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Wilmettes 75th Anniversary 1872-1947WILMETTE LIFEsaved George Mix, gateman, fromsecretary; and Fred A. Smith asTornadobeing burned alive in the wreckagetreasurer. Struck Wilmetteof his shanty after it had beenA finance committee was ap-thrown 50 feet across the tracks.pointed to handle the raising ofOn *the $15,000 fund, which was to be Palm Sunday in 1920Fifteen homes in the villageplaced in the Wilmette State bankwere ruined and a total of 45and given to the citizens on plainwere severely damaged. Thesenotes. C. D. Worthington was ap-Business District Badlypeople received aid from thepointed chairman of this group anSDamaged27 men subscribed $3,600 in 10village from the fund contrib-the members included Mr. Zipf,; National Guardminutes.uted for reconstruction.Frank J. Seng, C. H. Smith, andPatrolled Village * * * *Mr. Gillson.This special edition listed theImmediately after the tornadoA survey and relief committeeIn an interval of a few minutesdamage as approximately $200,000Edward Zipf, village president, ap-was headed by George R. Harbaugh.onwith the village hall accounting forpointed a committee to handle the Palm Sunday, 1920, WilmetteHe was assisted by Mr. Crabb,$15,000 of this amount. The entirerelief and reconstruction work,receivedCharles Brethold, Mr. Orner, Paul a small view of what theEuropeanroof was ripped from the buildingLouis K. Gillson was chosen as gen-Schroeder, Harry Fowler, and Dr. countries suffered duringand hurled four blocks to Ashlanderal chairman; Edward F. Kelly,E. E. Moore.the two world wars. The citizensweravenue and Seventh street.e peaceably going home from church when a tornado struck Wil-mettOther buildings which weree and in a few minutes a pathbadly damaged included theof debris was strewn almost acrossCentral hotel buildings and thethe entire village.Episcopal and Lutheran church-Companies K and I of the Illinoises. The entire upper part of theNationalEpiscopal church was lost as guard were called in tokeepthe roof was smashed into chips order and direct the clearingupby the wind and flying debris. of the damage. In a short time,howeverGreatest damage was in the, the villagers were able tobusiness district since the tor-replace them by volunteer policeandnado followed Wilmette avenue. begin the job of reconstructionand * * aid to the families whose homeshadGarages in various parts of the been damaged. The tornadostruckvillage were wrecked and some early in the afternoon. Hadbuildings were picked up bodily andit come an hour before it wouldhavecarried for blocks. caught many people at PalmSundayWorkers who did much to help church services.immediately after the tornado hitincluded James Crabb, carpentercontractor, who boarded up windowA special edition of the "Lakespaces and made temporary repairsShore News" (now Wiimettein the business section in order toLife) published April 12, told ofsave the merchandise. Another ofthe results of the tornado andthe workers was Earl E. Orner.issued an appeal for contribu-station agent and village clerk, whotions to help the needy. Citizensran down the tracks to flag an ap-were asked to give $15,000 to beproaching train before it crashedloaned to people to repair theirintn the wreckage.homes and businesses and onChief of Police E. G. Sieber andTuesday following the tornadohis men also aided in the work and^J4eirloom f-^ortraits of L^kudrenTruly Heirlooms . . . Betty Howell portraits which capture allof the fleeting, lovable expressions of your child ... A perma-nent record of too quickly passing childhood . . .WHEN TORNADO HIT WIL-SatisfactionWallet toMETTE Scenes taken on PalmGuaranteedSalf>nSunday, 1920, shortly after the Sizestornado ripped northeast alongWilmette avenue, wrecked thebusiness district and the villagehall, blew trees across the tracks of the Chicago and North West-ern railway, blasted homes andchurches. Worst hit was St.Augustines Episcopal church. AYou keep 15 completely finished beautiful portraits, 4 x 5 in as manyfew minutes after the worship-changes of poses and clothing as you wish, at one convenient pleasantpers had departed, the roof wasStudio sitting.S HMMtcompletely torn off and the in-terior was flooded with the ac-companying torrential rain.SPECIAL ANNIVERSARY ISSUE OFFEREven the heavy cross above theDuring September a Family Group Portraitaltar was thrown down. Herbertwill be included at no extra chargeB. Mulford provided the photoson this page. Top photo: busi- NOW AVAILABLE, NEW exquisite transparent Lucite Plastic Portraitness buildings on the north sideAlbums holding 24 of your favorite studies. A unique, modern Bettyof Central avenue just east ofHowell innovation.Eleventh street; just below: thenorthwest corner of Wilmetteavenue and West Railroad ave-nue (now Green Bay road). At(JSettuside: the old Methodist church.There were no direct fatalitiesPHONE WILMETTE 1992 FOR APPOINTMENTbut later deaths were attributedto the tornado.