1924 | 2024
honoring one hundred years of resiliency
cyclone centennial special events
Three Lakes Historical Society has combined efforts with a number of Three Lakes’ organizations to honor the 100th anniversary of the tornado that devastated the town of Three Lakes on September 21, 1924.
Please confirm with respective organizatons reguarding details about each event.
Joint Church Commemorative Polka Service “A Time of Reflection and Remembrance”
Sunday, September 1 @ 7:00PM | Union Congregational Church
Twister Trivia Night
Thursday, September 19 @ 7:00PM | Brew Station
Presentation by Three Lakes Historical Society
Saturday, September 21@ 1PM | Three Lakes Center for the Arts
Centennial Gathering/Afterparty
Saturday, September 21 from 6-8:00PM | TBA
Hymn Fest “Come Christians, Join to Sing…Beauty from Ashes”
Tuesday, September 24 at 7:00PM | Union Congregational Church
“Twisters” Movie Showings
September 27-28 | Three Lakes Center for the Arts
Churches within the town of Three Lakes will also be jointly ringing their bells at 4:30PM on September 21, for a duration of four minutes – the length of the storm. Community members are encouraged to stop and listen during this time and reflect on the devastating loss and the resiliency the town showed in rebuilding.
Introduction
One-hundred years ago, on September 21, 1924, at four-thirty in the afternoon, the quaint village of Three Lakes was hit with a terrible storm. Some called it a tornado, the newspapers deemed it “the great cyclone”, and some now argue that it may have been straight-line winds. What is not debatable, is the half-mile wide path of devastation the storm created through the heart of “the prettiest little village in Northern Wisconsin.”
This self-guided tour begins on the western outskirts along County A, through the downtown, which was impacted the most by the storm, and finishes within the Three Lakes Cemetery, at the gravestone of Vincent Zebrowski, the community’s sole fatality.
Before you Begin
- The distance from Don Burnside Park to the Three Lakes Cemetery is one mile.
- Be mindful that not all of the route is equipped with sidewalks.
- Please use caution, do not trespass, and follow all applicable laws. Travel at your own risk.
Follow along from site to site, noting the storm damage photographs in the book, and comparing to the homes and businesses standing today. As you ponder the stories of the survivors, take a moment to appreciate the incredible tonacity of this community that came together after tragedy to heal, encourage, and rebuild.
The cyclone came from the southwest along A, leaving a path of damage a half-mile wide. It continued down Superior Street, crossed Maple Lake, and then affected the Summer Colonies along the lakes to the north.
Two circumstances happened that day that lessened the loss of life. With the storm taking place on a Sunday, most of the stores were closed. That and the rain kept most people out of town that afternoon. The heavy rains also stopped the fires that had begun as a result of the storm, widespread fires would have made the damage so much greater.
at a glance
Viewing Site 1
Superior & stanzil street
Begin at Don Burnside Park. Observe the properties across Hwy A and north to Kotarski Street. Imagine seeing the storm come across the fields and over Thunder Lake. Head north on Stanzil toward Superior Street.
the farms hit first
Looking west down Superior Street, the property you see directly on the curve is the location of the Karowski Farm.
Kotarski Farm
First hit in the Town of Three Lakes was the John Kotarski Farm located on the southwest edge of the village. The high winds flattened their barns and outbuildings, tore the kitchen from the main house, and lifted the home into the air, returning it to the ground ten feet from its stone foundation.
Neighboring farm Tony Karwoski Jr
The neighboring farm owned by Tony Karwoski, Jr was a complete loss. The story varies somewhat, but it is said that a grandmother in a rocking chair on the porch, was carried through the air and deposited in a field unharmed.
Karwoski Farm
“That refuse pile of the white square frame is the 2 story house, only the foundation is left...The grandma was taken with the top story and carried over 500 feet into a car shed...”
hank anderson home
Across the street, Hank Anderson lost a barn, garage, automobile, and a tractor. The garage was lifted into the air, landing several hundred feet away with a car on top of it.
Anderson had just gone “uptown” and was not home, but two ladies and one name who were traveling from Rhinelander sought shelter in Anderson’s garage. They were slightly injured when the garage was lifted into the air.
Viewing Site 2
three lakes winery at superior & gogebic
Observe the vacant lot (former site of the Opera House and the Loonery) and the current winery, which is the old train depot. The Three Eagle Trail is the old railway bed heading north.
