"Death Toll in Ninety-five." 10-18-1909, p. 1. Many tenant houses and barns were wrecked on different places. [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. These pictures show the damage in Centerville in Hickman County where there were 9 deaths and 32 injuries. Here is an opportunity in my judgement, for an exhibition of true Christian benevolence. A third son died two days later as a result of injuries sustained during the tornado. April 20, 1909: A windstorm "of great cyclonic power" caused $15,000 of damage in Putnam County. 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. It was an F-4 with winds 207 miles per hour or higher. In Tennessee, the town of Locke was mostly destroyed by the first F3 tornado. One negro family, Nancy Smith and two children lost their lives in the wreckage of their little home, and one of Till Bledsoe's children was killed. Miss Jennie Kelso, Fayetteville; killed by live electric light wire. Several parties sustained slight injuries. Contributions may be sent direct to Mr. Young or to the Citizen and we will forward to the relief committee. Reports from farmers are that crops will have to be planted over again. Mr. McNutt, wife and three children, near Fayetteville. Some homes were reportedly destroyed in six counties further to the ENE, but tornadoes there are not confirmable. It is impossible to estimate the property loss, probably not less than a hundred thousand dollars. A total of 22 people were killed in that area (Giles County), and seven near "Millville" (Lincoln County). - 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. 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. 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. His entire family was wiped out of existence. A number of houses have been damaged by falling timber, one or two thrown off the foundations and one large two-story building completely demolished. Great injury was done forests. The Alex Mitchell family of five in Hillsboro was also reportedly all killed, but this could not be confirmed. 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. 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. The property loss cannot be estimated. Four-year-old child of Mr. and Mrs. R. H. Thompson, Totty's Bend. At Rudolphtown, which lies between Port Royal and Clarksville, one man was killed whose name has not been ascertained here. A horse owned by Rev. One room was left of his home place, a seven-room dwelling, and it was in this room the family sought refuge. Despite the significant damage, death and injuries, this tornado was not included in Grazulis' book Significant Tornadoes. The most terrible cyclone in the history of Giles County struck with great fury between 11 and 12 o'clock Thursday night. 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. One-half of the house where Attorney J. Here it blew away the barn in which Duff was sheltered at the time, breaking three of Duff's toes, but otherwise he was not injured. The home of Mr. and Mrs. Jeff Marlin was completely demolished. This is the first storm of the kind that ever visited this section, although in 1878 much timber was blown down. A colored child on W. R. Anderson's farm was killed, making the fourth death so far reported. Special thanks to Sam Shamburger from the National Weather Service office in Nashville, who did extensive research on this tornado outbreak. 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. 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. Mr. Marlin was badly injured, too, but he survived, along with an infant child, a 16-year old son, and two young daughters. A gulch just west of the town evidently broke the force so that no serious damage has resulted. Just a few rods east of the McGrew place stood the home of Bud Guffey. The cyclone struck Primm Springs, a summer resort in Hickman County, and devastated the country. 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. Bob White's house was blown from its foundation. 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. National Weather Service This would be typical of damage reports all along the storm route that night. A large oak tree was lifted bodily and blown across it, crushing in the roof. Track of Cyclone a Mile Wide and Vast Damage Done": MURFREESBORO, Tenn., April 30. 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. On May 30, 1909, the Zephyr tornado touched down close to the town of Zephyr. 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. 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. Ten homes were destroyed. The cyclone wrecked the house and killed Mrs. McGrew and six children, while Mr. McGrew, a son and a baby escaped with serious injuries. Besides the loss of property, which is now estimated at $100,000, seven known dead are reported, and injured. This tornado appears to be from the same long-track supercell which tracked from the Memphis area and later produced the tornadoes in Hickman, Maury, Williamson, Rutherford, Wilson, DeKalb, Putnam, Fentress, and Scott Counties. However, for several hours a strong gale blew, and there was more or less excitement in the town throughout the night. Please try another search. Tri-State Tornado of 1925 was deadliest in U.S. history - The 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. The Elk Cotton Mill was damaged about $5,000. 