The dwelling of Lon Dowell was unroofed, and the house of Will Hickman was blown fifty yards and caught fire and was consumed. In its track, which was about half a mile in width, practically all timber was uprooted or twisted to the earth. Dr. Barger lost five of his six barns, and the merchants suffered much loss from their business houses being unroofed. W. S. McLaurine's baby were also killed. After striking Nolensville, the storm moved into Rutherford County. It traveled through the Conway Community, destroying the local public school, Lancaster explained. There were also numerous reports of livestock killed by flying debris. 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. A number of residences were badly damaged and business houses unroofed, the rain destroying almost the entire stock of John Jewell. 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. 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. 1998 - 2023 Nexstar Media Inc. | All Rights Reserved. The old McGavock home is wrecked. In town here a number of window panes were broken. On May 30, 1909, the Zephyr tornado touched down close to the town of Zephyr. Bud Guffey, his wife, and two chidlren. 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. When the tornado outbreak was over, at least 62 people had been killed across Middle Tennessee, and over 200 more were left injured. April 29, 1909 Tornado Outbreak. At least fifty other persons sustained more or less serious injuries, and the recovery of three is doubtful. - The house of Bush Brown, on Hurricane Creek, three miles from McEwen, was destroyed by a heavy wind last night. Nashville, TN500 Weather Station RoadOld Hickory, TN 37138615-754-8500Comments? The town of Statesville, six miles from here, was struck last night by a tornado. Miss Jennie Kelso, Fayetteville; killed by live electric light wire. Two of the couple's sons were blown over a 20-foot bluff and into a nearby creek. FROM THE NASHVILLE AMERICAN, MAY 1 1909, PAGE 12, "PERHAPS FATALLY HURT": McEWEN, Tenn., April 30. In addition to those killed outright many were more or less seriously injured. Four-year-old child of Mr. and Mrs. R. H. Thompson, Totty's Bend. It eventually passed just south of Franklin causing eight deaths and eleven injuries. Web. One brick home was completely demolished. This massive tornado then passed into Lincoln County through the northern suburbs of Fayetteville before lifting northeast of Fayetteville. 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. 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. [2], The April 1909 outbreak was part of an active and deadly year nationally for tornadoes. C. H. 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BEE SPRING, Tenn. (WKRN) On April 29th and 30th in 1909, Middle Tennessee suffered its deadliest tornado outbreak in history. 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. One of the saddest stories took place at Leiper's Fork. The next place in Tennessee was the farm of Mrs. Kate Wall, where all the fences and outbuildings were blown away and considerable other damage wrought. It went on record as an F2 tornado. The house was completely torn to pieces. 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. 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. Mr. Brinkley's house was carried from its foundations, as was a newly completed house of J. FROM THE NASHVILLE AMERICAN, MAY 1 1909, PAGE 10, "AT WATERTOWN, TENN.". 6 Feb. 2021. Aftermath of deadly April 1909 tornado outbreak in Centerville, TN (Tennessee State Library & Archives) 62 people were killed in the outbreak, with 31 of them dying when a massive F4 tornado. But nowhere was the loss of life greater or the destruction of property more complete than in Giles County. Hardest-hit areas were in and around Pulaski, Bryson and Fayetteville. The plate glass show windows stood the shock, but a number of other smaller lights in the windows were broken. It was the deadliest known tornado outbreak to affect Tennessee until March 21, 1952, when 64 . 63 people lost their lives, and more than 200 were injured from. One son, Oscar, was hit by falling timbers and considerably bruised. 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. 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. 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. A large oak tree was lifted bodily and blown across it, crushing in the roof. It is thought that the dead and injured list will be increased by further reports. Another (not counted) indirect death occurred in Lincoln County due to a Miss Jennie Kelso interacting with a live electrical wire. The farm of James Welch, near Sango, was swept clean, every building on it being wrecked. And then coming through Bee Spring destroying homes and families and a local church here by the cemetery.. The Sixth District schoolhouse, of Rutherford County, was blown a distance of fifteen or twenty feet and left standing without showing any visible results of great damage. At least 695 . 30. The property loss cannot be estimated. A tornado destroyed a church and three homes. Weather.gov > Nashville, TN > April 29, 1909 Tornado Outbreak . These are some notable tornadoes, tornado outbreaks, and tornado outbreak sequences that have occurred in North America. Damage: 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 Besides the loss of property, which is now estimated at $100,000, seven known dead are reported, and injured. 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 barn of Dr. Neely, representative from this county, was blown away. In the end, this first tornado, an F3, cut a path 45-miles long through Hickman, Maury, and Williamson counties. 