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 F-scale rating, location and path width are estimated from the reported damage. About 75 homes were damaged or destroyed at Centerville, and losses totaled over $100,000. In its track, which was about half a mile in width, practically all timber was uprooted or twisted to the earth. In addition to those killed outright many were more or less seriously injured. 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. Some homes were reportedly destroyed in six counties further to the ENE, but tornadoes there are not confirmable. 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). And those individuals are buried in the Bee Spring Cemetery that you see here today.. The cyclone went from Primm's on to Centreville. - 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. The tornado destroyed homes on at least three farms and killed an elderly man and a child in separate homes. Dickson, Tenn., Apr. Jack Pope's home was wrecked and he and his wife were killed. The Alex Mitchell family of five in Hillsboro was also reportedly all killed, but this could not be confirmed. Many tenant houses and barns were wrecked on different places. In addition to those killed outright many were more or less 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. 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. April 20, 1909: A windstorm "of great cyclonic power" caused $15,000 of damage in Putnam County. Following is a partia (?) 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. From the foot of the mountain, near Wonder Cave, half way to the top, two-thirds of the large trees are down. FROM THE PULASKI CITIZEN NEWSPAPER ARTICLE ON MAY 6, 1909: Centreville, Tenn., April 30. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. 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, Elkton Story Mapper - Bee Springs Tornado, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Damage: Mrs. Berry (sic) Prosser, near Fayetteville; fatally injured. The cyclone of the night of April 29th or morning of April 30th, did great damage near Rugby. 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. 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. Representative M. E. Neely lost a valuable barn, as did Maj. B. Randolph, both of the Walter Hill neighborhood. Will Ross Lackey, Jr., and Esq. Tornadoes in the United States 1950-2019 These are some notable tornadoes, tornado outbreaks, and tornado outbreak sequences that have occurred in North America . A tornado destroyed a church and three homes. A family of tornadoes also affected later Hickman and Williamson Counties southwest of Nashville and later moved into Cookeville and Putnam Counties. The horror of the storm was greatly increased especially were people were (sic) severely hurt by the darkness and torrents of rain, which followed. The timber for 250 yards wide in the path of this tornado is down for many miles. Jim Cheat, a prosperous farmer near town, lost his barn, and had one very fine mule killed by the storm. The creeks are out of banks and all the farm work of the spring is practically lost. -92-93 Daily Journal, Stevens Point, WI. The old Henry Wade residence, a two-story frame buildings, was demolished, and also several cabins on the place. So one family that lived here in Bee Spring near the cemetery lost seven members of the family including the mother and six children. GRAZULIS: Moved NE from 9 miles W of Dickson to Charlotte and on to Bellsburg. Only two houses were left standing. Four-year-old child of Mr. and Mrs. R. H. Thompson, Totty's Bend. 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. 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. B. Thompson lives was blown across the street and his barn turned over, but his family was not hurt. Questions? - 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. You can see his full report here. The courthouse roof was blown off. B. Barnes'. - The windstorm in this county Thursday night was probably the worst in its history. 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. Two persons were killed outright, James Stafford, an aged white man, who was taken 200 yards from his residence and his neck snapped, and a small colored child. Four-year-old child of Mr. and Mrs. R. H. Thompson, Totty's Bend. On May 30, 1909, the Zephyr tornado touched down close to the town of Zephyr. Mrs. Hughes' house was torn into kindling wood, but she was not at home at the time. Several of the injured people who later died were plantation workers. - 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. Brave men bared their backs to the chilly rain to provide wraps for suffering women and children; and worked through the dreary hours till daylight, searching for the dead and endeavoring to relieve the suffering of survivors. J. M. Colston and wife, near Fayetteville. Following is a partia (?) ": Dickson, Tenn., Apr. Another strong tornado struck Franklin County near Decherd. Damage was noted 1 mile N of Franklin. The home of the widow Speight was also destroyed. Thousands of trees were downed and cattle were killed. Please try another search. Twenty-two others lost their lives that fateful night across Middle Tennessee in tornadoes that struck Montgomery, Robertson, Rutherford, Wilson, Grundy, and Fentress Counties. His entire family was wiped out of existence. Web. 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 time of this tornado appears to be incorrect as the Cookeville tornado was well documented as occurring around 1 AM, so a later time was used. - M. C. NORTHINGTON, Mayor.". A portion of the residence of Mrs. Alice Estes was blown away. After striking Nolensville, the storm moved into Rutherford County. I call upon all persons in this community who will contribute to this object to leave contributions at either of the banks. 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. A large number of cattle and hogs were killed and telephonic communication south of the town has been entirely cut off. 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. 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 1 1909, PAGE 10, "AT WATERTOWN, TENN.". 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. Please Contact Us. Damage: Please Contact Us. 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. 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. 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. His mother, who was seriously injured, and a little boy were rescued with much difficulty from the ruins. C. H. Whitney's barn, in the track of the storm, was blown down and Rural Carrier Morgan's horse was killed in the barn. 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. J. D. Butler's house was damaged considerably, and the Methodist Church, South, had part of the roof blown away. At Bee Springs, five members of a family were killed in one home, and seven in another family died in a nearby home. Thirty-six serious injuries were reported in the newspapers across both counties, with numerous other more minor injuries, so the total of 70 injuries shown by Grazulis was kept. - 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. 