On This Date in Minnesota History: August 20

August 20, 1904 – A deadly tornado (some say cyclone) struck Waconia, Minn., on this date. Four people were killed in town and a fifth in the country nearby. Property loss was estimated to run up to $500,000, with one half of the village being totally wrecked and most of the farms within a radius of four miles experienced the loss of all buildings. A number of homes and businesses were a total loss, including city hall; while some buildings were only badly damaged, including Charles Maiser’s Waconia Roller Mill, a grain mill.

Maiser’s Italianate frame house built ca. 1875, however, survived the storm and was named to the National Register of Historic Places on January 4, 1980.

http://nrhp.mnhs.org/NRResults.cfm?Referer=bas

http://www.gendisasters.com/data1/mn/tornadoes/wauconia-tornado-aug1904.htm

Charles Maiser’s House

Photos taken by Pamela J. Erickson. Released into the public domain August 20, 2014,
as long as acknowledgement included.