Only one member of this large family escaped unhurt. Most of the land will have to be returned and planted. Multiple locations were found. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The cyclone struck Rudolphtown about 8 o'clock and traveled in a northeasterly course. 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. This week marks a decade since the "Super Outbreak" of tornadoes April 25-28, 2011, an unprecedented swarm of tornadoes that tore through the South. The missing are Mr. and Mrs. Bob Stevens, whose home was torn to pieces. J. D. Butler's house was damaged considerably, and the Methodist Church, South, had part of the roof blown away. 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 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. The tornado outbreak this week featured more than 400 tornado warnings and severe thunderstorm warnings that spanned nearly two-dozen states. The description of the tornado path by Grazulis does not match the reports in the Nashville American and Williamson Herald, which indicate the tornado passed around 1 mile south of Franklin, not north as Grazulis wrote, with heavy damage in Hillsboro, Southall, on Carter's Creek Pike, between Winstead Hill and the Battleground Academy on Columbia Pike, at the Historic Carenton Plantation, and on Lewisburg Pike. Multiple locations were found. Columbia, Tenn., April 20. Homes were destroyed in Marion, Arkansas, resulting in five deaths in Arkansas. 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. W. S. McLaurine's baby were also killed. Mrs. Will Adcock and her daughter are reported killed, but not verified. Mr. Marlin was badly injured, too, but he survived, along with an infant child, a 16-year old son, and two young daughters. And the tornado also injured 70 people as it traveled through the county, Lancaster said. Large trees were torn and twisted from the roots, and in some places scarcely a tree was left uninjured in a whole forest. Here is an opportunity in my judgement, for an exhibition of true Christian benevolence. The village of Harms, five miles west of Fayetteville, was almost completely destroyed. All missing people in Kentucky have been accounted for, Gov. Until late this afternoon it has been impossible to communicate with other towns throughout the country. It touched down during the dead of night between 10 and 11PM. - This section was visited by a cyclone last night at 11 o'clock, leaving suffering and destruction in its path. The storm seemed to reach the proportions of a tornado at a late hour of the night, sweeping from northeast to southwest, carrying down many farm buildings, but fortunately it passed through a sparsely-settled section and in about twenty minutes it completely reversed its course, turning from the northeast to the southwest, and many of the buildings were blown back in the opposite direction. In town here a number of window panes were broken. The home of Wilson Estes was also destroyed, together with the livery barn of Russell Estes, owner of Primm Springs Hotel. 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. This large outbreak of tornadoes included an EF3 tornado that caused significant damage to homes, business, schools and infrastructure in Jacksboro, Texas. At least fifty other persons sustained more or less serious injuries, and the recovery of three is doubtful. The desperately injured are: R. H. Thompson, a son and daughter of Mrs. Money, Hiram Prince and Prof. R. S. Ballen. One massive grave contains the remains of an entire family. - 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. 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 Weather Service has confirmed 66 tornadoes from Dec. 10 to 11 and 79 tornadoes Dec. 15. The damage reported in the far western and northern suburbs of Fayetteville along with the $5,000 damage to the Elk Cotton Mills north of Fayetteville indicates the tornado continued for several more miles before lifting northeast of Fayetteville, not 5 miles to the northwest as Grazulis stated. This is a list of significant tornadoes that have touched down in Maury County since 1900. The storm was about two miles south of Alexandria, and the following farmers had their barns demolished entirely or unroofed: James Dinwiddle, J. S. Turner, J. D. Griffith, Oby Jenkins, G. G. Gibbs, Vick Groom, Bob Vannatta, John Midgett (two), Mort Foutch, and Hanison Self. W. C. Greer lost his large barn and two mail hacks. Intensity was unclear but probably F2 based upon descriptions. As soon as neighbors could be informed of the disaster, they hastened to the relief of the suffering. GRAZULIS: Moved NE from just over the Alabama line, crossing extreme SE Giles County to 5 miles NW of Fayetteville. 