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Sorry, the location you searched for was not found. This is a list of significant tornadoes that have touched down in Maury County since 1900. 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. Mail service over Route No. F. H. Hickerson, in the mercantile business, suffered quite a loss. 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. In addition, the "old negro woman" killed "one-quarter mile west of Franklin" according to the Pulaski Citizen newspaper was actually killed, along with one of her children, on Carter's Creek Pike southwest of Franklin per the Nashville American newspaper. Six people were killed in Hickman County, along a track through Shipps Bend, Centerville, and Little Tot. One son, Oscar, was hit by falling timbers and considerably bruised. The most lives were lost in the Bee Spring community of Giles County. Several parties sustained slight injuries. 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. It is impossible to obtain details, as the wires are all down. This is only a partial report of the damage done sent in by telephone this morning. But several hundred dollars will be needed for relief work and the more fortunate should respond liberally. And then coming through Bee Spring destroying homes and families and a local church here by the cemetery.. Columbia, Tenn., April 20. GRAZULIS: Moved ENE from somewhere west of Shipps Bend to north of Clovercroft. FROM THE NASHVILLE AMERICAN, May 1 1909, PAGE 4, "NOLENSVILLE SECTION": NOLENSVILLE, April 30. 1 could not continue on account of the wreckage of the roadways. The tornado continued into Giles County where nine more people lost their lives. 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 entire town of Statesville had severe downburst damage. Homes were reportedly damaged or destroyed. Several negro families lost their homes. Trees were twisted in two and hurled great distances. 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. GRAZULIS: Moved ENE from 4 miles SW of Nolensville, passing south of Smyrna, just north of Walterhill and ending near Statesville. No lives were lost, but live stock suffered greatly. All missing people in Kentucky have been accounted for, Gov. 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. No other fatalities are reported from this town although barns and outbuildings were swept away by the fierce assault of the storm. It is an old adage that he who gives quickly gives twice. 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. Damage: The loss in timber alone in this section was placed at $100,000. GRAZULIS: Twenty-three homes were destroyed, and a hotel and depot were unroofed at Decherd. 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. The home of Wilson Estes was also destroyed, together with the livery barn of Russell Estes, owner of Primm Springs Hotel. - The house of Bush Brown, on Hurricane Creek, three miles from McEwen, was destroyed by a heavy wind last night. 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 greatest damage was done in the Florence and Walter Hill sections. 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. The parent supercell thunderstorm continued on to produce additional tornadoes in Scott County. In Tennessee, the town of Locke was mostly destroyed by the first F3 tornado. Despite the significant damage, death and injuries, this tornado was not included in Grazulis' book Significant Tornadoes. Large trees were torn and twisted from the roots, and in some places scarcely a tree was left uninjured in a whole forest. 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. Reports from farmers are that crops will have to be planted over again. 22 others lost their lives that fateful night across Middle Tennessee in tornadoes that struck Montgomery, Robertson, Rutherford, Wilson, Grundy, and Fentress Counties. Mrs. Will Adcock and her daughter are reported killed, but not verified. 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. In that general area, at least 55 were killed by tornadoes. Questions? As soon as neighbors could be informed of the disaster, they hastened to the relief of the suffering. Mr. McNutt, wife and three children, near Fayetteville. Coming as it did near midnight, when the people generally were asleep, many barely escaped in their night clothes. This massive tornado then passed into Lincoln County where much of Millville, Cyruston, Clardyville, and Harms were damaged or destroyed. US Dept of Commerce The Tri-State Tornado occurred on March 18, 1925. 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. The deadliest tornado touched down just south of the Tennessee-Mississippi state line in Desoto County and tracked east-northeast for about 125 miles (201km) across Shelby, Fayette, Hardeman, Chester, Henderson and Decatur Counties. But several hundred dollars will be needed for relief work and the more fortunate should respond liberally. Multiple locations were found. FROM THE FENTRESS COUNTY GAZETTE, MAY 6 1909, "Local News": The storm of last Friday morning, which was so severe in different parts of the state, did no damage in this immediate vicinity. 1998 - 2023 Nexstar Media Inc. | All Rights Reserved. Copyright 2023 Nexstar Media Inc. All rights reserved. Tornado destroyed up to nine homes and hit buildings in. With the exception of several street lights being burned out, the damage at McEwen was slight. 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. The second largest was the Super Outbreak of April 3-4, 1974, which was credited with producing 148 tornadoes in the central and southern United States (though 4 of these were later . 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. [3] However, the 1909 outbreak did not produce any F5 tornadoes on the Fujita scale; only one such event occurred in Tennessee on April 16, 1998. As the storm moved eastward, it cut a path into the Southall community, causing major damage and dealing additional death blows. It is reported that three white people are killed about two miles further down the trail of the cyclone, but this statement has not been authenticated. Coming as it did near midnight, when the people generally were asleep, many barely escaped in their night clothes. The tornado touched down just outside of Aspen Hills, just a few miles west of here. Four people are known to be dead and two are missing, supposed to have been blown away as their home was demolished. But nowhere was the loss of life greater or the destruction of property more complete than in Giles County. Henry Frate, colored, who lived on Finis Brown's farm, was so badly hurt that he may not recover. It is impossible to estimate the property loss, probably not less than a hundred thousand dollars. Sorry, the location you searched for was not found. 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.