I also have copies of some of the obituaries for these individuals, if you would like a copy, contact me. [6] More than 30 tornadoes occurred that day across Colorado, Kansas, Nebraska, and Iowa, including a violent tornado that killed 11 people near Arcadia, Nebraska. The main building's 3-foot (0.91m)-thick brick walls were reduced by three floors, and the landmark tower lost three stories. Ambulances from all over the city responded, but at first could not enter the disaster area as power lines were down. Citizens who had survived the 1953 tornado claimed this one to be much worse. One dissipated, but twin funnels headed southeast. The Flint Tornado and Worcester Tornado - June 8-9, 1953 - The last single tornado to kill over 100 people struck the north side of Flint, Mich. 115 were killed and 844 injured. At once the hill was swimming with helpful beings. tornado.[12]. The 25 Deadliest U.S. Tornadoes. Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Accessibility at GBH, Transparency in Coverage Cost-Sharing Disclosures. The 1953 Worcester tornado was an extremely powerful and destructive tornado that struck the city of Worcester, Massachusetts and surrounding areas on Tuesday, June 9, 1953. My Mom was there. At 4:25 p.m. it touched down in Petersham near the Quabbin Reservoir and continued to move to Barrie and Rutland, killing two people. The storm killed 116 people in the northern Flint suburb of Beecher, and injured 844. Licensed under Fair use via Wikipedia. Though it was still three hours before sunset, gloom as dark as night settled on the area. PDF | The management of weather disasters is an UNFINISHED PROJECT OF COMMON BOOK. Houses and bodies were blown into Lake Quinsigamond. The hardest-hit locations of the city included Assumption College (now Quinsigamond Community College). [7], Forecasters at the National Weather Service office in Boston believed that there was a possibility for tornado activity in the area, but decided not to include it in their forecast for the day in fear that they would cause panic among local citizens. Please enter your email address and we will send you an email with a reset password code. Becoming a Find a Grave member is fast, easy and FREE. "A lot of the leading businessmen, the presidents of the big companies, really opened their pockets and really opened up their hearts," she said. This was also when the tornadoes were established as some of the worst in American history. A 12-ton bus flew through the air. 44 cemeteries found within kilometers of your location will be saved to your photo volunteer list. ------------------------- And when we saw what had happened, we were sure it had.". In Westborough, farmer Jim Harvey still finds objects in his fields that were embedded during the storm. Becoming a Find a Grave member is fast, easy and FREE. [citation needed] After brushing Petersham (occasionally with twin funnels several hundred feet apart), the tornado tracked southeastwards and slammed into the rural towns of Barre and Rutland, with two fatalities occurring at each of these locations. The first-ever tornado warning in Massachusetts went out at 5:45 p.m., warning Boston of "isolated tornado activity" that evening. Rose didnt. Thanks for your help! His older sister June survived, having been thrown through the air on a door and fallen back to earth safely. Airborne debris was strewn eastward, reaching the Blue Hill Meteorological Observatory 35mi (56km) away, and even out over Massachusetts Bay and the Atlantic Ocean. tornado. The funnel was a full mile wide. Or it tossed around cars and mangled the people inside. The able-bodied uncovered the injured and carried them on stretchers made from doors or ironing boards. Yeah, I dont think my feet were on the floor, and I was able to hook onto a radiator pipe and thats where I laid until it was over.". Click here for instructions on how to enable JavaScript in your browser. More than 600 businesses, 850 homes and 2,000 cars were destroyed . Chittick, 2003. The Tornado first touched down west of Worcester And then the monster got loose. Still that wasnt the end of it. Pictures in the 1953 worcester tornado victims. Click here for instructions on how to enable JavaScript in your browser. The Worcester Tornado in Its Time: Panic and Recovery By Lianne Lajoie The city of Worcester, Massachusetts is located in central Massachusetts. It Shows the men as they tried to help the badly injured person onto a stretcher after the tornado ripped thru the city. Translation on Find a Grave is an ongoing project. To use this feature, use a newer browser. The worst tornado moved through Rutland, killing two. I'm sure he'd be happy to talk to anyone who would like any information. Search above to list available cemeteries. It traveled over 60 miles over the course of nearly an hour and half through Barre, Rutland, Holden and Shrewsbury. When survivors emerged from the wreckage, they viewed destruction so complete that many thought it was either a nuclear explosion or the apocalypse. "They still have a hard time talking about it, and its still like yesterday every time theres a bad storm. Some debris was found in the Atlantic Ocean. Jun 9, 1953: A separate. Please reset your password. Worcester was not spared. I was 7 yrs old and remember it like it happened yesterday. william schafer, there must be some one out there that worked at worcestr state hosp. He always tells us about the area after the tornado, as my daugher, his granddaughter, graduated from Anna Maria. Called "the White Hurricane," the storm Mass Moments is a project of Mass Humanities, whose mission is to support programs that use history, literature, philosophy, and the other humanities disciplines to enhance and improve civic life throughout the Commonwealth. Together, we can create a more connected and informed