Sunday, September 27, 2009

Tupelo tornado

Here's another photograph found in Ma Davis's trunk: a picture of the aftermath of the tornado that hit Tupelo on a Sunday evening in 1936. This tornado is said to be the fourth deadliest tornado in U.S. history, killing over 200 people and injuring 700 when it struck Tupelo around 9 o'clock the night of April 5th. Residential areas were hardest hit as the tornado skipped over Tupelo's downtown business district. At least one-third of the city's homes were destroyed. The tornado hit the Bissell community prior to its touchdown in west Tupelo, and after leaving a path of destruction it picked up and re-landed in the Auburn community.

Who took this photograph or why it was kept by Queenie Clayton Davis is not known. Click on the photo for a larger view.

1 comment:

Kay Garriott said...

My great grandmother Lydia Kennedy Stone was killed in that tornado on April 5th 1936. My father said that only the foundation was left and her remains were never found. My great grandfather was out of town at the time so he was spared. My father was only 3 yrs old at the time and he still has vivid memories of it to this day.