At this time it is impossible to ascertain the damage and loss of life to stock; no lives so far reported. It was the deadliest known tornado outbreak to affect Tennessee until March 21, 1952, when 64 people died statewide. The home of the widow Speight was also destroyed. Fayetteville was not in the pathway of the cyclone, but was near it. Twenty-two others lost their lives that fateful night across Middle Tennessee in tornadoes that struck Montgomery, Robertson, Rutherford, Wilson, Grundy, and Fentress Counties. 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. 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. 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. A. Hickerson a house barn, buggies and fences. The tornado continued into Giles County where nine more people lost their lives. The tornado touched down just outside of Aspen Hills, just a few miles west of here. The Elk Cotton Mill was damaged about $5,000. 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. Mail service over Route No. Almost every dwelling was rendered unsafe. The listing is U.S.-centric, with greater and more consistent information available for U.S. tornadoes. Dickson was left to the right of the storm's pathway, and fortunately little damage was done here. The deadliest January tornadoes on record. 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. National Weather Service Ed Ragland's house was blown from its foundation. 1998 - 2023 Nexstar Media Inc. | All Rights Reserved. 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. J. D. Butler's house was damaged considerably, and the Methodist Church, South, had part of the roof blown away. North of Memphis, Tennessee, two F3 tornadoes killed a total of 22 from Crittenden County, Arkansas, to Carroll County, Tennessee. 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. B. Barnes'. The cyclone went from Primm's on to Centreville. All of the buildings belong to the Fentress Coal & Coke Company. Other F4 recorded were reported in Missouri near Golden, in Illinois near Texas City, and in south-central Tennessee near Bee Springs, just north of the Alabama state line. Bud Guffey, his wife, and two chidlren. 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. 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. Will McGrew's family consisted of ten. On March 21-22, there were 108 tornadoes that impacted several states most focused across Texas, Oklahoma, Mississippi and Alabama. If your child will play baseball or softball this spring, youll need to stock up on appropriate clothing and equipment. 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. If your child will play baseball or softball this spring, youll need to stock up on appropriate clothing and equipment. It will amount to hundreds of thousands of dollars. In Charlotte ten houses were completely wrecked, and thirty in addition were damaged more or less.
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. - The little town of Smyrna was close to the path of a terrific storm that swept through this section last night, causing much damage to property, and it was miraculous that no lives were lost. Although not specifically stated in the article, Mr. Henry Reed of Cross Roads died from his injuries per death certificate records. Mr. Marlin was badly injured, too, but he survived, along with an infant child, a 16-year old son, and two young daughters. - 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. 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. Their household effects are destroyed. A latter report comes in from Hillsboro, a small place northwest of here that several people had been killed, however, this is not authentic. Many Lives and Much Property Lost in Giles County. Coming into Robertson County the storm struck the barn of Mrs. Laban Warfield on the place occupied by Mr. Duff. The storm extended over many states inflicting damage on widely scattered communities from the Great Lakes to the Gulf. Besides the loss of property, which is now estimated at $100,000, seven known dead are reported, and injured. It is reported that one man is dead, but his name cannot be ascertained. Please Contact Us. 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. The storm seems to have entered the county from the southern side, passing between this place and Tennessee City. The total damage cannot be accurately stated, but it will go into the thousands of dollars in this section. - A terrific rain and wind storm swept this county last night and many reports of widespread damage and destruction are being received. Wires all down everywhere and communication with the country cut off. The horror of the storm was greatly increased especially were people were (sic) severely hurt by the darkness and torrents of rain, which followed. 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. 1998 - 2023 Nexstar Media Inc. | All Rights Reserved. The greatest damage was done in the Florence and Walter Hill sections. So one family that lived here in Bee Spring near the cemetery lost seven members of the family including the mother and six children. $150,000 damage. However, the party living in this was away. The Elk Cotton Mill was damaged about $5,000. 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. The cyclone wrecked the house and killed Mrs. McGrew and six children, while Mr. McGrew, a son and a baby escaped with serious injuries. The houses damaged were all unoccupied, except the one destroyed. When the tornado outbreak was over, at least 62 people had been killed across Middle Tennessee, and over 200 more were left injured. It began just before midnight and had destroyed three large sections of Zephyr by the early hours of the morning. Another strong tornado struck Franklin County near Decherd. Copyright 2023 Nexstar Media Inc. All rights reserved. Another one of Mr. Cox's sons sustained a broken leg and his wife is badly hurt. Tornado Outbreak of April 29, 1909 (The following newspaper article was transcribed from The Pulaski Citizen of May 6, 1909.) - The heaviest rainfall in years, accompanied by high winds, has fallen here since midnight last 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. National Weather Service. 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. 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. It traveled through the Conway Community, destroying the local public school, Lancaster explained. 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. Ten years ago today, the most prolific tornado outbreak on record swept across the southeastern United States. FROM THE WILLIAMSON HERALD NEWSPAPER: The second tornado that night struck at 11:15 p.m. about four miles southwest of Nolensville. Telephone lines are a mass of wires and poles. 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. One-half of the house where Attorney J. SHAMBURGER (2016): This tornado was not included in Grazulis' book Significant Tornadoes 1680-1991. W. C. Greer lost his large barn and two mail hacks. Affecting particularly the Mississippi and Tennessee Valleys, it killed over 150 people, 60 of them in the U.S. state of Tennessee alone. 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. Jack Pope's home was wrecked and he and his wife were killed. 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.
