Michigan’s history is full of great accomplishments and unique events — but it’s not without its ugly, painful moments. Those familiar with the Great Lakes State’s past have likely read about one of the most disturbing and tragic occurrences ever to happen on Michigan soil. Today, more than 90 years after it happened, the story of the Bath School disaster still haunts Michiganders of all ages.
Warning: this story contains descriptions of graphic violence.
On May 18, 1927, the small Michigan community of Bath Township was forever altered by a horrific and violent event at the local schoolhouse.
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55 year-old Andrew Kehoe was the Bath school board treasurer at the time, and he was deeply angered over tax hikes — as well as his defeat in a local election.
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Somehow, this personal anger sparked Kehoe to plot a terrible and bloody “revenge” on the community. In a senseless rage, Kehoe began his massacre.
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After murdering his wife, Kehoe detonated several explosives throughout his personal homestead — causing a widespread fire and destroying the property.
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At precisely the same time that fire overtook Kehoe’s home, an explosive was detonated at the Bath Consolidated School Building. This initial blast killed 36 innocent schoolchildren and two teachers.
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It was later discovered that Kehoe had planted hundreds of pounds of dynamite throughout the school over the course of many months, along with a timed detonator. His ultimate intention was to destroy the school entirely.
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As rescuers attempted to help victims at the school, Kehoe himself showed up onsite with a rifle — ultimately using his gun to detonate yet another explosive device inside his truck. This blast killed Kehoe, along with the Bath superintendent and several bystanders.
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Following the massacre, investigators discovered 500 additional pounds of undetonated explosives. Locals were shocked to know that the tragedy could have been even more horrific had Kehoe’s complete plan been carried out.
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The outpouring of support and aid to Bath was massive following the disaster. Red Cross workers, regional volunteers, and national press outlets visited the small community as residents struggled to deal with such monumental grief.
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Today, the site of the school massacre has been repurposed as a peaceful memorial park, complete with a plaque paying tribute to the 44 victims. The community and schools of Bath Township ultimately rebuilt — but the memory of this horrendous event and the innocent lives it claimed will never fade.
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Have you visited the James Couzens Memorial Park in Bath Township? We would love to hear about your experiences and tributes in the comment section below.
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