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PLAINFIELD, Ill. (WLS) — Thursday marks the 35 years since the 1990 tornado devastated the village of Plainfield.
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Twenty-nine people died and more than 300 were hurt when the twister ripped through the southwest suburb. Crest Hill and Joliet were also affected.
The twister hit on August 28, 1990 at 3:28 p.m.
Stephen Hunt was among the victims, he was a science teacher at Plainfield High School when the tornado blasted the school.
Hunt died in the swirl of debris, as well as a school janitor.
Plainfield Mayor John Argoudelis marked the somber day on social media.
“35 years ago Plainfield was about 5,000 people,” he said. “I still remember the silver cross hanging down at St Mary’s as if suspended by a thread.”
“The most important lesson that remains today is this great sense of community. As a friend of mine told me – when threatened, Plainfield circles the wagons and is there for one another. Not a bad attribute to have been passed from old Plainfield to new.”
SEE ALSO | South suburbs mark 30th anniversary of deadly Plainfield tornado
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