your typical michigan agriculture community in the early 1920s. This affecting and thoroughly researched book is at its heart a local history gathered around a single tragic incident. Thirtyeight children and seven adults were violently blown apart and murdered that may 18 morning in 1927 in bath township, michigan, making it the worst school massacre ever in the united states. Bath community schools welcomes volunteers across the district.
The 1927 bombing that remains americas deadliest school. Discover bath school massacre memorial in bath township, michigan. Before there was columbine, before sandy hook, before parkdale, there was bath, michigan. Survivors recall 1927 michigan school massacre two former students of michigans bath school remember a deadly bombing and its aftermath. Michigans bath school disaster remains deadliest of its. Het bloedbad op bath consolidated school bath school disaster was een. With seemingly endless stories of school violence and suicide bombers filling todays headlines, bath massacre serves as a reminder that terrorism and largescale murder are nothing new. Ancient history encyclopedia receives a small commission for each book sold through our affiliate partners. University of michigan regional, 9780472033461, 216pp. Massacre in michigan the bath school disaster page 2.
Thirtyeight children and six adults were dead, among them kehoe, who had literally blown himself to bits by setting off a dynamite charge in his car. The school massacre that shocked bath, michigan may 18. Ninety years ago, a school in bath, michigan was rigged with explosives in a brutal act that stunned the town. On may 18, 1927, a massive explosion rocked the bath consolidated school, destroying an entire wing of the school. Neighbors began to rush to his farm when about the. The massacre in bath made national news, and the name andrew kehoe became synonymous with evil. Mardi link, author of when evil came to good hart on may 18, 1927, the small town of bath, michigan, was forever changed when andrew kehoe set off a cache of explosives concealed in the basement of the local school.
By purchasing books through this website, you support our nonprofit organization. Also known as the bath school massacre, as of today it remains the deadliest attack on a school in u. Please note that there is normally a two week turn around for ichats to be completed. On may 18 of that year, a former electrician who was a handyman at the local school in the small town of bath, located in the middle of the state. Oldest surviving student recalls how awful it was irene babcock, who is 109, remembers that fateful day may 18, 1927 when a. Massacre in michigan the bath school disaster legends. The bath school disaster, also known as the bath school massacre, was a series of violent attacks perpetrated by andrew kehoe on may 18, 1927, in bath township, michigan, united states. Two ump titles are michigan notable books university of. A park and memorial dedicated to the victims of the deadliest school massacre in american history. Americas first school bombing is a book by arnie bernstein, published by university of michigan press, ann arbor, mi, in 2009 synopsis edit. Michigans bath school disaster remains deadliest of its kind in us history 89 years later, bath township, mich. The bath school massacre occurred on may 18, 1927 and was committed by a man named andrew kehoe. The attacks killed 38 elementary schoolchildren and 6 adults, and injured at least 58 other people.
Two university of michigan press titles were selected as 2010 michigan notable books recently. These 10 famous homicides in michigan will never be forgotten. Following the massacre, people from all over the united states began to help bath recover and rebuild. The story takes place in 1927 in the small town of bath, michigan, where a farming community built their first consolidated school after a history of oneroom schoolhouses. These are original, unused postcards and in very good condition.
As the committee described it on may 18, 1927, an explosion rocked the small town of bath, in clinton county, when dynamite planted by andrew kehoe detonated in the basement of the local school. This month is 90th anniversary of bath school massacre. Murderers, and more specifically serial killers, are considered among the lowest members of society. Arnie bernstein, author of bath massacre november 14, 2015 by tonya blust 1 comment arnie bernstein is a chicago author who wrote a book about a crime whose effects are near and dear to my heart. Bath massacre paperback americas first school bombing. Ninety years ago, a school in bath, michigan was rigged with explosives in a brutal act that stunned the town the bath school bombing in 1927 remains the deadliest school massacre in u. The michigan historic site marker about the 1927 bath school disaster in james couzens memorial park in bath, may 15, 2007. On may 18, 1927, the small town of bath, michigan, was forever. Massacre in michigan the bath school disaster around 8. Even the most recent school shootings like columbine, sandy hook, and parkland pale by comparison. Thursday, may 18, is the 90th anniversary of the bath school disaster, the deadliest school massacre in the nations. Thirtyeight children and six adults were dead, among them kehoe, who had literally blown himself to. Not to disparage the victims of the recent virginia tech massacre, but the true worst school massacre in us history happened on may 18, 1927.
Stateside spoke with the michigan history centers rachel clark and author arnie bernstein, whose book is titled bath massacre. Bath massacre by arnie bernstein overdrive rakuten. Thirtyeight children and six adults were dead, among them kehoe, who had literally blown himself to bits by setting off a. Photos courtesy of bath school museum and um pressthirtyeight children were killed in the 1927 bombing of the bath school. See more ideas about disasters, school, mass murder. Americas first school bombing by university of michigan press on may 7, 2009 on the morning of may 18th, 1927, in bath michigan, andrew p. Bath school massacre memorial bath township, michigan. Today, bath middle school sits directly across webster road from where the consolidates school used to stand. Be sure to read the 2019 district newsletter for the most up to date information. Early in bath massacre, author arnie bernstein mentions william faulkners famous quote the past isnt dead. As the book goes on, we get to know kehoe quite well. The book is wellwritten, welldocumented, and extraordinarily gripping. Set of 5 real photo postcards of the devastation in bath, michigan on may 18, 1927, when a school board member, andrew kehoe, set off dynamite in the school, killing dozens of students and adults.
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