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. Ab Lane lost his barn and two mules. Besides the devastation mentioned, fences, timber and numerous small buildings were blown away and other damage done. A few barns and other outhouses were totally destroyed, and a dwelling occupied by Sol Bates, near Linden, was utterly demolished, several members of his family being more or less hurt and one child was killed. From that point, the storm moved into the Greenbrier section, where it destroyed two stores, several churches, and numerous farm houses, barns and outbuildings. Several other houses were blown down and a number of people injured. 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. 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. 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. 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. It was the deadliest known tornado outbreak to affect Tennessee until March 21, 1952, when 64 . Following is a partia (?) Rutherford County was visited last night by one of the most destructive storms of many years. One brick home was completely demolished. Just a few rods east of the McGrew place stood the home of Bud Guffey. A force of men from Scott and Morgan counties under the road overseers, cleared the road on May 3rd. A tornado destroyed a church and three homes. 22 others lost their lives that fateful night across Middle Tennessee in tornadoes that struck Montgomery, Robertson, Rutherford, Wilson, Grundy, and Fentress Counties. Affecting particularly the Mississippi and Tennessee Valleys, it killed over 150 people, 60 of them in the U.S. state of Tennessee alone. The stock barn of Rural home Stock farm was torn to pieces, and there were many other houses, barns, and outhouses destroyed. Current Hazards. There have been. The residence of Rush Brown, four miles from town, was razed to the ground and Mrs. Brown dangerously injured by the falling of the roof. At Trinity, about seven miles west of here, the damage is beyond description. There were also numerous reports of livestock killed by flying debris. The damage in town is slight compared with the country. 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. Just like the previous storm, it caused widespread property damage. 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. Columbia, Tenn., April 20. This list does not include F0 events. 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. That tornado alone caused an estimated $100 million in damage and the loss of 33 lives, which was only a fraction of the total damage caused by the Super Outbreak. Shade trees and orchards suffered greatly. 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. The cyclone struck Primm Springs, a summer resort in Hickman County, and devastated the country. 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 parent supercell thunderstorm continued on to produce additional tornadoes in Scott County. Mrs. Berry (sic) Prosser, near Fayetteville; fatally injured. Copyright 2023 Nexstar Media Inc. All rights reserved. Only two houses were left standing. - This place was visited Thursday night about 1 o'clock by a cyclone traveling in a southeasterly direction. "Storm's Dead Total 93." 10-18-1909, p. 2. We interviewed our tech expert, Jaime Vazquez, to learn more about accessible smart home devices. Thousands of trees were downed and cattle were killed. Reports from farmers are that crops will have to be planted over again. Due to the proximity to the county border, this tornado likely began in Overton County, but the article does not mention any damage to confirm this. 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. Damage: Fayetteville was not in the pathway of the cyclone, but was near it. 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. 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. It left 10 people dead and 40 more with serious injuries. The Tri-State Tornado occurred on March 18, 1925. 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. Miss Jennie Kelso, Fayetteville; killed by live electric light wire. At Cross Roads, Scott County, it demolished the home of Henry Reed, debris falling upon him and crushing his skull. J. M. Colston and wife, near Fayetteville. At this time it is impossible to ascertain the damage and loss of life to stock; no lives so far reported. The cyclone went from Primm's on to Centreville. North of Memphis, Tennessee, two F3 tornadoes killed a total of 22 from Crittenden County, Arkansas, to Carroll County, Tennessee. Affecting particularly the Mississippi and Tennessee Valleys, it killed over 150 people, 60 of them in the U.S. state of Tennessee alone. FROM THE NASHVILLE AMERICAN, MAY 1 1909, PAGE 10, "FROM MURFREESBORO, TENN.": MURFREESBORO, Tenn., April 30. April 20, 1909: A windstorm "of great cyclonic power" caused $15,000 of damage in Putnam County. 