On March 21-22, there were 108 tornadoes that impacted several states most focused across Texas, Oklahoma, Mississippi and Alabama. At Bee Springs, five members of a family were killed in one home, and seven in another family died in a nearby home. At this time it is impossible to ascertain the damage and loss of life to stock; no lives so far reported. SHAMBURGER (2016): The devastating and very large Decherd tornado, which was only given a few meager words in the book Significant Tornadoes by Tom Grazulis, began somewhere west of Owl Hollow in western Franklin County, then moved east-northeast passing about 1.3 miles north of Winchester, then plowing directly through Decherd. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Ten years ago today, the most prolific tornado outbreak on record swept across the southeastern United States. Nashville, TN500 Weather Station RoadOld Hickory, TN 37138615-754-8500Comments? SHAMBURGER (2016): Based on the reports in the Nashville American, the number of deaths and injuries cited by Grazulis is too low, and the reported 4 deaths and 50 injuries in Montgomery County were used here. of those most seriously hurt: Esq. 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. 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. It was the deadliest known tornado outbreak to affect Tennessee until March 21, 1952, when 64 . One of the heaviest and hardest rains followed by a hail storm; hundreds of trees blown down and nearly all orchards ruined. After striking Nolensville, the storm moved into Rutherford County. The village of Harms, five miles west of Fayetteville, was almost completely destroyed. It left 10 people dead and 40 more with serious injuries. The courthouse was unroofed, and sixteen of its beautiful shade trees uprooted. "November 20, 1900 Tornado Outbreak." Undated. RUGBY. The cyclone wrecked the house and killed Mrs. McGrew and six children, while Mr. McGrew, a son and a baby escaped with serious injuries. No lives were lost, but live stock suffered greatly. The writer went across the country to Sulphur Fork, following it up, and through Charlotte, on the west side of town. Web. GRAZULIS: Moved ENE from somewhere west of Shipps Bend to north of Clovercroft. Much of the land was washed. A latter report comes in from Hillsboro, a small place northwest of here that several people had been killed, however, this is not authentic. 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. Four-year-old child of Mr. and Mrs. R. H. Thompson, Totty's Bend. The half-mile wide tornado moved across the Brewster Community causing two injuries (F2), then passed just south of Rugby into Scott County. However, for several hours a strong gale blew, and there was more or less excitement in the town throughout the night. The Elk Cotton Mill was damaged about $5,000. 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. The storm extended over many states inflicting damage on widely scattered communities from the Great Lakes to the Gulf. 63 people lost their lives, and more than 200 were injured from. 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. This would be typical of damage reports all along the storm route that night. Several negro families lost their homes. CYCLONE BRINGS DEATH AND DESTRUCTION Many Lives and Much Property Lost in Giles County. The timber for 250 yards wide in the path of this tornado is down for many miles. 6 Feb. 2021. 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. Columbia, Tenn., April 20. From the foot of the mountain, near Wonder Cave, half way to the top, two-thirds of the large trees are down. FROM THE NASHVILLE AMERICAN, MAY 1 1909, PAGE 12, "PERHAPS FATALLY HURT": McEWEN, Tenn., April 30. 20th Century 1909 Oct 14, Tornado Outbreak, AL (11-21), AR (2), GA (1-2), TN (42-50) -56-75 lornajarrettblanchard October 14, 1909 95 Daily Telegraph, Atlantic, IA. The three churches - the Cumberland, the Methodist and the Baptist - also the schoolhouse, were blown down and destroyed. Tornadoes in the United States 1950-2019 These are some notable tornadoes, tornado outbreaks, and tornado outbreak sequences that have occurred in North America . 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. The most terrible cyclone in the history of Giles County struck with great fury between 11 and 12 o'clock Thursday night. 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. Many historians believe it was during this phase of the storm that winds along the periphery also toppled the steeple that used to sit atop the Franklin Cumberland Presbyterian Church. 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. 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. 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). His entire family was wiped out of existence. So far as reported, no lives were lost, but on the farm of Mrs. Charles Ward all of the outhouses were blown away and a Mr. Gannon and his wife were injured. 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 old Henry Wade residence, a two-story frame buildings, was demolished, and also several cabins on the place. The listing is U.S.