Four-year-old child of Mr. and Mrs. R. H. Thompson, Totty's Bend. Here is information to know, understand and remember; The annual average number of tornadoes reported in Tennessee grew from 11.3 for the 20-year period of 1980-1999 to 18.1 for 2000-2019. The damage in town is slight compared with the country. - 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. It touched down during the dead of night between 10 and 11PM. and Mrs. W. S. McLaurine, Mrs. Ella King, widow of the late Mit King, collar bone broken, Hiram Usselton's baby, seriously, perhaps fatally hurt, George Hardy, son of T. J. Among the towns affected were Horn Lake, Mississippi, where about half of the fatalities were recorded, and Whitehaven, Tennessee, where the tornado damaged 30 homes. FROM THE NASHVILLE AMERICAN, MAY 1 1909, PAGE 10, FROM M'EWEN: M'EWEN, Tenn., April 30. Fayetteville was not in the pathway of the cyclone, but was near it. December tornado record crushed by historic onslaught of storms - The SHAMBURGER (2016): Despite the complete destruction of the home in Humphreys County as reported by the Nashville American, the tornado was not included in Grazulis' book Significant Tornadoes 1600-1991. Sorry, the location you searched for was not found. Rutherford County was visited last night by one of the most destructive storms of many years. Four-year-old child of Mr. and Mrs. R. H. Thompson, Totty's Bend. From the foot of the mountain, near Wonder Cave, half way to the top, two-thirds of the large trees are down. To this day, the 1909 outbreak remains the second-deadliest on record in Tennesseeeven the April 34, 1974 Super Outbreak and the February 56, 2008, Super Tuesday outbreak produced just 45 and 31 deaths each in the state.[1]. On May 30, 1909, the Zephyr tornado touched down close to the town of Zephyr. Elam Tucker, who lives at the old Suttle place, near Aspen Hill, lost his barn, also Will Coon, Billy Widene, and D. Biles, and the tenant houses on the Phillips place, south of Tucker's, were wrecked. The farm of James Welch, near Sango, was swept clean, every building on it being wrecked. The late-April 1909 tornado outbreak was a deadly tornado outbreak that affected much of the central and Southern United States between April 29 and May 1, 1909. April 20, 1909: A windstorm "of great cyclonic power" caused $15,000 of damage in Putnam County. Elk River is higher than ever before. Jack Pope's home was wrecked and he and his wife were killed. List of North American tornadoes and tornado outbreaks The total damage cannot be accurately stated, but it will go into the thousands of dollars in this section. This large outbreak of tornadoes included an EF3 tornado that caused significant damage to homes, business, schools and infrastructure in Jacksboro, Texas. 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. Other F4 recorded were reported in Missouri near Golden, in Illinois near Texas City, and in south-central Tennessee near Bee Springs, just north of the Alabama state line. This is only a partial report of the damage done sent in by telephone this morning. The tornado continued into Giles County where nine more people lost their lives. The Oscars will air on ABC and can be streamed on ABC.com and the ABC app as well as Hulu + Live TV, YouTube TV, AT&T TV or FuboTV. Will Hudson, another farmer near Charlotte, lost his barn, and had several head of stock crippled by the storm. 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. The total list of those killed in Giles County, so far as could be learned the day after the storm was eighteen white people and four negroes, making twenty two in all. Damage: Despite the significant damage, death and injuries, this tornado was not included in Grazulis' book Significant Tornadoes. 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. The village of Harms, five miles west of Fayetteville, was almost completely destroyed. The several cashiers will take charge of same several cashiers will take charge of same and see to it that it is property and judiciously distributed among those who are destitute. Besides the loss of property, which is now estimated at $100,000, seven known dead are reported, and injured. 