The Belvidere tornado, April 21, 1967

On April 21, 1967, a killer tornado struck the northern Illinois community of Belvidere and, in a matter of minutes, left a 10-mile swath through commerical, manufacturing, residential and school areas. When it was over, 24 people -- including 17 children -- were dead, more than 500 were injured, more than 100 homes and 12 businesses were damaged. The total cost of damage was estimated at $25 million -- close to $50 million today. This 144-page book is a written from the first-hand accounts of tornado survivors, from the city's fire chief who was picked up three times by the tornado to the young father who unsuccessfully tried to outrun the tornado by driving in reverse. This book is available at the Boone County Historical Society Museum in Belvidere, Illinois.