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. 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 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. The house of Judge Lewis was also destroyed and several other houses damaged beyond repair. Fortunately no one was killed, but several were wounded. A number of small barns was blown down. Andy Beshear said Saturday. But nowhere was the loss of life greater or the destruction of property more complete than in Giles County. Four houses are blown down in Franklin. Damage: Mrs. Hughes' house was torn into kindling wood, but she was not at home at the time. 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. 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. In its track, which was about half a mile in width, practically all timber was uprooted or twisted to the earth. 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 The homes of Mrs. John Brown and William McAdoo were blown down, and part of the home of B. M. Peebles was blown away. The village of Harms, five miles west of Fayetteville, was almost completely destroyed. - This place was visited Thursday night about 1 o'clock by a cyclone traveling in a southeasterly direction. This tornado is estimated to have begun southwest of Statesville, then moved east-northeast into DeKalb County, passing 2 miles south of Alexandria before ending near Smith Fork - roughly around 15 miles. The most notable result was the destruction of the Web & Crawford Planing Mill. - 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. The tornado continued into Giles County where nine more people lost their lives. FROM THE NASHVILLE AMERICAN, MAY 2 1909, PAGE 5, "FALLING TIMBER": WILDER, Tenn., May 1. This historical footage of Oklahoma's worst-ever tornado outbreak was assembled using News 9's on-air broadcast along with storm tracker footage and some images/interviews with viewers. Damage: Until late this afternoon it has been impossible to communicate with other towns throughout the country. 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 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. 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. FROM THE WILLIAMSON HERALD NEWSPAPER: The second tornado that night struck at 11:15 p.m. about four miles southwest of Nolensville. March sets record for most tornado reports - NBC News - 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. Prof. J. M. Coulson's residence destroyed and a number of other buildings greatly damaged. The writer went across the country to Sulphur Fork, following it up, and through Charlotte, on the west side of town. We interviewed our tech expert, Jaime Vazquez, to learn more about accessible smart home devices. Intensity was unclear but probably F2 based upon descriptions. You can see his full report here. One son, Oscar, was hit by falling timbers and considerably bruised. The houses damaged were all unoccupied, except the one destroyed. Mrs. Will Adcock and her daughter are reported killed, but not verified. The cyclone of the night of April 29th or morning of April 30th, did great damage near Rugby. 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 . The damage in town is slight compared with the country. The loss in timber alone in this section was placed at $100,000. A latter report comes in from Hillsboro, a small place northwest of here that several people had been killed, however, this is not authentic. In addition to those killed outright many were more or less seriously injured. 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. FROM THE PULASKI CITIZEN NEWSPAPER ARTICLE ON MAY 6, 1909 "FIFTY HOUSES WRECKED. The second highest number of fatalities occurred from an F-3 tornado with winds of 158 miles per hour or higher that ravaged Hickman and Williamson counties. The listing is U.S.-centric, with greater and more consistent information available for U.S. tornadoes. 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. 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. No lives were lost, but live stock suffered greatly. Striking the residence of Prof. W. H. Hooks it blew away all of his residence except the kitchen, his stable, outbuildings and shade trees. Dickson was left to the right of the storm's pathway, and fortunately little damage was done here. P. M. Greenwood had a small house blown away. It is impossible at this time to estimate the damage. 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]. A special thanks to the Nashville National Weather Service office and Lead Forecaster Sam Shamburger for his research on this tornado outbreak. The courthouse roof was blown off. 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. 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 2, "OVER FIFTY HOUSES WRECKED. FROM THE NASHVILLE AMERICAN, MAY 1 1909, PAGE 10, "FROM MURFREESBORO, TENN.": MURFREESBORO, Tenn., April 30. It is thought that the dead and injured list will be increased by further reports. This is a list of significant tornadoes that have touched down in Maury County since 1900. Following is a partia (?) Tornado Outbreak of April 29, 1909 - National Weather Service 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. But for the fact that the country is hilly and in places thinly settled the destruction would have been even greater. The tornado destroyed homes on at least three farms and killed an elderly man and a child in separate homes. Franklin, Tenn., Apr. A New Life Of The Author, By Mr. Mallet|Francis Bacon, Personality Dynamics: A Biosocial Approach|G. National Weather Service. 