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. Mrs. Berry (sic) Prosser, near Fayetteville; fatally injured. Columbia, Tenn., April 20. This particular cyclone began its work of destruction in the neighborhood of Conway, though several barns and tenant houses were blown down west of that place. - Dickson County was swept by a terrific storm last night, and as a result more than fifty houses lay wrecked today, and the damage to property will run far up into the thousands of dollars. J. FROM THE PULASKI CITIZEN NEWSPAPER ARTICLE ON MAY 6, 1909: Centreville, Tenn., April 30. National Weather Service The path of the cyclone at this point is about 300 yards wide, and was accompanied by a heavy rain and thunder and electrical display. The tornado is included here with an estimated F2 intensity and 2 injuries based on the destruction of the Bush Brown home south of McEwen. However, descriptions of the damage appear to warrant at least an F2 rating, which was used here. 6 Feb. 2021. All NOAA, (The following newspaper article was transcribed from The Pulaski Citizen of May 6, 1909.). The track of the cyclone was about a mile in width, passing across the country from west to east and north of Murfreesboro. 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. It traveled through the Conway Community, destroying the local public school, Lancaster explained. The tornado was a mile wide at times, and its winds reached 300 mph, putting it at the top of the Fujita scale for tornado intensity. SHAMBURGER (2016): Despite the significant destruction caused by this tornado in Cookeville and Algood, Grazulis did not include this tornado in his book Significant Tornadoes. 30 - A heavy and disastrous cyclone passed through this section last night between the hours of eleven and twelve o'clock and struck one-quarter of a mile west of Franklin, killing an old negro woman and injuring three of her children, two of which may die. Columbia, Tenn., April 20. North of Memphis, Tennessee, two F3 tornadoes killed a total of 22 from Crittenden County, Arkansas, to Carroll County, Tennessee. Only one member of this large family escaped unhurt. The most notable result was the destruction of the Web & Crawford Planing Mill. How often do tornadoes hit Tennessee? 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. You can see his full report here. The property loss cannot be estimated. 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. FROM THE PULASKI CITIZEN NEWSPAPER ARTICLE ON MAY 6, 1909 "FIFTY HOUSES WRECKED. Besides the loss of property, which is now estimated at $100,000, seven known dead are reported, and injured. This massive tornado then passed into Lincoln County where much of Millville, Cyruston, Clardyville, and Harms were damaged or destroyed. The most lives were lost in the Bee Spring community of Giles County. This tornado was reported to occur over 2 hours after the Dickson County tornado, so it does not appear they are part of the same tornado or were produced by the same supercell, although that is certainly possible if the reported time is incorrect. Damage was noted 1 mile N of Franklin. The most frightful wreckage and loss of life occurred in the little valley through which passes the road from Bunker Hill to Bryson, and in which were located the homes of Bud Guffey, Will McGrew, Lee Smith, J. S. Bryson and others. Mrs. Brown was seriously if not fatally injured. One of the saddest stories was of two brothers who in the Hillsboro/Leipers Fork area who were blown over a 20-foot bluff and into a nearby creek, according to the Nashville American newspaper. Ed Ragland's house was blown from its foundation. The house of Judge Lewis was also destroyed and several other houses damaged beyond repair. Weather.gov > Nashville, TN > April 29, 1909 Tornado Outbreak . Houses and barns with their contents, orchards, fences and timber make up a large list of valuable property much of which was literally blown out of existence in a few seconds. Tornado destroyed up to nine homes and hit buildings in. Mr. Parkes had a cow killed, fruit trees destroyed and barn blown down. And then coming through Bee Spring destroying homes and families and a local church here by the cemetery.. Col. Pendergrass' residence was blown from its foundation. 63 people lost their lives, and more than 200 were injured from. One person was killed near Nolensville and another near Walterhill. The storm seems to have entered the county from the southern side, passing between this place and Tennessee City. - 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. FROM THE NASHVILLE AMERICAN, MAY 1 1909, PAGE 4, "DEKALB COUNTY": ALEXANDRIA, Tenn., April 30 - A destructive wind of high velocity accompanied with much lightning and the largest hail ever known here struck the section of the country from Statesville to Smith Fork, traveling east. Many Lives and Much Property Lost in Giles County. National Weather Service It is thought that the dead and injured list will be increased by further reports. The writer went across the country to Sulphur Fork, following it up, and through Charlotte, on the