Bath, Michigan: Site of Worst School Massacre

What a sad day for Bath and the students faculty and others killed or injured by an angry man. To think this was in 1927 is beyond one's imagination. We've heard so many school tragedies over the past 20 years, but this -- from almost 100 years ago -- still remains the greatest school tragedy in American history. May their souls remain resting in God's perfect peace!

The park where the memorials are located is just a few miles north of I-69 exits. When we were there we met a lady and her family (daughter and granddaughters) on a field trip. The lady's aunt was in the school the day of the blast; the lady's father was 10 years old and had stayed home from school that day to work in the fields. He had to search for his sister in the rubble, and remembered she had worn red socks. He found her! She stayed in the hospital for months following the blast, and had several plates placed in her head.

Interesting local history remembered.

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. A farmer and school board member used explosives to destroy his farm buildings, and the consolidated school, in Bath, Michigan. Bath is just northeast of Lansing.

The explosions killed a total of 45 people, most of them children. A plaque and the original cupola from the school are located in a park in Bath.