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. Two people were killed and 20 injured in that second storm. The timbers in front of the hotel were laid waste, some of which fell on the hotel, doing considerable damage to the building. Copyright 2023 Nexstar Media Inc. All rights reserved. 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. FROM THE NASHVILLE AMERICAN, MAY 2 1909, PAGE 4, section FOUR DEATHS IN MONTGOMERY: CLARKSVILLE, Tenn., May 1. - 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 poles were broken down and splintered and the wires were left in a tangled mass. A third son died two days later as a result of injuries sustained during the tornado. The cyclone wrecked the house and killed Mrs. McGrew and six children, while Mr. McGrew, a son and a baby escaped with serious injuries. "Death Toll in Ninety-five." 10-18-1909, p. 1. Two barns and one stable were wrecked, ,and his stock suffered considerably. Damage: Damage was noted 1 mile N of Franklin. The courthouse roof was blown off. A force of men from Scott and Morgan counties under the road overseers, cleared the road on May 3rd. A damage rating of at least F2 intensity seems likely based on the newspaper descriptions. Thousands of trees were downed and cattle were killed. 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 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 . 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. Today the people of Cookeville and Algood are applying themselves vigorously to removing the debris and repairing the damages and the fact that no one was killed dispels much of the gloom caused by the destruction of property. W. S. McLaurine's baby were also killed. The home of Mrs. Ward escaped any serious damage. Among those whose homes are wrecked are Postmaster C. H. Underhill, Asa Hickerson, Mrs. Lizzie McPherson and Jim Butler. A total of 22 people were killed in that area (Giles County), and seven near "Millville" (Lincoln County). The listing is U.S.-centric, with greater and more consistent information available for U.S. tornadoes. - 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. Besides the loss of property, which is now estimated at $100,000, seven known dead are reported, and injured. The tornado continued into Giles County where nine more people lost their lives. Franklin, Tenn., Apr. This would be typical of damage reports all along the storm route that night. 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. B. Thompson lives was blown across the street and his barn turned over, but his family was not hurt. A gulch just west of the town evidently broke the force so that no serious damage has resulted. A colored child on W. R. Anderson's farm was killed, making the fourth death so far reported. Mrs. Brown was seriously if not fatally injured. Mrs. Hughes' house was torn into kindling wood, but she was not at home at the time. 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. 11, had his skull fractured by falling timbers. In all there were 12 tornadoes that caused 62 fatalities in Middle Tennessee. Therefore a more accurate total of 6 deaths was used here, although the final number may have been even higher. 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 storm struck the county line just opposite Perryville, and traveled a northeast course, passing about five miles to the north of Linden. 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. 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. A special thanks to the Nashville National Weather Service office and Lead Forecaster Sam Shamburger for his research on this tornado outbreak. From the foot of the mountain, near Wonder Cave, half way to the top, two-thirds of the large trees are down. It was the deadliest known tornado outbreak to affect Tennessee until March 21, 1952, when 64 people died statewide. From almost every section of Tennessee are reports of fatalities and property loss, while Alabama, Arkansas, Kentucky, and even Indiana and Illinois report touches of the cyclone. 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). (Bud) Hardy, Mrs. Louie Gordon, who was living with her mother, Mrs. Eliza Wilkinson, was cut and bruised about the face and arm. 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. Robert Barnes and wife, near Fayetteville. Dickson was left to the right of the storm's pathway, and fortunately little damage was done here. His entire family was wiped out of existence. Large trees were torn and twisted from the roots, and in some places scarcely a tree was left uninjured in a whole forest. The homes of Mrs. John Brown and William McAdoo were blown down, and part of the home of B. M. Peebles was blown away. We interviewed our tech expert, Jaime Vazquez, to learn more about accessible smart home devices. - 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. Fortunately no one was killed, but several were wounded. Three other tornadoes killed four people in the Memphis coverage area, including in St. Francis and Lee Counties in Arkansas and Haywood County in Tennessee. Many Nolensville residents said it was the worst storm to ever strike there -- even worse than the notorious cyclone of 1900, which had cut a path only a few hundred yards wide. Their bodies were recovered the next morning at about daylight. FROM THE NASHVILLE AMERICAN, MAY 1 1909, PAGE 4, "DEKALB COUNTY": ALEXANDRIA, Tenn., April 30 - A destructive wind of high velocity accompanied with much lightning and the largest hail ever known here struck the section of the country from Statesville to Smith Fork, traveling east. M. Gilbert, 1909 Natural Disasters: 1909 Atlantic Hurricane Season, 1909 Earthquakes, Tornadoes Of 1909, Late-April 1909 Tornado Outbreak|LLC Books . Current Hazards. 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.