-centric, with greater and more consistent information available for U.S. tornadoes. It touched down during the dead of night between 10 and 11as it moved into Williamson County. - At Statesville, seven miles from here, the storm of Thursday night destroyed the three churches and the school building. There were also numerous reports of livestock killed by flying debris. Fayetteville, Tenn., April 30. A latter report comes in from Hillsboro, a small place northwest of here that several people had been killed, however, this is not authentic. The cyclone struck Primm Springs, a summer resort in Hickman County, and devastated the country. The storm seems to have entered the county from the southern side, passing between this place and Tennessee City. 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. FROM THE PULASKI CITIZEN NEWSPAPER ARTICLE ON MAY 6, 1909 "FIFTY HOUSES WRECKED. FROM THE NASHVILLE AMERICAN, MAY 1 1909, PAGE 10: ALGOOD, Tenn., April 30 - At this place, four miles east of Cookeville, the Southern Methodist church was demolished. Four people are known to be dead and two are missing, supposed to have been blown away as their home was demolished. The courthouse roof was blown off. It was the deadliest known tornado outbreak to affect Tennessee until March 21, 1952, when 64 people died statewide. The village of Harms, five miles west of Fayetteville, was almost completely destroyed. W. S. McLaurine's baby were also killed. Homes were reportedly damaged or destroyed. No other fatalities are reported from this town although barns and outbuildings were swept away by the fierce assault of the storm. The F-scale rating, location and path width are estimated from the reported damage. Tennessee 225: Dive into the history of the Volunteer State. 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. Franklin, Tenn., Apr. Mrs. Berry (sic) Prosser, near Fayetteville; fatally injured. 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. The property loss will mount into the thousands. BEE SPRING, Tenn. (WKRN) On April 29th and 30th in 1909, Middle Tennessee suffered its deadliest tornado outbreak in history. Copyright 2023 Nexstar Media Inc. All rights reserved. A horse owned by Rev. 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 town of Statesville, six miles from here, was struck last night by a tornado. Dr. Barger lost five of his six barns, and the merchants suffered much loss from their business houses being unroofed. The second F3 tornado flattened structures near Covington and Medina. A third son died two days later as a result of injuries sustained during the tornado. The desperately injured are: R. H. Thompson, a son and daughter of Mrs. Money, Hiram Prince and Prof. R. S. Ballen. The loss in timber alone in this section was placed at $100,000. The tornado outbreak this week featured more than 400 tornado warnings and severe thunderstorm warnings that spanned nearly two-dozen states. 1909: A tornado moves the Algood Methodist Church off its foundation. The large marble shaft erected to the memory of the Collier family, and in the private ground, was thrown to the ground. FROM THE NASHVILLE AMERICAN, MAY 1 1909, PAGE 10, "AT WATERTOWN, TENN.". January's largest single outbreak happened over the course of two days when 129 tornadoes were spawned, mostly in the South, in the record year of 1999. The damage in town is slight compared with the country. Mrs. Welch and son, Byron, sustained slight injuries, the former being hit on the head and the latter had a gash cut in his cheek. "Death Toll in Ninety-five." 10-18-1909, p. 1. 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. P. M. Greenwood had a small house blown away. But for the fact that the country is hilly and in places thinly settled the destruction would have been even greater. 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. Another strong tornado struck Franklin County near Decherd. A number of small barns was blown down. It is impossible at this time to estimate the damage. The residence of J. M. Lews at that place was twisted entirely around, but it did not fall, but is in such a damaged condition that it will be necessary to tear it down. Jack Pope's home was wrecked and he and his wife were killed. 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. The seriously injured are M. J. Farrar and daughter, of Gyruston, the former having a broken collarbone, and the latter a broken arm and leg; residence wrecked and burned. Mrs. Speight, one mile from Charlotte, suffered a severe loss. The house was completely torn to pieces. Gibbons, of this place, was killed while eating. W. S. McLaurine's baby were also killed. 22 others lost their lives that fateful night across Middle Tennessee in tornadoes that struck Montgomery, Robertson, Rutherford, Wilson, Grundy, and Fentress Counties. National Weather Service. FROM THE NASHVILLE AMERICAN, MAY 1 1909, PAGE 10, "FROM MURFREESBORO, TENN.": MURFREESBORO, Tenn., April 30. With the exception of several street lights being burned out, the damage at McEwen was slight. The total damage cannot be accurately stated, but it will go into the thousands of dollars in this section. Photos of the damage in the Hillsboro (Leiper's Fork) area from the Nashville American newspaper show extreme damage, with a home wiped off the foundation and a hillside forest completely destroyed, suggesting this tornado reached F4 intensity. The property loss cannot be estimated. This large tornado then passed 2 to 3 miles south of Nolensville, moved 1 mile northwest of Florence Station, passed over Wards Mill (also called Evans Mill or Nice Mill) around 4 miles southeast of Smyrna, then damaged homes and barns just south of Walter Hill. The largest national tornado outbreak was the Super Outbreak of April 