Bath school massacre memorial bath township, michigan. The author hits all of the high points, or should that be the the low points of michigan crime. Following the massacre, people from all over the united states began to help bath recover and rebuild. Bath massacre paperback americas first school bombing. The schools creation was controversial, but monty ellsworth wrote in his book about the disaster that consolidated schools had. On may 18, 1927, a massive explosion rocked the bath consolidated school, destroying an entire wing of the school.
The michigan historic site marker about the 1927 bath school disaster in james couzens memorial park in bath, may 15, 2007. 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. 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. These are original, unused postcards and in very good condition. Two ump titles are michigan notable books university of. Survivors recall 1927 michigan school massacre two former students of michigans bath school remember a deadly bombing and its aftermath.
To see what your friends thought of this book, please sign up. 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. Please note that there is normally a two week turn around for ichats to be completed. See more ideas about disasters, school, mass murder. Chicago author arnie bernstein has turned a tragic piece of michigan history into a searing and painfully compelling story in his book, bath massacre. Discover bath school massacre memorial in bath township, michigan. As the book goes on, we get to know kehoe quite well.
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. 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. Bath massacre by arnie bernstein overdrive rakuten. Chicagos civil war connections and hollywood on lake michigan.
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. Ancient history encyclopedia receives a small commission for each book sold through our affiliate partners. This month is 90th anniversary of bath school massacre. Oldest surviving student recalls how awful it was irene babcock, who is 109, remembers that fateful day may 18, 1927 when a. On may 18, 1927, the small town of bath, michigan, was forever. The school massacre that shocked bath, michigan may 18. Michigans bath school disaster remains deadliest of its kind in us history 89 years later, bath township, mich. Massacre in michigan the bath school disaster around 8. The book is wellwritten, welldocumented, and extraordinarily gripping. An additional 58 adults and children suffered injuries in the explosions. Bath, michigan may 18, 1927 is etched into the fabric of a small michigan town bath township, known for being home to the worst mass murder at a. Before there was columbine, before sandy hook, before parkdale, there was bath, michigan. 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. Yet, we seem to have a relentless fascination with them.
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. 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. The attacks killed 38 elementary schoolchildren and 6 adults, and injured at least 58 other people. The attention to detail in such a small work 6 pages is good and provides a solid. Americas first school bombing is a book by arnie bernstein, published by university of michigan press, ann arbor, mi, in 2009 synopsis edit. 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. 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. A park and memorial dedicated to the victims of the deadliest school massacre in american history. Arnie bernstein talked about his book bath massacre. The 1927 bombing that remains americas deadliest school. On may 18, 1927, the small town of bath, michigan, was forever changed when andrew kehoe set off a cache of.
Evil of bath school disaster remembered 89 years later. Michigan the states most notorious criminal cases by tobin t. 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. Thursday, may 18, is the 90th anniversary of the bath school disaster, the deadliest school massacre in the nations. Today, bath middle school sits directly across webster road from where the consolidates school used to stand. Also known as the bath school massacre, as of today it remains the deadliest attack on a school in u. The bath school massacre occurred on may 18, 1927 and was committed by a man named andrew kehoe. Massacre in michigan the bath school disaster legends. He was convicted for one of the murders, though it is suspected that he was responsible. By purchasing books through this website, you support our nonprofit organization. Bath massacre takes readers back more than eighty years to that fateful day, when andrew kehoe set off a cache of explosives concealed in the basement of the local school, killing thirtyeight children and six adults. Ninety years ago, a school in bath, michigan was rigged with explosives in a brutal act that stunned the town. Stateside spoke with the michigan history centers rachel clark and author arnie bernstein, whose book is titled bath massacre.
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. Massacre in michigan the bath school disaster page 2. Murderers, and more specifically serial killers, are considered among the lowest members of society. Neighbors began to rush to his farm when about the. Early in bath massacre, author arnie bernstein mentions william faulkners famous quote the past isnt dead. These 10 famous homicides in michigan will never be forgotten. 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. University of michigan regional, 9780472033461, 216pp. A farmer and school board member used explosives to destroy his farm buildings, and the consolidated school, in bath, michigan. Bath community schools welcomes volunteers across the district. Prior to his timed explosives going off at the bath consolidated school building, kehoe had murdered his wife.
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. 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. Michigans bath school disaster remains deadliest of its. Americas first school bombing bernstein, arnie on amazon. In his book he presents a history of the worst school attack in.
Het bloedbad op bath consolidated school bath school disaster was een. Even the most recent school shootings like columbine, sandy hook, and parkland pale by comparison. Andrew kehoe was the school board treasurer and was very upset with the constant increased taxes of the school district and was seemingly upset when he lost the bid for the bath township clerk position. This affecting and thoroughly researched book is at its heart a local history gathered around a single tragic incident. Be sure to read the 2019 district newsletter for the most up to date information. Michigans bath school massacre remains deadliest of its. On may 18, 1927, the small town of bath, michigan, was. The massacre in bath made national news, and the name andrew kehoe became synonymous with evil. Two university of michigan press titles were selected as 2010 michigan notable books recently. Thirtyeight children and six adults were dead, among them kehoe, who had literally blown himself to. 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. Americas first school bombing university of michigan press. Published march 16th 2009 by the university of michigan press.
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