1909 tornado outbreak

Late-April 1909 Tornado Outbreak - liquisearch.com At Florence, a village about six miles from here, the large mill known as "Ward Mill", on the Stones River, was blown completely into the river. Historian John Lancaster with the Giles County Historical Society recalled that fateful night. More than 320 died in the twister barrage . The strongest tornado traveled through Giles and Lincoln Counties. Therefore, the Franklin County damage (at least F2) and Grundy County damage (F1) were combined into this entry and added to the NWS Nashville tornado database. Oscar Brown, a young son, was also seriously injured. At the same time and place, Mrs. Thad Reese, who was a sister of Mrs. Guffey, with her two children, lost their lives, making seven deaths at this one house. Fayetteville was not in the pathway of the cyclone, but was near it. W. S. McLaurine's baby were also killed. Following are some of the more serious losses: Lee Smith, house and barn; J. S. Bryan, house and barn; Werner Stevenson, house and barn; W. H. Watson, house and barn; Otha Young, house and barn; W. S. McLaurine, house and barn; Irby Scruggs, residence, outhouses and tenant houses; - barn escaped, Mrs. Eliza Wilkinson, residence; Hood Wilkinson, orchard, shop and barn, resident damaged, but not wrecked; T. J. Hardy, residence and barn; Ike Shapard, gin, The Scruggs' school house, near Conway, and the school house and church at Bee Spring were utterly swept away. From Conway eastward to the county line, and even beyond through Lincoln County a wide path of destruction and desolation was swept through a prosperous and happy farming community. The path of the storm was through a section about one mile southeast of Smyrna, where several homes were converted into wreckage and much farm property was destroyed. Thousands of trees were downed and cattle were killed. Ab Hays, of Nashville, who was visiting Joe Rosson's family, near Port Royal, was seriously hurt by timbers, and died this morning. Spawned by the same thunderstorm that produced the Charleston tornado family. For about one mile north of Florence the telegraph poles were twisted off and thrown across the N., C. & St. L. Railroad, which obstructed traffic for a considerable time last night. - A terrific wind and rainstorm passed through this section last night at about 10:30 o'clock, destroying property and damaging crops of the neighboring farmers to such an extent that it is probable that they will have to be replanted. Gibbons, of this place, was killed while eating. F. H. Hickerson, in the mercantile business, suffered quite a loss. Many tenant houses and barns were wrecked on different places. From that point, the storm moved into the Greenbrier section, where it destroyed two stores, several churches, and numerous farm houses, barns and outbuildings. Thousands of dollars worth of property completely ruined. Please Contact Us. National Weather Service -92-93 Daily Journal, Stevens Point, WI. Andy Beshear said Saturday. Mrs. Will Adcock and her daughter are reported killed, but not verified. Get the Android Weather app from Google Play, 5 reported dead after severe weather in Kentucky,, Rollover crash on I-65N in Davidson County leads, Man hit, killed on Old Hickory Blvd. Damage was noted 1 mile N of Franklin. It will amount to hundreds of thousands of dollars. During the late afternoon and the overnight hours of April 29, 1909, numerous strong to violent tornadoes affected the areas of northern Alabama, eastern Arkansas, southern Illinois, northern Mississippi, southeastern Missouri, and western Tennessee (the NWS Memphis, Tennessee, coverage area). Following are some of the more serious losses: Lee Smith, house and barn; J. S. Bryan, house and barn; Werner Stevenson, house and barn; W. H. Watson, house and barn; Otha Young, house and barn; W. S. McLaurine, house and barn; Irby Scruggs, residence, outhouses and tenant houses; - barn escaped, Mrs. Eliza Wilkinson, residence; Hood Wilkinson, orchard, shop and barn, resident damaged, but not wrecked; T. J. Hardy, residence and barn; Ike Shapard, gin, The Scruggs' school house, near Conway, and the school house and church at Bee Spring were utterly swept away. Another (not counted) indirect death occurred in Lincoln County due to a