The lightning flashed incessantly, and all evidences indicated that a great storm was raging in the neighboring sections. Questions? At Bee Springs, five members of a family were killed in one home, and seven in another family died in a nearby home. after celebrating, Driver dead after Maryland tanker explosion, Ja Morant investigated by NBA after Instagram post, How NIL will affect local high school athletes, The right thing to do: College softball players, Forsberg, Giannis join Nashville SC ownership group, Ja Morant accused of making threatening statement, Arrest warrants issued for projected NFL draft pick. The storm seems to have entered the county from the southern side, passing between this place and Tennessee City. 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 latter report comes in from Hillsboro, a small place northwest of here that several people had been killed, however, this is not authentic. US Dept of Commerce - The windstorm in this county Thursday night was probably the worst in its history. 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. Homes were destroyed in Marion, Arkansas, resulting in five deaths in Arkansas. 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. Fayetteville, Tenn., April 30. It eventually passed just south of Franklin causing eight deaths and eleven injuries. J. M. Colston and wife, near Fayetteville. - The house of Bush Brown, on Hurricane Creek, three miles from McEwen, was destroyed by a heavy wind last night. Great injury was done forests. - 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. 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 . The village of Harms, five miles west of Fayetteville, was almost completely destroyed. At Leiper's Fork, in Williamson County, a mother and three children were killed in their home. A. C. Morgan's house was blown away and Mrs. Morgan was badly injured, but not fatally, it is thought. The cyclone struck Primm Springs, a summer resort in Hickman County, and devastated the country. Coming as it did near midnight, when the people generally were asleep, many barely escaped in their night clothes. The home of Tobe Cunningham stands directly between the two churches and has withstood both storms without any especial damage. A special thanks to the Nashville National Weather Service office and Lead Forecaster Sam Shamburger for his research on this tornado outbreak. Many tenant houses and barns were wrecked on different places. Eight-year-old boy of Paulina Farris, colored, Centreville. A gulch just west of the town evidently broke the force so that no serious damage has resulted. FROM THE NASHVILLE AMERICAN, MAY 2 1909, PAGE 5, "FALLING TIMBER": WILDER, Tenn., May 1. A tornado destroyed a church and three homes. 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. FROM THE NASHVILLE AMERICAN, MAY 1 1909, PAGE 10, FROM M'EWEN: M'EWEN, Tenn., April 30. There have been. B. Thompson lives was blown across the street and his barn turned over, but his family was not hurt. Miss Daisy Marshall received a few slight wounds. W. S. McLaurine's baby were also killed. The half-mile wide tornado moved across the Brewster Community causing two injuries (F2), then passed just south of Rugby into Scott County. Bob White's house was blown from its foundation. But for the fact that the country is hilly and in places thinly settled the destruction would have been even greater. One hundred trees were blown across the Rugby Pike, delaying the mails that day, for it was next to impossible to get through. FROM THE NASHVILLE AMERICAN, MAY 1 1909, PAGE 2, "OVER FIFTY HOUSES WRECKED. Damage:
The two main outbreaks alone were responsible for at least 145 of these tornadoes. "April 29, 1909 Tornado Outbreak." Undated. This is a list of significant tornadoes that have touched down in Maury County since 1900. It is thought that the dead and injured list will be increased by further reports. 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. 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. Reports from farmers are that crops will have to be planted over again. Here is an opportunity in my judgement, for an exhibition of true Christian benevolence. 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. 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 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. Here is information to know, understand and remember; The annual average number of tornadoes reported in Tennessee grew from 11.3 for the 20-year period of 1980-1999 to 18.1 for 2000-2019. Their bodies were recovered the next morning at about daylight. There were also numerous reports of livestock killed by flying debris. Tornado destroyed six homes at Moreland. Despite the significant damage, death and injuries, this tornado was not included in Grazulis' book Significant Tornadoes. Two of the couple's sons were blown over a 20-foot bluff and into a nearby creek. C. H. Underhill had a considerable loss, but it is covered by insurance. 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 old McGavock home is wrecked. It came from the northwest, traveling with great momentum. 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. 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. Two more people may have died in rural areas near Fayetteville. 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. Only one member of this large family escaped unhurt. NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WKRN) The deadliest tornado outbreak ever in Middle Tennessee struck the region from the evening hours of April 29, 1909, through the night and into the next day on April. -92-93 Daily Journal, Stevens Point, WI. 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. Elk River is higher than ever before. The loss in timber alone in this section was placed at $100,000. 1 could not continue on account of the wreckage of the roadways. Damage:
"Storm's Dead Total 93." 10-18-1909, p. 2. 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. Fayetteville, Tenn., April 30. Striking the residence of Prof. W. H. Hooks it blew away all of his residence except the kitchen, his stable, outbuildings and shade trees. It is thought that the dead and injured list will be increased by further reports. This tornado was almost certainly produced by the same supercell that spawned the even worse Giles/Lincoln County tornado just to the west. But for the fact that the country is hilly and in places thinly settled the destruction would have been even greater. 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. 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. Nashville, TN500 Weather Station RoadOld Hickory, TN 37138615-754-8500Comments? National Weather Service 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 Bee Spring Church was destroyed and many graves in the cemetery are the resting places of those killed that fateful day. April 29, 1909 Tornado Outbreak. Just like the previous storm, it caused widespread property damage. 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.
Four-year-old child of Mr. and Mrs. R. H. Thompson, Totty's Bend. NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WKRN) The deadliest tornado outbreak ever in Middle Tennessee struck the region from the evening hours of April 29, 1909, through the night and into the next day on April 30, 1909. This list does not include F0 events. Several other houses were blown down and a number of people injured. The Alex Mitchell family of five in Hillsboro was also reportedly all killed, but this could not be confirmed. A school was reportedly carried intact for two miles, touching the ground every 200-300 yards, leaving holes in the earth. GRAZULIS: The entire town of Statesville had severe downburst damage. The damage in town is slight compared with the country. One son, Oscar, was hit by falling timbers and considerably bruised. Robert Barnes and wife, near Fayetteville. 1909: A tornado moves the Algood Methodist Church off its foundation. The Bee Springs tornado touched down in northernmost Limestone County, Alabama, before crossing the into Lincoln and Giles Counties in Tennessee. 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. Affecting particularly the Mississippi and Tennessee Valleys, it killed over 150 people, 60 of them in the U.S. state of Tennessee alone. 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. 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 cyclone of the night of April 29th or morning of April 30th, did great damage near Rugby. Spawned by the same thunderstorm that produced the Charleston tornado family. - 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 most notable result was the destruction of the Web & Crawford Planing Mill. A damage rating of at least F2 intensity seems likely based on the newspaper descriptions.
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. Gibbons, of this place, was killed while eating. 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. 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. 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. 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. Current Hazards. 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. The property loss cannot be estimated. Mrs. Speight, one mile from Charlotte, suffered a severe loss. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration - This place was visited Thursday night about 1 o'clock by a cyclone traveling in a southeasterly direction. The cyclone went from Primm's on to Centreville. 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. 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. Damage:
This would be typical of damage reports all along the storm route that night. Fortunately no one was killed, but several were wounded. And those individuals are buried in the Bee Spring Cemetery that you see here today.. Only two houses were left standing. - This section was visited by a cyclone last night at 11 o'clock, leaving suffering and destruction in its path. FROM THE NASHVILLE AMERICAN, MAY 2 1909, PAGE 5, "PERRY COUNTY": LINDEN, Tenn., May 1. 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 plate glass show windows stood the shock, but a number of other smaller lights in the windows were broken. The tornado outbreak this week featured more than 400 tornado warnings and severe thunderstorm warnings that spanned nearly two-dozen states. Robert Barnes and wife, near Fayetteville. 22 others lost their lives that fateful night across Middle Tennessee in tornadoes that struck Montgomery, Robertson, Rutherford, Wilson, Grundy, and Fentress Counties. 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.
The house was completely torn to pieces. The poles were broken down and splintered and the wires were left in a tangled mass. 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.