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. 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. At Bee Springs, five members of a family were killed in one home, and seven in another family died in a nearby home. SHAMBURGER (2016): Although Grazulis reported 10 deaths and 40 injuries from this major tornado, newspaper articles from the Nashville American and Williamson Herald indicated several more people were injured, killed, or eventually died from their injuries in the days after the tornado. - The windstorm in this county Thursday night was probably the worst in its history. The old McGavock home is wrecked. These are some notable tornadoes, tornado outbreaks, and tornado outbreak sequences that have occurred in North America. FROM THE NASHVILLE AMERICAN, May 1 1909, PAGE 4, "RUTHERFORD COUNTY. (Bud) Hardy, Mrs. Louie Gordon, who was living with her mother, Mrs. Eliza Wilkinson, was cut and bruised about the face and arm. Between the Wilson turnpike and Nolensville Pike for a distance of seven miles and half mile wide a number of houses are destroyed. Copyright 2023 Nexstar Media Inc. All rights reserved. The strongest tornado confirmed so far from. The Tri-State Tornado occurred on March 18, 1925. John Lee's barn was blown over. 1909: Middle Tennessee's deadliest tornado outbreak Thousands of trees were downed and cattle were killed. 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. Ten years ago today, the most prolific tornado outbreak on record swept across the southeastern United States. List of Upper Cumberland tornadoes | UCpedia Wiki | Fandom Ward's Mill, one of the oldest country mills in the country, was blown bodily into Stones River. 6 Feb. 2021. GRAZULIS: Moved NE from just over the Alabama line, crossing extreme SE Giles County to 5 miles NW of Fayetteville. His mother, who was seriously injured, and a little boy were rescued with much difficulty from the ruins. The old McGavock home is wrecked. Affecting particularly the Mississippi and Tennessee Valleys, it killed over 150 people, 60 of them in the U.S. state of Tennessee alone. 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. Following is a partia (?) 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. Bud Guffey, his wife, and two chidlren. One of the heaviest and hardest rains followed by a hail storm; hundreds of trees blown down and nearly all orchards ruined. The lightning flashed incessantly, and all evidences indicated that a great storm was raging in the neighboring sections. Telephone wires are down and roads are in bad conditions. -92-93 Daily Journal, Stevens Point, WI. Columbia, Tenn., April 20. A family of tornadoes also affected later Hickman and Williamson Counties southwest of Nashville and later moved into Cookeville and Putnam Counties. Web. But for the fact that the country is hilly and in places thinly settled the destruction would have been even greater. 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. Deadliest Days: Killer tornadoes in Middle Tennessee 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. The desperately injured are: R. H. Thompson, a son and daughter of Mrs. Money, Hiram Prince and Prof. R. S. Ballen. 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. - A terrific rain and wind storm swept this county last night and many reports of widespread damage and destruction are being received. The missing are Mr. and Mrs. Bob Stevens, whose home was torn to pieces. 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. Another one of Mr. Cox's sons sustained a broken leg and his wife is badly hurt. The McConnico Church southeast of Franklin was also heavily damaged. Fayetteville was not in the pathway of the cyclone, but was near it. 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. This is only a partial report of the damage done sent in by telephone this morning. The Bee Spring Church was destroyed and many graves in the cemetery are the resting places of those killed that fateful day. 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. 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. 1 could not continue on account of the wreckage of the roadways. Several of the injured people who later died were plantation workers. Representative M. E. Neely lost a valuable barn, as did Maj. B. Randolph, both of the Walter Hill neighborhood. Contributions may be sent direct to Mr. Young or to the Citizen and we will forward to the relief committee. Mrs. Speight, one mile from Charlotte, suffered a severe loss. The Weather Service has confirmed 66 tornadoes from Dec. 10 to 11 and 79 tornadoes Dec. 15. A latter report comes in from Hillsboro, a small place northwest of here that several people had been killed, however, this is not authentic. This large outbreak of tornadoes included an EF3 tornado that caused significant damage to homes, business, schools and infrastructure in Jacksboro, Texas. Dr. Barger lost five of his six barns, and the merchants suffered much loss from their business houses being unroofed. The tornado proceeded over across the Lewisburg Pike area, out Murfreesboro Road, and by 11 p.m. struck for a final time, near Clovercroft. 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.