On May 13, 1980, part of Kalamazoo did vanish.  A tornado ripped through town following West Main St. and Michigan Avenue right through downtown. One person was killed in the Norge Cleaner's on West Main, a motorcyclist was killed by a falling tree in Bronson Park, a man was killed in Comstock Township while refueling his truck, and two people were killed when the back wall fell off of the Gilmore Department Store on the Mall.  79 people were injured.  Though a disaster, the event did spark the urban renewal that continues today. Click on any thumbnail below to see previously unpublished photos taken minutes after the twister blew down Michigan Avenue. In the spirit of the disorder of the tornado, they are in no particular order!