A Deadly Explosion
On May 18, 1927, a powerful explosion destroyed the north wing of Bath Consolidated School in Michigan. The blast killed 38 students and six adults, with the explosion heard miles away. Rescuers worked for hours, pulling survivors from the rubble.
A Second Blast
As people gathered to help, Andrew Kehoe, a school board treasurer, arrived in a truck loaded with dynamite and shrapnel. He fired a rifle into it, causing another explosion that killed the superintendent, bystanders, and himself. Investigators later found 500 pounds of unexploded dynamite in the school’s basement.
The Man Behind the Attack
Kehoe, once an electrician and farmer, had been stockpiling World War I surplus explosives. In the months leading up to the bombing, he had killed his neighbor’s dog, beaten his horse to death, and argued over school taxes.
The Aftermath
The attack was the deadliest school massacre in U.S. history, but it quickly faded from headlines. The school was rebuilt, but later torn down in the 1970s. Today, a memorial park stands in its place, with the original school cupola marking the site.
On May 18, 1927, a powerful explosion destroyed the north wing of Bath Consolidated School in Michigan. The blast killed 38 students and six adults, with the explosion heard miles away. Rescuers worked for hours, pulling survivors from the rubble.🧵👇 pic.twitter.com/eGA5LPrVU0
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