On This Date In Twin Cities History - June 18, 1939

On this date in 1939, a tornado tore a path from Corcoran through Maple Grove, present day Brooklyn Park and Champlin before crossing the Mississippi River into Anoka, leaving a path of destruction in its wake. As a result, nine people were killed and 59 more were injured. In addition, the tornado destroyed 40 homes and damaged another 250. The storm’s legacy lives on today – prior to the storm, teams at Anoka High School were known as the Maroons. After the storm, that nickname was changed to the Tornadoes – a name still used today.