Miss Jennie Kelso interacting with a live electrical wire. Will McGrew's family consisted of ten. J. Damage: ": Dickson, Tenn., Apr. FROM THE NASHVILLE AMERICAN, MAY 2 1909, PAGE 5, "PERRY COUNTY": LINDEN, Tenn., May 1. Greatest damage and the most horrible loss of life occurred in the community between Bunker Hill and Bryson, but the destruction was by no means confined to one place. GRAZULIS: Moved NE near "Sango," 8 miles ESE of Clarksville. Dickson, Tenn., Apr. - Dickson County was swept by a terrible storm last night, and as a result more than fifty houses lay wrecked today, and the damage to property will run far into the thousands of dollars. On Lick Creek the house of Frank Hunter was badly wrecked and one member of his family blown for a short distance without serious injury. It is impossible to estimate the property loss, probably not less than a hundred thousand dollars. The Elk Cotton Mill was damaged about $5,000. Many narrow escaped from death are reported, but only one person is known to have been injured, an old lady, Mrs. Upchurch, but the extent of her injuries is not known FROM THE NASHVILLE AMERICAN, MAY 1 1909, PAGE 4, "SMYRNA IS STRUCK": SMYRNA, Tenn., April 30. Mr. Parkes had a cow killed, fruit trees destroyed and barn blown down. Farther to the east, the homes of Mrs. Upchurch and Mr. McAdoo were damaged or destroyed northwest of Lascassas. The listing is U.S.-centric, with greater and more consistent information available for U.S. tornadoes. Current Hazards. Bob White's house was blown from its foundation. FROM THE NASHVILLE AMERICAN, May 1 1909, PAGE 4, "RUTHERFORD COUNTY. Shade trees and orchards suffered greatly. As soon as a message could be sent to Pulaski, local doctors and citizens hastened to the scene of disaster to aid as much as possible in the work of relief. Tornado Outbreak of April 29, 1909 (The following newspaper article was transcribed from The Pulaski Citizen of May 6, 1909.) Coming into Robertson County the storm struck the barn of Mrs. Laban Warfield on the place occupied by Mr. Duff. Homes were destroyed in Marion, Arkansas, resulting in five deaths in Arkansas. The tornado appears to have begun west of Aspen Hill in Giles County, not in Limestone County, Alabama, as Grazulis stated, then passed near Aspen Hill where it damaged homes and barns, through Conway where the school was destroyed, between Bunker Hill and Bryson, and through Bee Springs destroying numerous homes and the Bee Springs Church on Bee Springs Road about 1/3 mile south of Stevenson Road. Another tornado or downburst later struck near Monterey in eastern Putnam County, as the Nashville American reported "one of the worst wind storms in the history of the town" unroofed houses and barns, but the description of the damage is unclear whether a tornado or downburst was the cause. FROM THE NASHVILLE AMERICAN, MAY 2 1909, PAGE 4, section FOUR DEATHS IN MONTGOMERY: CLARKSVILLE, Tenn., May 1. - At Statesville, seven miles from here, the storm of Thursday night destroyed the three churches and the school building. As it moved into Williamson County it eventually passed just south of Franklin causing 8 deaths and 11 injuries. Col. Pendergrass' residence was blown from its foundation. - A terrific cyclone passed through a portion of Maury, Giles, Hickman and Williamson Counties last night, and as a result thirty-five or forty known dead and a hundred or more injured, some seriously. This is only a partial report of the damage done sent in by telephone this morning. Show. It came from the northwest, traveling with great momentum. "Death Toll in Ninety-five." 10-18-1909, p. 1. It will amount to hundreds of thousands of dollars. GRAZULIS: Twenty-three homes were destroyed, and a hotel and depot were unroofed at Decherd. Damage: 30. After striking Nolensville, the storm moved into Rutherford County. FROM THE NASHVILLE AMERICAN, MAY 1 1909, PAGE 2, "OVER FIFTY HOUSES WRECKED. It next struck the farm of Judge B. C. Batts, near Sadlersville, blew down his barn, his shade trees and other valuable timber, striking next the farm of Jervy Grubbs, where it demolished his tobacco barn, fences and other buildings; then struck the farm of Tom Sanders and his residence, barns and other buildings were destroyed. 