TORNADO ENTERS TOWN
Opera House
The popular Opera House and Dance Hall, owned by Harry Olkowski, was completely leveled. Debris from the building was picked up blocks away.
train depot
The C and NW Depot across the tracks was torn in two. A small launch was found on the sidewalk in front of a house near the depot.
As some properties saw total devastation, others were spared. The Standard Oil next to the Lumber Office was left untouched.
TRAIN DEPOT FROM THE SOUTH
View the Three Lakes Winery from the south. The train depot is the current winery. General Builders is the site site of Badger Garage. Note the location of the current Three Lakes Hardware building.
What is a “Launch”?
A Launch is a name that can refer to several different types of boats, from high-quality pleasure boats to more practical watercraft.
B.M. LOUK
East of the Depot, behind Badger Garage, the B.M. Louk property suffered a heavy loss. The porch of the home had collapsed, and the roof blown off. The hay loft of the barn was torn off, scattering its hay for blocks throughout the town. A cow was found, standing where the barn had once been, “still chewing its cud.”
BADGER GARAGE & LOUK FARM
BADGER GARAGE
Barker and Epler’s tile and stucco garage was demolished. The roof of the building was carried half a block - the force of it all smashing the cars inside the building.
BADGER GARAGE
Viewing Site 3
ON SUPERIOR STREET FROM GOGEBIC TO WEST SChool street
downtown devastation
MCNINCH GENERAL STORE
On the location of the current hardware store, the General Store owned by Mr. and Mrs. Frank McNinch was a total loss. The adjoining ice cream parlor was also wrecked. Even though complete walls were blown in, canned goods still remained on their shelves in perfect rows. The family survived by taking shelter in a small room in the back of the store. Ben Pomes next door to McNinch’s lost its porch, roof and shade trees.
MCNINCH GENERAL STORE & ICE CREAM PARLOR
Hotel Badger was at the site of the current Rental Center building. (note the flattened McNinch store and dance hall)
East of that is the Kelley Law building, still standing. In the 1920s, it was the Hanson family home. In the current vacant lot stood the Hanson Shoe factory. Still standing in the photo to the right.
HOTEL BADGER
HOTEL BADGER & HANSON SHOES
Other damage throughout the main street included the Hotel Badger owned by HJ Puls. Hanson’s shoe store’s front and side were torn out, and the roof was lifted up and dropped back down again. The windows of the bank were smashed in but the building was left standing.
HANSON HOME AND SHOE FACTORY PRE-TORNADO
HANSEN’S SHOE FACTORY
SELECTIVE STORM DAMAGE
Neu’s Ice Cream Parlor
Neu’s storefront was wrecked with much damage done to the interior. Their Ice Cream Parlor next door was impacted enough to need to be rebuilt. Fika and Three Lakes Pharmacy stand at this location today. The bank, across W. School Street, only had minor damage.
NEU’S STORE AND ICE CREAM PARLOR 1920S
SOUTHSIDE OF THE STREET
OLKOWSKI BUILDING
There were only a few broken windows at the Dunphy-Hozman building, the Dick Morencey’s barber shop next door to that lost its storefront. Then next door to that, the John Olkowski building has no serious damage except some to the roof and east wing. The Olkowski building was a meat market and a saloon, located on the two lots of the American Legion.
Dobbs store
The Dobbs store saw some of the most disturbing damage. The first floor of the building was completely crushed, flattened by the second floor on top of it. No one was inside the building at the time.
The Dobbs store was on the current location of the Century 21 building.
DOBBS STORE LOOKING EAST FROM ACROSS THE STREET
DOBBS STORE FROM BEHIND
Viewing Site 4
ON SUPERIOR STREET - BETWEEN WEST SCHOOL & EAST SCHOOL STREET
CONTINUING EAST
The D.E. Lamon residence was also damaged, and the porch of the J Locy residence was lifted over the house, landing in the backyard!
The Lamon residence is where the former Soder building stands, the Locy residence is now Diversions, and the Locy Hotel is now Mind Chimes Bookshop.
JOHN, ED, FRANCIS, ED JR. LAMON & EDGAR DOBBS
SUPERIOR STREET FACING WEST - LAMON HOME AND LOCY HOTEL ON RIGHT
ONEIDA VILLAGE LOT
TRAGEDY STRIKES
AMERICAN HOUSE HOTEL
It began at the American House Hotel, owned by the Nelson family. A group of boys tried to seek shelter in the hotel but the door was locked. They crossed the street to Dobbs, and were injured by the building collapse. Of these boys, Ed Step is said to have woken up in the street, Steve Kiemasczewski, age 12, suffered a broken leg, Vincent Zebrowski, age 14, fractured his skull, and passed away the following morning at the hospital in Rhinelander.
