Tornadoes in Minneapolis 50 Years Ago Today

Fifty years ago today I was working the 2nd shift in downtown Minneapolis at Northwestern Bell Telephone Co. in the McKnight Building—on the 2nd floor - facing west. I was in the Accounting Department and was a computer operator on an IBM 1401. [If Uncle Allan was reading this, he would know exactly to what I am referring.] Our office windows were large - nearly floor to ceiling. Shortly after I had returned from having dinner in the cafeteria, I noticed the sky was an eerie yellow/green color.  The clouds were rolling as though they had a lot of wind in them.

Technically, we should have been standing a long distance from the windows, but our supervisor was of a curious nature and he would be announcing, "Wow! Look at it now!" Everyone wanted to see what he was seeing, so we gathered around the windows. Suddenly, we witnessed the 2 story high windows on the bank building diagonally across the street from us blow out due to the pressure. There was glass everywhere.  We continued to work until our shift ended at 12:30 am. I didn't learn until I got home that night about the tornadoes in Fridley.

I have since learned there were six tornadoes in the area that night. Here is a breakdown:

Tornado One: Touchdown at 6:08 pm near Cologne, MN ...on the ground for 13 miles before it dissipated near Minnetrista in the Lake Minnetonka area.. It was a large F4 tornado. ....3 killed and 175 injured
Tornado Two: Touchdown at 6:27 pm near Chanhassen, MN ...on the ground for 7 miles before it dissipated near Deephaven in the Lake Minnetonka area.. It was a large F4 tornado. No deaths or injuries.
Tornado Three: Touchdown at 6:43 pm near New Auburn, MN ...on the ground for 16 miles before it dissipated just west of Lester Prairie....It was a large F3 tornado. ....no deaths or injuries.
Tornado Four: Touchdown at 6:43 pm near Green Isle, MN ...on the ground for 11 miles before it dissipated near Waconia.. It was a large F2 tornado. ....1 killed and 175 injured.
Tornado Five: Touchdown at 7:06 pm in the southwest corner of Fridley ...on the ground for 7 miles before it dissipated near Lake Laddie in Blaine.. It was a large F4 tornado. ....3 killed and 175 injured.
Tornado Six: Touchdown at 8:14 pm near Golden Valley, MN ...on the ground for 18 miles as it ripped across portions of North Minneapolis, Fridley, Mounds View before it dissipated around Centerville around 9:20 pm.... It was a large F4 tornado. ....6 killed and 175 injured.

The local radio station WCCO stayed on the air and helped save lives. You can listen to the radio tapes by clicking on this link. Also, one can experience what it was like when visiting the Minnesota History Center in St. Paul. They have a room designed like what a basement would be. Recordings of the WCCO broadcast that night are playing.