1909 Oct 14, Tornado Outbreak, AL (11-21), AR (2), GA (1-2), TN (42 In its track, which was about half a mile in width, practically all timber was uprooted or twisted to the earth. Prof. J. M. Coulson's residence destroyed and a number of other buildings greatly damaged. The Sixth District schoolhouse, of Rutherford County, was blown a distance of fifteen or twenty feet and left standing without showing any visible results of great damage. Until late this afternoon it has been impossible to communicate with other towns throughout the country. Fayetteville, Tenn., April 30. P. M. Greenwood had a small house blown away. These pictures show the damage in Centerville in Hickman County where there were 9 deaths and 32 injuries. Get the Android Weather app from Google Play, 5 reported dead after severe weather in Kentucky,, Rollover crash on I-65N in Davidson County leads, Man hit, killed on Old Hickory Blvd. The path length was estimated based on a beginning point in the Bushtown area and end point just past Algood. BEE SPRING, Tenn. (WKRN) On April 29th and 30th in 1909, Middle Tennessee suffered its deadliest tornado outbreak in history. - The windstorm in this county Thursday night was probably the worst in its history. 1998 - 2023 Nexstar Media Inc. | All Rights Reserved. One of the saddest stories took place at Leiper's Fork. At Trinity, about seven miles west of here, the damage is beyond description. It is seldom our mountain country has such a cyclone. Aftermath of deadly April 1909 tornado outbreak in Centerville, TN (Tennessee State Library & Archives) 62 people were killed in the outbreak, with 31 of them dying when a massive F4 tornado. On May 30, 1909, the Zephyr tornado touched down close to the town of Zephyr. 30. But nowhere was the loss of life greater or the destruction of property more complete than in Giles County. Despite the significant damage, death and injuries, this tornado was not included in Grazulis' book Significant Tornadoes. James Marshall, a young man of about 20, was blown from the bed in an upstairs room and lodged in a tree about twenty-five feet away but escaped without injury. FROM THE NASHVILLE AMERICAN, MAY 1 1909, PAGE 12, "ON THE MOUNTAIN": MONTEAGLE, Tenn., April 30 - Much damage was done in this section by the storm of last night. Another one of Mr. Cox's sons sustained a broken leg and his wife is badly hurt. But for the fact that the country is hilly and in places thinly settled the destruction would have been even greater. His daughter, who had her leg broken, crawled to hear father's aid by the light of a flash of lightning and found him dying. This page was last edited on 12 March 2022, at 09:35. Will Ross Lackey, Jr., and Esq. The second highest number of fatalities occurred from an F-3 tornado with winds of 158 mph or higher that ravaged Hickman and Williamson counties. While it was estimated to be an F4, some reports indicate that there was more than one tornado. This tornado is estimated to have touched down in Fentress County southwest of Gatewood Ford Road just west of the Morgan County border, then moved northeast to near where the Crooked Creek and Clear Fork meet destroying a sawmill (F1), and then on into Morgan County. The Elk Cotton Mill was damaged about $5,000. Owing to the fact that all telephone and telegraph lines are down it is impossible to get the details of the damage wrought. Four people are known to be dead and two are missing, supposed to have been blown away as their home was demolished. Columbia, Tenn., April 20. Mrs. Berry (sic) Prosser, near Fayetteville; fatally injured. Mr. Brinkley's house was carried from its foundations, as was a newly completed house of J. April 29, 1909 Tornado Outbreak - National Weather Service Others are not expected to recover. Several parties sustained slight injuries. FROM THE NASHVILLE AMERICAN, MAY 1 1909, PAGE 2, section "NUMBER OF HOUSES WRECKED - Cookeville and Surrounding Territory in the Path of the Storm": COOKEVILLE, Tenn., April 30 - A storm of cyclonic effects struck this city last night about 1 o'clock. of those most seriously hurt: Esq. The home of Wilson Estes was also destroyed, together with the livery barn of Russell Estes, owner of Primm Springs Hotel. NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WKRN) The deadliest tornado outbreak ever in Middle Tennessee struck the region from the evening hours of April 29, 1909, through the night and into the next day on April. 