west side of town. A thorough reading of the Nashville American, Nashville Tennessean, and Pulaski Citizen newspaper articles for several days after the tornado outbreak indicates 22 deaths occurred in Giles County and 9 deaths occurred in Lincoln County, for a total of 31 deaths from this tornado. Their bodies were recovered the next morning at about daylight. The night of the 29th was one of severe wind and rain, with heavy thunder and lightning the cyclone coming at 2 a.m. Friday morning with a low terrible rumbling heard by those awake at Rugby. - A terrific rain and wind storm swept this county last night and many reports of widespread damage and destruction are being received. The cyclone wrecked the house and killed Mrs. McGrew and six children, while Mr. McGrew, a son and a baby escaped with serious injuries. - The windstorm in this county Thursday night was probably the worst in its history. However, for several hours a strong gale blew, and there was more or less excitement in the town throughout the night. These tornadoes were part of an immense multi-day tornado outbreak that began in the Plains states on April 28, 1909, which continued through the Midwest, Ohio Valley, Tennessee Valley, and Lower Mississippi Valley on April 29-30 before ending in the Southeast on May 1, 1909. 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. - 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 page was last edited on 12 March 2022, at 09:35. A horse owned by Rev. We interviewed our tech expert, Jaime Vazquez, to learn more about accessible smart home devices. 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. Just a few rods east of the McGrew place stood the home of Bud Guffey. This particular cyclone began its work of destruction in the neighborhood of Conway, though several barns and tenant houses were blown down west of that place. Henry Frate, colored, who lived on Finis Brown's farm, was so badly hurt that he may not recover. Tornado caused $60,000 in damage at Sidney. At this time it is impossible to ascertain the damage and loss of life to stock; no lives so far reported. B. Barnes'. Parts of the planning mill were blown through F. H. White's residence, some 200 yards away, and Mrs. White was slightly injured and their house considerably damaged. The Tri-State Tornado occurred on March 18, 1925. Centreville, Tenn., April 30. SHAMBURGER (2017): Based on the Fentress County Gazette article, this damage appears to be yet another tornado produced by the same long track supercell that spawned numerous tornadoes from southeast of Memphis to Cookeville. The home of Wilson Estes was also destroyed, together with the livery barn of Russell Estes, owner of Primm Springs Hotel. W. C. Greer lost his large barn and two mail hacks. From that point, the storm moved into the Greenbrier section, where it destroyed two stores, several churches, and numerous farm houses, barns and outbuildings. At least 695 . The most frightful wreckage and loss of life occurred in the little valley through which passes the road from Bunker Hill to Bryson, and in which were located the homes of Bud Guffey, Will McGrew, Lee Smith, J. S. Bryson and others. Jeff Dunnivant, a tenant on Irby Scruggs' place and his family escaped from the wreckage of their home with only slight injuries, but not a fragment of anything was left to the family, except the night clothes in which they were sleeping. Large trees were torn and twisted from the roots, and in some places scarcely a tree was left uninjured in a whole forest. No fatalities have been reported as yet, but several are very painfully hurt. 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. Will Ross Lackey, Jr., and Esq. One of the heaviest and hardest rains followed by a hail storm; hundreds of trees blown down and nearly all orchards ruined. 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. 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. A number of residences were badly damaged and business houses unroofed, the rain destroying almost the entire stock of John Jewell. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. A thorough reading of newspaper articles came up with a total of 17 deaths and 43 injuries, with 9 deaths and 32 injuries in Hickman County and 8 deaths and 11 injuries in Williamson County. Dickson was left to the right of the storm's pathway, and fortunately little damage was done here. It is impossible to estimate the property loss, probably not less than a hundred thousand dollars. Several negro families lost their homes. Three other tornadoes killed four people in the Memphis coverage area, including in St. Francis and Lee Counties in Arkansas and Haywood County in Tennessee. A colored child on W. R. Anderson's farm was killed, making the fourth death so far reported. So one family that lived here in Bee Spring near the cemetery lost seven members of the family including the mother and six children. For several minutes it was as bright as the glare of a noonday sun with this setting, the wind terrific in force and volume halted at no obstacle, and in its path it left an imprint on everything it touched. It left 10 people dead and 40 more with serious injuries. FROM THE WILLIAMSON HERALD NEWSPAPER: The second tornado that night struck at 11:15 p.m. about four miles southwest of Nolensville. M. Gilbert, 1909 Natural Disasters: 1909 Atlantic Hurricane Season, 1909 Earthquakes, Tornadoes Of 1909, Late-April 1909 Tornado Outbreak|LLC Books . The desperately injured are: R. H. Thompson, a son and daughter of Mrs. Money, Hiram Prince and Prof. R. S. Ballen. The cyclone followed the course of Dog Creek, a small stream close to the springs, and followed it until it came to the mouth of the hollow, when it entered the hollow and laid waste everything in its path. FROM THE NASHVILLE AMERICAN, MAY 2 1909, PAGE 5, "PERRY COUNTY": LINDEN, Tenn., May 1. FROM THE NASHVILLE AMERICAN, May 1 1909, PAGE 4, "RUTHERFORD COUNTY. Damage: Please Contact Us. - This place was visited Thursday night about 1 o'clock by a cyclone traveling in a southeasterly direction. April 29, 1909 Tornado Outbreak - National Weather Service Near Cross Roads, one man was killed and two more people were severely injured (F2) before the tornado lifted somewhere northeast of that community, a distance of roughly 20 miles. 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 tornado outbreak this week featured more than 400 tornado warnings and severe thunderstorm warnings that spanned nearly two-dozen states. "November 20, 1900 Tornado Outbreak." Undated. The horror of the storm was greatly increased especially were people were (sic) severely hurt by the darkness and torrents of rain, which followed. Deadliest Days: Killer tornadoes in Middle Tennessee Questions? A total of 22 people were killed in that area (Giles County), and seven near "Millville" (Lincoln County). In Tennessee, the town of Locke was mostly destroyed by the first F3 tornado. A tornado outbreak March 24-25 dropped several long-track, powerful tornadoes in Alabama, one of which impacted cities like Greensboro, Brent and Centreville and stayed on the ground for more than . FROM THE NASHVILLE AMERICAN, MAY 1 1909, PAGE 4, ALGOOD SECTION: The worst storm that has visited this section for thirty years passed over this section about midnight. It was the deadliest known tornado outbreak to affect Tennessee until March 21, 1952, when 64 . Another strong tornado struck Franklin County near Decherd. The property loss cannot be estimated. Damage: The dwelling of Lon Dowell was unroofed, and the house of Will Hickman was blown fifty yards and caught fire and was consumed. It will amount to hundreds of thousands of dollars. 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. NUMBER EIGHT - THE ZEPHYR TORNADO - MAY 30, 1909 Tornado number 8 formed somewhere close to the town of Zephyr, in Brown County, near midnight and destroyed large parts of the town during the early morning hours, leaving little to view except vacant lots. Special thanks to Sam Shamburger from the National Weather Service office in Nashville, who did extensive research on this tornado outbreak. The Evans Mills, on Stones River, one mile north of Florence, were blown into the river and destroyed. $150,000 damage. 22 others lost their lives that fateful night across Middle Tennessee in tornadoes that struck Montgomery, Robertson, Rutherford, Wilson, Grundy, and Fentress Counties. "Storm's Dead Total 93." 10-18-1909, p. 2. 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. Mrs. Will Adcock and her daughter are reported killed, but not verified. For a strip more than two miles in width along the railroad between here and Tennessee City, and on through that portion of the county traversed by the storm, scarcely a tree is left standing, but all lie as flat as if rolled over by some immense road roller. One-half of the house where Attorney J. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration The Bee Springs tornado touched down in northernmost Limestone County, Alabama, before crossing the into Lincoln and Giles Counties in Tennessee. Tennessee 225: Dive into the history of the Volunteer State. At least fifty other persons sustained more or less serious injuries, and the recovery of three is doubtful. More than 320 died in the twister barrage . It began just before midnight and had destroyed three large sections of Zephyr by the early hours of the morning. 