26-28, 2011, which spawned more than 300 tornadoes across the eastern United States. The storm seems to have entered the county from the southern side, passing between this place and Tennessee City. Based on all this information, the path location was adjusted to the south of Franklin, with the path width added as 300 yards based on reports in the Nashville American. - 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. Franklin, Tenn., Apr. One of the saddest stories was of two brothers 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. This page was last edited on 12 March 2022, at 09:35. The stock barn of Rural home Stock farm was torn to pieces, and there were many other houses, barns, and outhouses destroyed. And then coming through Bee Spring destroying homes and families and a local church here by the cemetery.. "Storm's Dead Total 93." 10-18-1909, p. 2. The path length was estimated based on a beginning point in the Bushtown area and end point just past Algood. The Bee Spring community after the tornado was never quite the same and never really recovered. April 20, 1909: A windstorm "of great cyclonic power" caused $15,000 of damage in Putnam County. Numbers of barns completely wrecked, and several houses ruined. The farm of James Welch, near Sango, was swept clean, every building on it being wrecked. Great injury was done forests. The Bee Springs tornado touched down in northernmost Limestone County, Alabama, before crossing the into Lincoln and Giles Counties in Tennessee. This tornado appears to be the same tornado that struck Decaturville and Perryville in Decatur County, which crossed the Tennessee River before moving across central Perry County. The desperately injured are: R. H. Thompson, a son and daughter of Mrs. Money, Hiram Prince and Prof. R. S. Ballen. The cyclone of the night of April 29th or morning of April 30th, did great damage near Rugby. 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. We interviewed our tech expert, Jaime Vazquez, to learn more about accessible smart home devices. Dickson was left to the right of the storm's pathway, and fortunately little damage was done here. 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. Tornado destroyed six homes at Moreland. J. D. Butler's house was damaged considerably, and the Methodist Church, South, had part of the roof blown away. 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. [1] Rutherford County was visited last night by one of the most destructive storms of many years. The tornado tore apart eight or nine farms and damaged or destroyed 25 buildings in Charlotte. This tornado likely continued into Logan County, Kentucky, but no information is available. 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. 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. Trees were twisted in two and hurled great distances. This large outbreak of tornadoes included an EF3 tornado that caused significant damage to homes, business, schools and infrastructure in Jacksboro, Texas. F. H. Hickerson, in the mercantile business, suffered quite a loss. In its track, which was about half a mile in width, practically all timber was uprooted or twisted to the earth. Many Lives and Much Property Lost in Giles County. Part of a larger outbreak that started a few days earlier, the unrelenting barrage of . The timbers in front of the hotel were laid waste, some of which fell on the hotel, doing considerable damage to the building. The clouds rolled like tremendous waves out of the southwest, and the thunder's crash was deafening, while the electric flashes played incessantly, lighting up the dark-canopied earth like a refulgent monster meteor. April 29, 1909 Tornado Outbreak. 11, had his skull fractured by falling timbers. 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. I call upon all persons in this community who will contribute to this object to leave contributions at either of the banks. We interviewed our tech expert, Jaime Vazquez, to learn more about accessible smart home devices. This tornado was almost certainly produced by the same supercell that spawned the even worse Giles/Lincoln County tornado just to the west. Miss Daisy Marshall received a few slight wounds. But nowhere was the loss of life greater or the destruction of property more complete than in Giles County. A family of tornadoes also affected later Hickman and Williamson Counties southwest of Nashville and later moved into Cookeville and Putnam Counties. A New Life Of The Author, By Mr. Mallet|Francis Bacon, Personality Dynamics: A Biosocial Approach|G. 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. Twenty-two others lost their lives that fateful night across Middle Tennessee in tornadoes that struck Montgomery, Robertson, Rutherford, Wilson, Grundy, and Fentress Counties. In its course from Rudolphtown to the Robertson County line the storm put out the eyes of several mules and other stock at Hinton, blew down the residence and stable of Joe Rosson, blew away the residence of Mrs. Ella Rosson and blew her over 100 yards. 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. One brick home was completely demolished. Mr. Brinkley's house was carried from its foundations, as was a newly completed house of J. 