LOOKING NORTH ON WEST SCHOOL STREET, DOBBS ON THE LEFT, HOTEL ON THE RIGHT, NOTICE THE BANK ALMOST UNTOUCHED.
HOTEL LOOKING WEST, YEARS PRIOR TO TORNADO
Town Warehouse
Directly behind the Three Lakes Hotel, had stood the Town Warehouse. This 100x50 foot building, built out of corrugated iron, was carried away without a trace. Portions of the building were found all over the village.
PIECES OF THE TOWN SHED
Town Hall and School
The new high school building came through unhurt, while the old school building lost part of its roof and many windows were broken. The town hall, however, “weathered the tornado but leans in a perilous condition and will probably have to be rebuilt”.
EL Greenman
Near the school buildings, a photography shop owned by EL Greenman lost its storefront. Greenman started taking photos right away. Notice his name on many of the photographs documenting the damage. We are indebited to him for his professionism in the face of adversity.
Viewing Site 5
SUPERIOR & FOREST
maple lake & cy williams park
Maple Lake & the Chain
BLUE RIBBON RESORT
BEFORE THE MAPLE LAKE DAM WAS IN PLACE, LOWER WATER LEVELS ALLOWS FOR BOATHOUSES ALONG THE SHORE.
SKETCH BY DORIS GOLDSWORTHY.
Al Hoffman and his family had been out on a Sunday afternoon trip on their launch. After returning the boat into a boathouse on Maple Lake, the wind lifted the boathouse over their heads! The family remained, huddling together and bearing the full force of the storm.
The cyclone then continued down the south shore of Townline Lake, damaging a 40 acre field belonging to Leo Bishop. It then tore across Planting Ground, over to Island Lake, impacting the Blue Ribbon Resort. Jumping Seven Mile and continuing over
Butternut and Franklin Lake,
the storm then struck the Town
of Alvin.
Viewing Site 6
THREE LAKES CEMETERY
THREE LAKES CEMETERY
HONORING VINCENT ZEBROWSKI
The Zebrowskis had three sons, Stanley, Julius, and Vincent. Vincent passed away from a head injury received during the storm. Mrs. Zebrowski lived almost to the age of 100.
The imposing stone marking Vincent Zebrowski’s grave reflects the substantial loss felt by the Zebrowski family and the Three Lakes’ community. Vincent was just fourteen when he lost his life as a result of a head injury sustained during the tornado. The headstone is located in the third section on the left within the cemetery, under a crab apple tree.
THE ZEBROWSKI GRAVESITE IS LOCATED WITHIN THREE LAKES CEMETERY, TAKE THE MAIN ROAD IN AND FIND IT IN THE SECOND SECTION ON THE RIGHT
in appreciation
in appreciation
Residents throughout the Northwoods came together to contribute to the reconstruction of the town following this devastating storm - determined to rebuild. The spirit of community drew our town together. Providing temporary housing, meals, helping hands, and words of encouragement. Neighbor helping neighbor.
One-hundred years later, their resiliency and courage inspires us. As we walk through the streets of our town, shop its businesses, step into its churches, and interact with each other, let’s honor those who came before us, appreciating all they went through to lead the way, after the storm.
donate today
donate today
The Three Lakes Historical Museum was founded in 1981 and the Three Lakes Historical Society in 1984 as part of the Three Lakes Centennial Celebration. The museum was originally located in the Chicago and North Western railroad depot but was on the look-out for a new building. In 1982 the Three Lakes Historical Museum found a new home in the Johnson House, one of the oldest home in Three Lakes. The Museum Welcome Center and archives share a space with Demmer Memorial Library. The Museum offers an extensive overview of Three Lakes and its people in seven distinct exhibit buildings. The collections narrate the history of the Three Lakes area.
The Three Lakes Historical Society is incorporated as a non-profit, 501(c)3 corporation and is governed by a volunteer board of directors. All donations made to the Three Lakes Historical Society and Museum can be considered tax deductible as per the United States IRS tax code.
www.threelakesmuseum.org
All photos are courtesy of the Three Lakes Historical Society. MAPS © GOOGLE. Every effort was made to maintain accuracy in names, accounts, and locations. Due to the age and nature of source material, accuracy is not guaranteed. Whether driving, biking, or walking on foot following this tour, please use caution, do not trespass, and follow all applicable laws. Travel at your own risk.