30. The Bee Spring Church was destroyed and many graves in the cemetery are the resting places of those killed that fateful day. A portion of the residence of Mrs. Alice Estes was blown away. 93 dead across 5 states: The deadly tornado outbreak by the numbers Affecting particularly the Mississippi and Tennessee Valleys, it killed over 150 people, 60 of them in the U.S. state of Tennessee alone. Mrs. Will Adcock and her daughter are reported killed, but not verified. Elam Tucker, who lives at the old Suttle place, near Aspen Hill, lost his barn, also Will Coon, Billy Widene, and D. Biles, and the tenant houses on the Phillips place, south of Tucker's, were wrecked. The poles were broken down and splintered and the wires were left in a tangled mass. Bob White's house was blown from its foundation. All NOAA. - M. C. NORTHINGTON, Mayor.". Only one member of this large family escaped unhurt. Numbers of barns completely wrecked, and several houses ruined. J. D. Butler's house was damaged considerably, and the Methodist Church, South, had part of the roof blown away. A. Hickerson a house barn, buggies and fences. A latter report comes in from Hillsboro, a small place northwest of here that several people had been killed, however, this is not authentic. Much of the land was washed. One son, Oscar, was hit by falling timbers and considerably bruised. 1998 - 2023 Nexstar Media Inc. | All Rights Reserved. 1909: Middle Tennessee's deadliest tornado outbreak It is an old adage that he who gives quickly gives twice. I call upon all persons in this community who will contribute to this object to leave contributions at either of the banks. Houses and barns with their contents, orchards, fences and timber make up a large list of valuable property much of which was literally blown out of existence in a few seconds. How 148 Tornadoes in One Day in 1974 Changed Emergency Preparedness After striking Nolensville, the storm moved into Rutherford County. About 75 homes were damaged or destroyed at Centerville, and losses totaled over $100,000. Ab Hays, of Nashville, who was visiting Joe Rosson's family, near Port Royal, was seriously hurt by timbers, and died this morning. SHAMBURGER (2016): Based on the narrative by Grazulis and the reports in the Nashville American, the path of this tornado was adjusted to begin on the Humphreys County border around 9 miles west of Dickson, pass between Tennessee City and Dickson, go through Charlotte, and end between Charlotte and Bellsburg. 1909: A tornado moves the Algood Methodist Church off its foundation. For several minutes it was as bright as the glare of a noonday sun with this setting, the wind terrific in force and volume halted at no obstacle, and in its path it left an imprint on everything it touched. Four houses are blown down in Franklin. 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. One hundred trees were blown across the Rugby Pike, delaying the mails that day, for it was next to impossible to get through. Will Ross Lackey, Jr., and Esq. The cyclone followed the course of Dog Creek, a small stream close to the springs, and followed it until it came to the mouth of the hollow, when it entered the hollow and laid waste everything in its path. Many Lives and Much Property Lost in Giles County. The timbers in front of the hotel were laid waste, some of which fell on the hotel, doing considerable damage to the building. Contributions may be sent direct to Mr. Young or to the Citizen and we will forward to the relief committee. List of Upper Cumberland tornadoes | UCpedia Wiki | Fandom It eventually passed just south of Franklin causing eight deaths and eleven injuries. Coming as it did near midnight, when the people generally were asleep, many barely escaped in their night clothes. FROM THE NASHVILLE AMERICAN, MAY 4 1909, PAGE 5, "THREE CHURCHES DESTROYED": ALEXANDRIA, Tenn., May 3. 63 people lost their lives, and more than 200 were injured from a total of 12 tornadoes. 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 30, 1909. Fayetteville, Tenn., April 30. The cyclone went from Primm's on to Centreville. There is no information about the tornado path from Lascassas into Wilson County, so the tornado is estimated to have lifted somewhere southwest of Statesville. The storm seems to have entered the county from the southern side, passing between this place and Tennessee City. At Walter Hill the residence of Mrs. Upchurch was totally destroyed and she herself was fatally injured. 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.