INQUISITR.COM / News & Politics

Bath School Disaster Remembered 89-Years Later As One Of The Deadliest School Massacres In U.S. History

By Trisha Faulkner
Published on: 09:58 PST, May 19, 2016

It was 89-years ago on May 18, 1927, that the Bath School Disaster, which has been deemed one of the deadliest massacres in U.S. history, occurred. It was on that day that Andrew Kehoe bombed Bath School and claimed the lives of 38 children who were attending classes.

USA Today reported that George Baird, 104, is one of the last remaining students who attended Bath Consolidated School when the Bath School Disaster occurred. The Bath School Disaster, to this day, still remains one of the deadliest school murdering sprees. It even eclipses the shootings at Sandy Hook, Virginia Tech, and Columbine.

https://twitter.com/lpoler2/status/733378468638040064

In total, there were 45 people who died during that bombing, according to Inquisitr. Among the dead included Andrew Kehoe (the bomber), his wife, five other adults, and 38 children. The first blast happened at the Kehoe’s farm and the second blast occurred when the bomber drove his truck to the Bath Consolidated School. Kehoe’s final act during the Bath School Disaster was blowing up his truck. When he did so, he killed himself along with the superintendent, Emory Huyck. Emory was hailed as a hero of the Bath School Disaster as he remained calm enough to rescue victims from the aftermath of the first bombing.

USA Today reported that Baird, who lives in an assisted living facility in Bath Township, sat down with them and talked about the horrible day that later became known as the Bath School Disaster. Despite the fact that this disaster happened 89-years ago, it was a memory the man would likely carry to his grave.

Kehoe, 55-years-old at the time, was a disgruntled treasurer of the Bath School who suffered from personal money troubles. Extremely upset about the taxes levied in order to pay for the opening of the Bath School, he carefully planned out the Bath School Disaster. His goal was to rid the community of all its children as roughly 250 children attended school there.

As awful and unimaginable as the Bath School Disaster was in this charming farming community, it could have been much worse according to USA Today. Kehoe had set a clock to trigger the explosives to go off at 8:45 a.m. However, only part of the dynamite ignited which is why only the north wing of the school had been leveled as opposed to it leveling the entire school.

The horrific details of this event go beyond just the bombing, as Kehoe was reported to have tied together the hooves of his horses so they could die in the fire he set to his barn. He also murdered his wife, Nellie. Her remains were found in a burned shed on the family farm after the incident occurred.

After killing his wife and his horses, he drove his truck to the school shortly after 9 a.m. for more destruction to take place.

George Baird was 15-years-old at the time. He was a sophomore who was not in class when the bombs went off because he was excused from finals as his grades were good.

“I was out in the field. I heard the explosion.”

In a 2011 documentary about the Bath School Disaster, George Baird talked to viewers about just how spiteful he thought it was that Kehoe decided to blow up the school while there were children in it. Baird believes some would have been more sympathetic to his cause if he had set off the bombs when the children were home for the night. The unfortunate truth is that many of the Bath School Disaster victims were as young as 10- or 11-years-old.

“I hope he’s roasting in h***, yet.”

Do you know someone who may have been alive when the Bath School Disaster occurred? Share this story with them. If not, take a moment of silence in memory of the lives that were lost on this day in history.

[Image via Shutterstock]

Share this article: Bath School Disaster Remembered 89-Years Later As One Of The Deadliest School Massacres In U.S. History
More from Inquisitr