1909: A tornado moves the Algood Methodist Church off its foundation. 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. Ed Ragland's house was blown from its foundation. His entire family was wiped out of existence. Striking the residence of Prof. W. H. Hooks it blew away all of his residence except the kitchen, his stable, outbuildings and shade trees. 30. The home of Wilson Estes was also destroyed, together with the livery barn of Russell Estes, owner of Primm Springs Hotel. 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. 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 McConnico Church southeast of Franklin was also heavily damaged. Many Lives and Much Property Lost in Giles County. 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. The Alex Mitchell family of five in Hillsboro was also reportedly all killed, but this could not be confirmed. Web. The courthouse roof was blown off. 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. Twenty-two others lost their lives that fateful night across Middle Tennessee in tornadoes that struck Montgomery, Robertson, Rutherford, Wilson, Grundy, and Fentress Counties. The poles were broken down and splintered and the wires were left in a tangled mass. GRAZULIS: Twenty-three homes were destroyed, and a hotel and depot were unroofed at Decherd. There were no additional fatalities from these tornadoes. 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. The Elk Cotton Mill was damaged about $5,000. Tornadoes in the United States 1950-2019 These are some notable tornadoes, tornado outbreaks, and tornado outbreak sequences that have occurred in North America . This was the deadliest tornado outbreak in the U.S. since May 2011, when more than 170 people were killed. Miss Jennie Kelso, Fayetteville; killed by live electric light wire. The farm of James Welch, near Sango, was swept clean, every building on it being wrecked. A large oak tree was lifted bodily and blown across it, crushing in the roof. Following is a partia (?) 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. Tornado destroyed up to nine homes and hit buildings in. Four houses are blown down in Franklin. The storm extended over many states inflicting damage on widely scattered communities from the Great Lakes to the Gulf. FROM THE NASHVILLE AMERICAN, MAY 1 1909, PAGE 10, FROM M'EWEN: M'EWEN, Tenn., April 30. Mrs. Speight, one mile from Charlotte, suffered a severe loss. Mail service over Route No. SHAMBURGER (2016): Although Grazulis states that a downburst caused the immense damage in Statesville, the severity of the damage across southeast Wilson County into DeKalb County - with three churches demolished, numerous homes and barns unroofed, and several injuries - strongly suggests this damage was from a strong tornado. US Dept of Commerce 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. A latter report comes in from Hillsboro, a small place northwest of here that several people had been killed, however, this is not authentic. "April 29, 1909 Tornado Outbreak." Undated. 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. C. H. Underhill had a considerable loss, but it is covered by insurance. Tornado caused $60,000 in damage at Sidney. The home of the widow Speight was also destroyed. Web. FROM THE NASHVILLE AMERICAN, MAY 1 1909, PAGE 2, "OVER FIFTY HOUSES WRECKED. 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). Fayetteville, Tenn., April 30. The two main outbreaks alone were responsible for at least 145 of these tornadoes. Four houses are blown down in Franklin. [2], The April 1909 outbreak was part of an active and deadly year nationally for tornadoes. BEE SPRING, Tenn. (WKRN) On April 29th and 30th in 1909, Middle Tennessee suffered its deadliest tornado outbreak in history. - April 29, at 8:15 p.m., Charlotte was visited with an electrical storm and tornado about 300 yards wide, taking all in its path. Eight-year-old boy of Paulina Farris, colored, Centreville. 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. GRAZULIS: The entire town of Statesville had severe downburst damage. Part of a larger outbreak that started a few days earlier, the unrelenting barrage of . The property loss cannot be estimated. Some North American outbreaks affecting the U.S. may only include tornado information from the U.S. Others moved to towns like Elkton, which is the closest incorporated town to the area, Lancaster said. The old McGavock home is wrecked. But nowhere was the loss of life greater or the destruction of property more complete than in Giles County. "Some splendid homes were turned to rubbish.". - 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. All of the buildings belong to the Fentress Coal & Coke Company. We interviewed our tech expert, Jaime Vazquez, to learn more about accessible smart home devices. A total of 22 people were killed in that area (Giles County), and seven near "Millville" (Lincoln County). Andy Beshear said Saturday. And five days later, Mrs. Marlin died from her injuries at a Nashville hospital. It is impossible to estimate the property loss, probably not less than a hundred thousand dollars. [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. The old Henry Wade residence, a two-story frame buildings, was demolished, and also several cabins on the place. 