11 deaths were recorded in the Missouri storm, 5 near Texas City and 29 along the Alabama-Tennessee state line. But for the fact that the country is hilly and in places thinly settled the destruction would have been even greater. - Following the trail of the storm which passed through Centreville April 9, the tornado last night between 10 and 11 o'clock was one of the most appalling that has visited this section probably in half a century. The time of the tornado was adjusted to 8 PM and the path width added as 300 yards based on the newspaper articles in the Nashville American. [2], The April 1909 outbreak was part of an active and deadly year nationally for tornadoes. Copyright 2023 Nexstar Media Inc. All rights reserved. The farm of James Welch, near Sango, was swept clean, every building on it being wrecked. Contributions may be sent direct to Mr. Young or to the Citizen and we will forward to the relief committee. As soon as neighbors could be informed of the disaster, they hastened to the relief of the suffering. Trees were twisted in two and hurled great distances. We interviewed our tech expert, Jaime Vazquez, to learn more about accessible smart home devices. 11, had his skull fractured by falling timbers. The wind was from the southwest and first struck the west end of the city and blew down a number of houses in Bushtown, the negro part of the city. A number of residences were badly damaged and business houses unroofed, the rain destroying almost the entire stock of John Jewell. Late-April 1909 Tornado Outbreak - Confirmed Tornadoes - April 29 Event From almost every section of Tennessee are reports of fatalities and property loss, while Alabama, Arkansas, Kentucky, and even Indiana and Illinois report touches of the cyclone. A relief committee was organized with John W. Young, Elkton R. 1, as chairman, and in a little while enough funds were in hand to provide food and clothing to supply the immediate necessities of those who had lost everything. The tornado outbreak this week featured more than 400 tornado warnings and severe thunderstorm warnings that spanned nearly two-dozen states. December tornadoes among 20 billion-dollar disasters to strike U.S. in The cyclone wrecked the house and killed Mrs. McGrew and six children, while Mr. McGrew, a son and a baby escaped with serious injuries. At this time it is impossible to ascertain the damage and loss of life to stock; no lives so far reported. I call upon all persons in this community who will contribute to this object to leave contributions at either of the banks. Four-year-old child of Mr. and Mrs. R. H. Thompson, Totty's Bend. April 29, 1909 Tornado Outbreak. The tornado touched down just outside of Aspen Hills, just a few miles west of here. However, for several hours a strong gale blew, and there was more or less excitement in the town throughout the night. The second F3 tornado flattened structures near Covington and Medina. FROM THE NASHVILLE AMERICAN, May 1 1909, PAGE 4, "NOLENSVILLE SECTION": NOLENSVILLE, April 30. Where Did The Tornado Touchdown In Tennessee? - PartyShopMaine One brick home was completely demolished. "April 29, 1909 Tornado Outbreak." Undated. Many of the inhabitants here moved to Bryson, a few miles away, and that community grew a little bit larger. Mrs. Reed was also found unconscious, but has recovered. B. Thompson lives was blown across the street and his barn turned over, but his family was not hurt. The storm seems to have entered the county from the southern side, passing between this place and Tennessee City. The total damage cannot be accurately stated, but it will go into the thousands of dollars in this section. Tennessee 225: Dive into the history of the Volunteer State. North of Memphis, Tennessee, two F3 tornadoes killed a total of 22 from Crittenden County, Arkansas, to Carroll County, Tennessee. This list does not include F0 events. One hundred trees were blown across the Rugby Pike, delaying the mails that day, for it was next to impossible to get through. - A cyclone passed through this county last night about 10 o'clock, doing much damage to timber, fences, dwellings and