Karen Kilgariff

The phenomenon was so unusual that it scared us children, and several of us ran into the schoolhouse and screamed to the teacher to come out quickly and see what was happening."

The phenomenon was so unusual that it scared us children, and several of us ran into the schoolhouse and screamed to the teacher to come out quickly and see what was happening."

So it's hard to overstate the shock people experience on this beautiful morning that basically it lured people outside, many to go run errands on foot or tend to their land or, in the case of children, walk to school without their warmest winter coats. Some without shoes. Oh, dear. Or at least some in just in basically off-season shirts and sleeves, whatever.

So it's hard to overstate the shock people experience on this beautiful morning that basically it lured people outside, many to go run errands on foot or tend to their land or, in the case of children, walk to school without their warmest winter coats. Some without shoes. Oh, dear. Or at least some in just in basically off-season shirts and sleeves, whatever.

So then now they're out of nowhere caught in weather they're completely unprepared for. Author David Laskin reports, quote, even in a region known for abrupt and radical meteorological change, the blizzard of 1888 was unprecedented in its violence and suddenness. One moment it was mild. The sun was shining. The next moment frozen hell had broken loose.

So then now they're out of nowhere caught in weather they're completely unprepared for. Author David Laskin reports, quote, even in a region known for abrupt and radical meteorological change, the blizzard of 1888 was unprecedented in its violence and suddenness. One moment it was mild. The sun was shining. The next moment frozen hell had broken loose.

So it's the end of the school day, as I said, when the weather suddenly turns. So young Minnie, who's the sole adult in charge, 19 years old, she does not think going outside is a sensible option. At this point, hurricane force wind gusts are now pummeling the tiny schoolhouse and they blast the door right off its hinges. Shit. Okay. Okay. So for the time being, that's held in place.

So it's the end of the school day, as I said, when the weather suddenly turns. So young Minnie, who's the sole adult in charge, 19 years old, she does not think going outside is a sensible option. At this point, hurricane force wind gusts are now pummeling the tiny schoolhouse and they blast the door right off its hinges. Shit. Okay. Okay. So for the time being, that's held in place.

But now Minnie has to plan her next steps. She and the students all live at least a quarter of a mile from the schoolhouse. So she's trying to figure out, is it less risky to dismiss the children and hope that they make it back home or keep them inside to wait out the storm in a schoolhouse that isn't exactly structurally sound, has a dwindling amount of fuel for the fire? Yeah.

But now Minnie has to plan her next steps. She and the students all live at least a quarter of a mile from the schoolhouse. So she's trying to figure out, is it less risky to dismiss the children and hope that they make it back home or keep them inside to wait out the storm in a schoolhouse that isn't exactly structurally sound, has a dwindling amount of fuel for the fire? Yeah.

and basically doesn't have any food.

and basically doesn't have any food.

So teachers across the Midwest go through the same horrible dilemma because, like many, they teach in shoddy buildings or soddy buildings that are, of course, not equipped to handle weather this extreme. And many teachers believed that the better option that day was to dismiss their students and send them home in the storm.

So teachers across the Midwest go through the same horrible dilemma because, like many, they teach in shoddy buildings or soddy buildings that are, of course, not equipped to handle weather this extreme. And many teachers believed that the better option that day was to dismiss their students and send them home in the storm.

Minnie decides, no, she's going to hunker down and ride this storm out with her kids in the schoolhouse. But she's just praying the schoolhouse can make it. And as she's doing that, a gust of wind picks up the roof of the schoolhouse and blows it away. Shit. So now as the snow and hail and ice are pouring into the schoolhouse, Minnie has to make a new plan fast.

Minnie decides, no, she's going to hunker down and ride this storm out with her kids in the schoolhouse. But she's just praying the schoolhouse can make it. And as she's doing that, a gust of wind picks up the roof of the schoolhouse and blows it away. Shit. So now as the snow and hail and ice are pouring into the schoolhouse, Minnie has to make a new plan fast.

With the front door, the only door nailed shut, she starts wrangling her students and throwing them out the window to get out.

With the front door, the only door nailed shut, she starts wrangling her students and throwing them out the window to get out.

So there was a legend that Minnie tied all the kids together with twine. But that detail has actually been disputed by at least one of her actual students who went through it that day. Great visual for like the legend of the story.

So there was a legend that Minnie tied all the kids together with twine. But that detail has actually been disputed by at least one of her actual students who went through it that day. Great visual for like the legend of the story.