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. Will Hudson, another farmer near Charlotte, lost his barn, and had several head of stock crippled by the storm. 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. It is thought that the dead and injured list will be increased by further reports. The tornado touched down just outside of Aspen Hills, just a few miles west of here. At least 695 . 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. 1 could not continue on account of the wreckage of the roadways. The cyclone went from Primm's on to Centreville. Jim Cheat, a prosperous farmer near town, lost his barn, and had one very fine mule killed by the storm. Houses, barns and buildings generally were blown down or else badly wrecked. The tornado likely began in Humphreys County based on the information by Grazulis and the Nashville American. However, for several hours a strong gale blew, and there was more or less excitement in the town throughout the night. April 29, 1909 Tornado Outbreak Weather.gov> Nashville, TN> April 29, 1909 Tornado Outbreak Current Hazards Outlooks Submit a Storm Report Decision Support Hazardous Weather Outlook Detailed Hazards Local Storm Reports (Text) Local Storm Reports (Graphical) Severe Weather Mode Current Conditions Surface Observations Satellite It will amount to hundreds of thousands of dollars. GRAZULIS: Moved NE near "Sango," 8 miles ESE of Clarksville. 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. The strongest tornado confirmed so far from. However, descriptions of the damage appear to warrant at least an F2 rating, which was used here. GRAZULIS: Moved ENE from somewhere west of Shipps Bend to north of Clovercroft. How often do tornadoes hit Tennessee? The missing are Mr. and Mrs. Bob Stevens, whose home was torn to pieces. 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. Besides the loss of property, which is now estimated at $100,000, seven known dead are reported, and injured. Franklin, Tenn., Apr. P. M. Greenwood had a small house blown away. One room was left of his home place, a seven-room dwelling, and it was in this room the family sought refuge. Ward's Mill, one of the oldest country mills in the country, was blown bodily into Stones River. Some homes were reportedly destroyed in six counties further to the ENE, but tornadoes there are not confirmable. Its course was about a half mile wide and lay from Cross Roads into Scott Co., between the farms of William Cummings and Laban Riseden, just escaping both the homesteads, but tearing up all the timber in the neighborhood and bearing on southward below Rugby, carrying away the home of Young John Brewster and crushing in his shoulder and injuring his wife. 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. (Bud) Hardy, Mrs. Louie Gordon, who was living with her mother, Mrs. Eliza Wilkinson, was cut and bruised about the face and arm. The village of Harms, five miles west of Fayetteville, was almost completely destroyed. 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. Coming as it did near midnight, when the people generally were asleep, many barely escaped in their night clothes. A damage rating of at least F2 intensity seems likely based on the newspaper descriptions. 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. Their household effects are destroyed. The tornado destroyed homes on at least three farms and killed an elderly man and a child in separate homes. The lightning flashed incessantly, and all evidences indicated that a great storm was raging in the neighboring sections. Many Lives and Much Property Lost in Giles County. Mrs. Hughes' house was torn into kindling wood, but she was not at home at the time. Four-year-old child of Mr. and Mrs. R. H. Thompson, Totty's Bend. Damage: Gibbons, of this place, was killed while eating. One of the saddest stories took place at Leiper's Fork. 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. 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. It is impossible to estimate the property loss, probably not less than a hundred thousand dollars. The farms lying on the hillsides are washed in deep gullies and the low land is completely flooded.