Tornados
Easter Sunday, March 23, 1913 - Tornados in
Omaha & eastern Nebraska
Extensive Hub coverage. No storms here.
Two Tornados hit Kearney 100 years apart
Buffalo Tales May/June 2011
100 Years of Twisters:
A Photo Journal of the 1908 and 2008 Tornados
Compiled by Katherine Wielechowski
Funnel clouds were spotted between four and six pm on the evening of June 4,
1908
.
Funnel clouds were spotted around five pm on the evening of May 29, 2008
approaching Kearney with what would be the most destructive storm in recent
memory. It produced many tornadoes that caused extensive damage to homes and
businesses in and around Kearney.
Buffalo Tales Nov/Dec 2007
Winded: Kearney's Cyclone of 1908
By Heather Stauffer
[a summary of news articles about the June 6, 1908 tornado in Kearney]
From the Kearney Hub
In Kearney
June 5, 1908 Devastating Storms Visit Kearney and Vicinity
Traveled southeast to northwest, coming
across Platte about a mile east of Central Avenue.
Nine houses struck, 4 destroyed, 5 damaged
About a dozen barns partially or
completely destroyed
Storm started about 4 p.m. June 4th.
Six funnel clouds seen, heavy rain, hail
Water drawn into the air when twister crossed the Platte. People in
south Kearney watched it.
Places hit as storm moved from southeast to
northwest:
Elwood Jenkens residence new
house, barn, chicken house destroyed, chickens killed. Mrs. Jenkens &
children,2 & 4 mos. Were in the house which was lifted and carried some
distance. All were injured, but survived.
George Niles Took family to
a hole around the well. House was lifted off foundation and twisted. Parts
of farm wagon later found 3-4 blocks away. Also destroyed the barn
J. H Nichols Destroyed barn
and damaged house
Barney Overheiser Destroyed
barn and damaged house. Horse found unhurt a block away
John Wagner Mrs. Wagner in
house which turned over several times before landing in field west of the
yard. She crawled out and the wind blew the house completely away. She was
injured, partially paralyzed on one side.
Storm Crossed Central south of the courthouse
Raised over a group of houses at 13th & 2nd ave, taking off chimneys,
blowing out windows, and taking out several small barns
Mr. Parr Lifted house off
foundation and moved it 4 feet north, little damage [but how do you move it
back?]
D. C. Bond across the street
Small brick house. He eand wife went outside and hung on to trees. House and
barn destroyed. House roof landed near Kenwood school 500 feet north
A. P. Salgren 2 story brick
house partially torn own. Pictures on undamaged walls & ornaments on piano
undisturbed. Family had just gone next door to A. T. Anderson home. Barns
and chicken houses of both residences were damaged.
E. J. Woolworth barn
damaged. House lifted off brick foundation which fell into the cellar before
house was set back down on what was left of the foundation.
Sen. Norris Brown Some
windows blown out, roof damaged, trees uprooted.
Mrs. William Hecht Lost
shingles
Storm lifted at 8th Ave. & 7th St.
Worst damage to first three families who lost
all personal property.
Especially bad for Jenkens where everything
was new. Money for bee supplies which he had not had time to put in bank yet
could not be found.
First storm of this kind to hit Kearney.
Around Kearney:
Glenwood Another twister came out of
the clouds about 5 p.m. traveling northeast.
It
touched ground a short distance from the state Industrial School and
continued north and east to Glenwood Park where it lifted.
There was damage to the Roby elevator near Glenwood.
Later another cloud of wind moving from east barely missed the Blue Mill on
the Wood River east of Glenwood and moved west through L. S. Deets place and
then moved off northwest going through trees on the Wood River, and then
turned directly north.
About a half hour later a storm
dropped down a mile east and 11 ½ miles north of Glenwood Park moving west
over one farm place to hit the ground by the next one,
George Pooles, destroying the house & barn
but not the small outbuildings.
Three small children in the house were uninjured (one slightly bruised). The
parents and a son were outside unhitching a team of horses.
Amherst & towns up that direction heavy rain & hail
Two of the three main storms moved east to west instead of the usual west to
east.
Storms accompanied with hail and heavy rain
totaling about 3 inches. The hail caused little damage other than some
broken windows. They were, however, the largest ever known in the area being
8-12 in diameter.
Cyclone Committee organized immediately
June 6, 1908 Later Storm News
G. S. Frank farm - first hit, former
Schramm celery farm south of north channel, quarter mile east of Jenkens.
Hobart Swan took a picture. Showed portions of walls still standing and a
portion of contents undisturbed.
W. H. Cash farm south of
Kearney totally destroyed, all buildings, all animals except small dog
that crawled in well hole with Mrs. Cash, 2 daughters & grandson. Pump pipe
above them was twisted off Mr. Cash was in town.
Newark new $4,000 W. H
Householder almost completed farm house destroyed
Conductor Belnap Talks Conductor on the Kearney to Aurora passenger line
described the cyclones coming in droves or flocks. Saw three at Newark and
three more coming into Kearney.
Rest of county heavy rain & hail.
Pleasanton Heavy rain for
about 12 hours caused South Loup to flood. New iron bridge was high enough
and long enough it was not damaged and road stayed open. Another twister hit
east of town causing damage on 3 farms, no livestock killed or personal
injuries. Railroad track on the Pleasanton branch line washed out in four
places [but was repaired and reopened]
Three washouts on the other branch
Dannebrog Cyclone killed two
people.
Fairfield Clay county, had
30 homes damaged. Congregational & Christian churches were destroyed,
Baptist church and high school badly damaged. Livestock killed, crops
damaged
Geneva two killed and 2
others died of injuries.
Farming community 5 miles from Franklin 20 homes torn to pieces, one
farmer killed several other persons injured
Inavale & Chester damage
Lexington damage from high wind & downpour
Near Boelus in Howard County
farmer & wife killed, home & farm buildings destroyed
June 18, 1908 The belt where the cyclone went was being rapidly
rebuilt.
June 23, 1908 Where is the Country Club?
Seeking to organize but a meeting
scheduled for last Thursday was not held because of the cyclone.
Action was needed quickly because the canal would soon be turned on and the
lake would begin to fill. If any work was to be done on the shore for
boating and swimming facilities it needed to be done soon.
June 29, 1908
Garfield Township - Many light buildings were tossed about promiscuously
Monday evening during the heavy storm in this vicinity.
Glenwood Park F. G. Keens was
having a house built on a farm he was renting out there since the June 4
cyclone destroyed the other one.
July 4, 1908 Jay Parker has his new barn nearly done and he needs
it as the cyclone swiped the old one.
July 9, 1908 Cyclone committee was to meet on July13 to close their
work and all bills were requested to be presented by then.
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