world. USA, Kennebunk, Hedge-hopping over the power lines I entered the area where a Worcester public bus had been hurled 40 or more feet and lay on its side. He was about to spend the next four years of his [], Snow Proves No Match For Worcesters St. Patricks Day Parade By: Kate Tattan After suffering a whopping 100-plus inches of snow this winter, Worcester kicked off its Annual Saint Patricks Day Parade with even [], By Benjamin George The abandoned area beneath a railroad bridge near downtown Worcester has recently been repurposed by the Central Massachusetts skating community into the kind of skate park that most skateboarders can only dream [], If the weather forecasters had been required to study New England storm records before being certified as meteorologists, they would have known about the areas tornadoes since the 1600s.They could have warned the public to stay in their cellars that day, thereby saving many lives. The funnel was a full mile wide. Just a hum that was so deafening and I didnt dare close my eyes because I thought if I close my eyes I am going to die.". The tornado picked up a 12-ton bus and slammed it against the Curtis Apartments, killing two and dropping the buildings blueprints in, in New Hampshire, and others caused minor damage in. "When I opened the door I was sucked right out, and flew down the hallway," Dion said. " In addition, seven other tornadoes across the region caused 449 more injuries and 26 more fatalities. Others tried to contain the fires that had broken out when downed power lines and open gas jets ignited. To use this feature, use a newer browser. USA, Holden, In fact, Worcester County is regarded as the most tornado-prone region of the northeastern United The tornado struck with little to no warning for residents as the decision to inform the public was debated over. Winds estimated at 317 to 327 mph scoured the paint off cars, plucked chickens clean, and sucked the clothing even the shoes off anyone unfortunate enough to be its path. The tornado had a path 40 miles long and up to 900 yards wide. The most intense damage occurred in a narrow, complex swath of multivortex damage which was generally about 300 yards wide. Richard Dion, a student there at the time, spoke with Conroy for the oral history project. The storm left 94 dead, 1,288 injured, 15,000 homeless and over $53,000,000 in property damage. Husbands and wives were found dead together, locked in a final embrace. [4] Charlie Gage and other Flint-Beecher area residents were instrumental in the placement of . The 1953 Tornado lasted for 84 minutes, traveling about 48 miles across central Massachusetts. Worcester County, Eddies mother suffered a fractured spine. He was a senator or congressman then I believe. On May 11, 1953, a destructive force tore through Waco and forever altered the face of the city. Worcester County, It was part of the Flint-Worcester tornado outbreak sequence, which occurred over a three-day period from June 69, 1953.The storm stayed on the ground for nearly 90 minutes, traveling 48 miles across Central Massachusetts. This browser does not support getting your location. USA, Kennebunk, Everywhere I went there were cries of "please help me." To use this feature, use a newer browser. At 5:08 p.m. the tornado entered Worcester, growing to a width of about 1 mile. Search above to list available cemeteries. The Paxton Inn opened and fed them all. Winds estimated at 317 to 327 mph scoured the paint off cars, plucked chickens clean, and sucked the clothing even the shoes off anyone unfortunate enough to be its path. City of Worcester Worcester 311 Monday - Friday 8 a.m. - 5 p.m. But the most lasting scars are in the memories of the survivors. Please complete the captcha to let us know you are a real person. For the baseball team, see. Massachusetts, Tornado of 1953 In 2003, to commemorate the 50 th anniversary of the June 9, 1953 tornado, Worcester Historical Museum reached out to the community and asked them to share their stories and images of this tragic date in Worcester's history where 94 people lost their lives. Deleting this Virtual Cemetery cannot be undone. You can always change this later in your Account settings. Resend Activation Email. I remember this..was in my yard and saw clouds coming with debris flying in the air and this was in Dorchester, mass. Please complete the captcha to let us know you are a real person. Furthermore, the tornados meteorological explanation was due after the event; many wondered how such a storm was possible in the New England region. 1953 Worcester Massachusetts Rescuers Try To Help Victim Of Tornado Press Photo You are offerding on an original press photo of Worcester Massachusetts Rescuers Try To Help Victim Of Tornado. His work can be heard regularly on 89.7 and seen on gbhnews.org. Ninety four lives were lost, thousands were injiired, 15,000 homeless and over 4,000 homes destroyed. [9], On the morning of June 9, the low pressure system had moved northeastward into Ontario near the south end of Hudson Bay. Photographs show whole streets swept clean, with only slabs and scattered debris left. But what happened in Worcester, was truly devastating. The next day, 115 people died in Flint, MI and 90 people died in Worcester, MA. Is it my imagination, or is that JFK in the picture shown regarding the tornado? 84 Minutes, 94 Lives: The Eyewitness Story of the Tornado with the Highest Winds Ever Recorded, by John M. O'Toole (Databooks, 1993). 44 cemeteries found in will be saved to your photo volunteer list. The memorials in this virtual cemetery are to honor those who died as a result of the tornado that swept through the towns of Petersham, Barre, Rutland, Holden, Worcester, West Boylston, Shrewsbury, and Westborough on Tuesday June 9, 1953. [5] It then moved through the western suburbs of Worcester, where 11 more people were killed.