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 home of Mr. and Mrs. Jeff Marlin was completely demolished. So one family that lived here in Bee Spring near the cemetery lost seven members of the family including the mother and six children. On account of the destitution which is reported to exist in the stricken district, Mayor Northington has issued the following statement: "Reports having reached me of the destitution occasioned by Thursday night's storm, on account of which scored of persons have lost all of their means and been rendered homeless, it becomes my duty to make the fact known in our citizens officially. - M. C. NORTHINGTON, Mayor.". Following is a partia (?) Did the tornado hit Gatlinburg Tennessee? The home of Wilson Estes was also destroyed, together with the livery barn of Russell Estes, owner of Primm Springs Hotel. A colored child on W. R. Anderson's farm was killed, making the fourth death so far reported. And five days later, Mrs. Marlin died from her injuries at a Nashville hospital. (Bud) Hardy, Mrs. Louie Gordon, who was living with her mother, Mrs. Eliza Wilkinson, was cut and bruised about the face and arm. Dickson, Tenn., Apr. GRAZULIS: Moved ENE from 4 miles SW of Nolensville, passing south of Smyrna, just north of Walterhill and ending near Statesville. A heavy storm raged here throughout the night. The path length was extended from Grazulis' 15 miles to 20 miles and path width added as 1/4 mile based on the information in the Nashville American, along with the time being adjusted to 8 PM from 830 PM. Many of the inhabitants here moved to Bryson, a few miles away, and that community grew a little bit larger. Based on all of this information, the path start and end points were adjusted, path length increased to 30 miles, and path width increased to one mile. Both the Methodist and Christian churches are blown down; the homes of Will Tullass and James Marshall, both of which were beautiful country residences, are complete wrecks; the home of James Nolen is considerably damage, but not so bad as the others. FROM THE NASHVILLE AMERICAN, MAY 1 1909, PAGE 10, FROM M'EWEN: M'EWEN, Tenn., April 30. The entire town of Statesville had severe downburst damage. The home of the widow Speight was also destroyed. Prof. J. M. Coulson's residence destroyed and a number of other buildings greatly damaged. J. Damage: It came from the northwest, traveling with great momentum. Besides the devastation mentioned, fences, timber and numerous small buildings were blown away and other damage done. The creeks are out of banks and all the farm work of the spring is practically lost. Damage: 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. It was an F-4 with winds 207 miles per hour or higher. 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. The McConnico Church southeast of Franklin was also heavily damaged. The most lives were lost in the Bee Spring community of Giles County. 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. About 75 homes were damaged or destroyed at Centerville, and losses totaled over $100,000. Track of Cyclone a Mile Wide and Vast Damage Done": MURFREESBORO, Tenn., April 30. - A terrific rain and wind storm swept this county last night and many reports of widespread damage and destruction are being received. On May 30, 1909, the Zephyr tornado touched down close to the town of Zephyr. A school was reportedly carried intact for two miles, touching the ground every 200-300 yards, leaving holes in the earth. And those individuals are buried in the Bee Spring Cemetery that you see here today.. 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. You can see his full report here. The most notable result was the destruction of the Web & Crawford Planing Mill. FROM THE NASHVILLE AMERICAN, MAY 1 1909, PAGE 4, section Robertson County: SPRINGFIELD, Tenn., April 30 - A "twister", or cyclone, struck Montgomery County last night at Rudolphtown and plowed its way on through Montgomery County and the Seventeenth District of Robertson County into Kentucky, leaving devastation in its wake and entailing a loss of over $50,000. Mail service over Route No. From there, it crossed over to Columbia Avenue, where it completely wrecked everything along both sides of the pike, from Winstead Hill to the area just adjacent to Battle Ground Academy. "Some splendid homes were turned to rubbish.". National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration These are some notable tornadoes, tornado outbreaks, and tornado outbreak sequences that have occurred in North America. - 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. Almost every dwelling was rendered unsafe. Multiple locations were found. Six people were killed in Hickman County, along a track through Shipps Bend, Centerville, and Little Tot. 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. It is thought that the dead and injured list will be increased by further reports. All NOAA, (The following newspaper article was transcribed from The Pulaski Citizen of May 6, 1909.). BEE SPRING, Tenn. (WKRN) On April 29th and 30th in 1909, Middle Tennessee suffered its deadliest tornado outbreak in history. J. M. Colston and wife, near Fayetteville. 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. US Dept of Commerce Dickson was left to the right of the storm's pathway, and fortunately little damage was done here. His mother, who was seriously injured, and a little boy were rescued with much difficulty from the ruins. Tornado caused $60,000 in damage at Sidney. Result of the Work of the Storm in Dickson County": DICKSON, Tenn., April 30. 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.