barns, but so far as heard from only one life was lost, that being a little child about 6 years old. April 29, 1909 Tornado Outbreak. The 77 killer tornadoes recorded in the year 1909 marked an all-time yearly record for the number of killer tornadoes, a total that was only equaled in the year 1917. It traveled through the Conway Community, destroying the local public school, Lancaster explained. Two barns and one stable were wrecked, ,and his stock suffered considerably. No lives were lost, but live stock suffered greatly. The tornado outbreak of late-April 1909 was a deadly tornado outbreak that affected much of the central and Southern United States between April 29 and May 1, 1909. - The house of Bush Brown, on Hurricane Creek, three miles from McEwen, was destroyed by a heavy wind last night. Eight-year-old boy of Paulina Farris, colored, Centreville. 63 people lost their lives, and more than 200 were injured from a total of 12 tornadoes. One room was left of his home place, a seven-room dwelling, and it was in this room the family sought refuge. The Bee Spring community after the tornado was never quite the same and never really recovered. This large outbreak of tornadoes included an EF3 tornado that caused significant damage to homes, business, schools and infrastructure in Jacksboro, Texas. FROM THE NASHVILLE AMERICAN, MAY 4 1909, PAGE 5, "HEAVY DAMAGE AT CHARLOTTE": CHARLOTTE, Tenn., May 3. Fortunately no one was killed, but several were wounded. The F-scale rating, path length, path width, and injuries are all estimated from the reported damage in the Nashville American, indicating the tornado began near Decaturville, moved through Perryville, and ended northeast of Linden. W. S. McLaurine's baby were also killed. The stock barn of Rural home Stock farm was torn to pieces, and there were many other houses, barns, and outhouses destroyed. One of the strange things of it all is that both the Christian and Methodist churches at Trinity were blown down about ten years ago, and both rebuilt on the same foundation to be blown away again last night. Besides the loss of property, which is now estimated at $100,000, seven known dead are reported, and injured. The worst damage to houses is the home of Prof. J. M. Goulson, a good two-story house, completely ruined, but no loss of life, though to look at the ruins seems marvelous that the family escaped. The old Henry Wade residence, a two-story frame buildings, was demolished, and also several cabins on the place. Damage: 1909: Middle Tennessee's deadliest tornado outbreak Late-April 1909 Tornado Outbreak - Confirmed Tornadoes - April 29 Event April 29 Event Read more about this topic: Late-April 1909 Tornado Outbreak, Confirmed Tornadoes Famous quotes containing the word event: " When we awoke, we found a heavy dew on our blankets. It is an old adage that he who gives quickly gives twice. But the daily mail from Charlotte brings a letter from Circuit Court Clerk J. J. Taylor to the effect that about twenty-five residences were destroyed there. One son, Oscar, was hit by falling timbers and considerably bruised. Damage: This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The cyclone of the night of April 29th or morning of April 30th, did great damage near Rugby. Greatest damage and the most horrible loss of life occurred in the community between Bunker Hill and Bryson, but the destruction was by no means confined to one place. - The most horrible catastrophe ever known in Lincoln County was the cyclone which passed through the county last night about midnight, wrecking homes, destroying lives and injuring a large number of citizens. Grazulis and some newspapers reported 4 deaths in Franklin County from Owl Hollow to Decherd, but newspaper articles indicate at least 2 more people died from their injuries several weeks later after the tornado, with other people still in critical condition. In addition, Grazulis did not include the part of this tornado's path in northwest Robertson County near Sadlersville, which was included here along with the reported one injury. We interviewed our tech expert, Jaime Vazquez, to learn more about accessible smart home devices. Four-year-old child of Mr. and Mrs. R. H. Thompson, Totty's Bend. Please select one of the following: Nashville (KOHX) Local Standard Radar (low bandwidth), Hopkinsville, KY (KHPX) Local Standard Radar (low bandwidth), Hytop, AL (KHTX) Local Standard Radar (low bandwidth), Columbus, MS (KGWX) Local Standard Radar (low bandwidth), National Radar Standard Radar (low bandwidth), Southern Mississippi Valley Local Standard Radar (low bandwidth), Central Great Lakes Local Standard Radar (low bandwidth), Southeast Local Standard Radar (low bandwidth), State of Tennessee and Middle TN Daily Climate, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. The rear flank downdraft of the parent supercell also caused significant damage up to 2 miles south of the tornado path, such as the numerous trees blown down across Winchester. Miss Daisy Marshall received a few slight wounds. 1998 - 2023 Nexstar Media Inc. | All Rights Reserved. And the tornado also injured 70 people as it traveled through the county, Lancaster said. W. C. Greer lost his large barn and two mail hacks. It was around 10:15 p.m. when the first of these tornadoes came rolling out of Hickman County into the White Oak area, just across the county line. Web. About 75 homes were damaged or destroyed at Centerville, and losses totaled over $100,000. US Dept of Commerce One negro family, Nancy Smith and two children lost their lives in the wreckage of their little home, and one of Till Bledsoe's children was killed. The Weather Service has confirmed 66 tornadoes from Dec. 10 to 11 and 79 tornadoes Dec. 15. A horse owned by Rev. It is impossible to estimate the property loss, probably not less than a hundred thousand dollars. It is miraculous that there was no more personal injuries, as this was the worst storm ever seen in this part of the State. The strongest, an F-4 with winds 207 mph or higher traveled for 30 miles across Giles and Lincoln counties killing 31 people in all. List of North American tornadoes and tornado outbreaks FROM THE NASHVILLE AMERICAN, MAY 1 1909, PAGE 10, "FROM MURFREESBORO, TENN.": MURFREESBORO, Tenn., April 30. The tornado outbreak of late-April 1909 was a deadly tornado outbreak that affected much of the central and Southern United States between April 29 and May 1, 1909. If your child will play baseball or softball this spring, youll need to stock up on appropriate clothing and equipment. The village of Harms, five miles west of Fayetteville, was almost completely destroyed. SHAMBURGER (2016): Despite the death of the child and significant damage to the two homes in Perry County, this tornado was not included in Grazulis' book Significant Tornadoes 1680-1991. 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The three churches - the Cumberland, the Methodist and the Baptist - also the schoolhouse, were blown down and destroyed. Columbia, Tenn., April 20. It eventually passed just south of Franklin causing eight deaths and eleven injuries. A list of the top 10 worst tornadoes in Texas history US Dept of Commerce The deadliest tornado outbreak ever in Middle Tennessee, and one of the worst tornado outbreaks in the history of the United States, struck the region from the evening hours on April 29, 1909, through the night and into the next day on April 30, 1909. The most terrible cyclone in the history of Giles County struck with great fury between 11 and 12 o'clock Thursday night. NWS SHAMBURGER (2016): This tornado was not included in Grazulis' book Significant Tornadoes 1680-1991. In all there were 12 tornadoes that caused 62 fatalities in Middle Tennessee. Mr. Marlin was badly injured, too, but he survived, along with an infant child, a 16-year old son, and two young daughters. A damage rating of at least F2 intensity seems likely based on the newspaper descriptions. The second highest number of fatalities occurred from an F-3 tornado with winds of 158 miles per hour or higher that ravaged Hickman and Williamson counties. Their household effects are destroyed. That tornado appears to have begun west of Aspen Hill, passing near Aspen Hill and Conway, where the school was destroyed, between Bunker Hill and Bryson, and through Bee Spring. Today the people of Cookeville and Algood are applying themselves vigorously to removing the debris and repairing the damages and the fact that no one was killed dispels much of the gloom caused by the destruction of property.