Today, I'd like to offer two 'before' pictures (taken from the Web) of two disasters earlier this century, and my 'now' pictures.
The March 4, 1908 Lakeview (Collinwood) School Fire - the worst school fire in the history of the history of the US (there was a worse explosion in 1937 in TX, but in strictly fire terms, this is the worst).
172 children, 2 teachers, and 1 rescuer were killed. There was even a motion picture camera at the scene! (There was one at the 1901 Galveston Hurricane as well) The long-lost film was recently found in the Library of Congress, just before the 100the anniversary.
Today, the site is a Memorial Garden. Just next to it is the newly re-built Collinwood Memorial School.
Also as a History lesson is the July 24, 1915 Eastland Disaster. The worst loss of life on the Great Lakes - surprising considering the boat was still moored in the Chicago River! It was overcrowded, and too many people rushed to one side and the ballast wasn't stable. 800 people were crushed, drowned or smothered. Including 24 (I believe) whole families.
Today, it is very peaceful and pretty.
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