22 people were killed here in Giles County from this tornado. The listing is U.S.-centric, with greater and more consistent information available for U.S. tornadoes. After striking Nolensville, the storm moved into Rutherford County. The cyclone of the night of April 29th or morning of April 30th, did great damage near Rugby. John Lee's barn was blown over. More than 320 died in the twister barrage . Almost every dwelling was rendered unsafe. Only one member of this large family escaped unhurt. - The heaviest rainfall in years, accompanied by high winds, has fallen here since midnight last night. The 77 killer tornadoes recorded in the year 1909 marked an all-time yearly record for the number of killer tornadoes, a total that was only equaled in the year 1917. The old McGavock home is wrecked. The stock barn of Rural home Stock farm was torn to pieces, and there were many other houses, barns, and outhouses destroyed. 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. Mrs. Hughes' house was torn into kindling wood, but she was not at home at the time. But nowhere was the loss of life greater or the destruction of property more complete than in Giles County. It is reported that one man is dead, but his name cannot be ascertained. 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. 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. 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 WATERTOWN, Tenn., April 30. Wires all down everywhere and communication with the country cut off. J. Many narrow escaped from death are reported, but only one person is known to have been injured, an old lady, Mrs. Upchurch, but the extent of her injuries is not known FROM THE NASHVILLE AMERICAN, MAY 1 1909, PAGE 4, "SMYRNA IS STRUCK": SMYRNA, Tenn., April 30. Besides the loss of property, which is now estimated at $100,000, seven known dead are reported, and injured. 63 people lost their lives, and more than 200 were injured from a total of 12 tornadoes. At Walter Hill the residence of Mrs. Upchurch was totally destroyed and she herself was fatally injured. Dickson, Tenn., Apr. It then completely blew away Webb & Crawford's Planning Mills and the stock house of the Cookeville Roller Mills. The majority of the 34 deaths caused by this F4 tornado were in the residential areas of the east and south areas of the town. The home of the widow Speight was also destroyed. References National Weather Service. Andy Beshear said Saturday. Fayetteville was not in the pathway of the cyclone, but was near it. 30. SHAMBURGER (2016): Based on the narrative by Grazulis and the reports in the Nashville American, the path of this tornado was adjusted to begin on the Humphreys County border around 9 miles west of Dickson, pass between Tennessee City and Dickson, go through Charlotte, and end between Charlotte and Bellsburg. Representative M. E. Neely lost a valuable barn, as did Maj. B. Randolph, both of the Walter Hill neighborhood. The property loss will mount into the thousands. For several minutes it was as bright as the glare of a noonday sun with this setting, the wind terrific in force and volume halted at no obstacle, and in its path it left an imprint on everything it touched. All the houses there are damaged more or less, but no one was killed. Will Hudson, another farmer near Charlotte, lost his barn, and had several head of stock crippled by the storm. It next struck the farm of Judge B. C. Batts, near Sadlersville, blew down his barn, his shade trees and other valuable timber, striking next the farm of Jervy Grubbs, where it demolished his tobacco barn, fences and other buildings; then struck the farm of Tom Sanders and his residence, barns and other buildings were destroyed. There were also numerous reports of livestock killed by flying debris. W. C. Greer lost his large barn and two mail hacks. "Death Toll in Ninety-five." 10-18-1909, p. 1. Despite the significant damage, death and injuries, this tornado was not included in Grazulis' book Significant Tornadoes. It traveled through the Conway Community, destroying the local public school, Lancaster explained. 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 cyclone followed the course of Dog Creek, a small stream close to the springs, and followed it until it came to the mouth of the hollow, when it entered the hollow and laid waste everything in its path. A large number of cattle and hogs were killed and telephonic communication south of the town has been entirely cut off. You can see his full report here. However, the party living in this was away. Dickson was left to the right of the storm's pathway, and fortunately little damage was done here. Weather.gov > Nashville, TN > April 29, 1909 Tornado Outbreak . FROM THE NASHVILLE AMERICAN, May 1 1909, PAGE 4, "RUTHERFORD COUNTY. The cyclone wrecked the house and killed Mrs. McGrew and six children, while Mr. McGrew, a son and a baby escaped with serious injuries. A few barns and other outhouses were totally destroyed, and a dwelling occupied by Sol Bates, near Linden, was utterly demolished, several members of his family being more or less hurt and one child was killed. And five days later, Mrs. Marlin died from her injuries at a Nashville hospital. All of the buildings belong to the Fentress Coal & Coke Company. April 29, 1909 Tornado Outbreak. 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. One brick home was completely demolished. Damage: The cyclone struck Primm Springs, a summer resort in Hickman County, and devastated the country. 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. Tornado destroyed up to nine homes and hit buildings in. In town here a number of window panes were broken. Bob White's house was blown from its foundation. These pictures show the damage in Centerville in Hickman County where there were nine deaths and 32 injuries. This is only a partial report of the damage done sent in by telephone this morning. 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. - A terrific rain and wind storm swept this county last night and many reports of widespread damage and destruction are being received. The most terrible cyclone in the history of Giles County struck with great fury between 11 and 12 o'clock Thursday night. Bud Guffey, his wife, and two chidlren. Contributions may be sent direct to Mr. Young or to the Citizen and we will forward to the relief committee. and Mrs. W. S. McLaurine, Mrs. Ella King, widow of the late Mit King, collar bone broken, Hiram Usselton's baby, seriously, perhaps fatally hurt, George Hardy, son of T. J. GRAZULIS: Moved NE from 9 miles W of Dickson to Charlotte and on to Bellsburg. As the storm moved eastward, it cut a path into the Southall community, causing major damage and dealing additional death blows. ": Dickson, Tenn., Apr. 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. The most terrible cyclone in the history of Giles County struck with great fury between 11 and 12 o'clock Thursday night. This page was last edited on 12 March 2022, at 09:35. One of the saddest stories was of two brothers in the Hillsboro/Leipers Fork area who were blown over a 20-foot bluff and into a nearby creek, according to the Nashville American newspaper. 22 others lost their lives that fateful night across Middle Tennessee in tornadoes that struck Montgomery, Robertson, Rutherford, Wilson, Grundy, and Fentress Counties. Spawned by the same thunderstorm that produced the Charleston tornado family. 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. In Tennessee, the town of Locke was mostly destroyed by the first F3 tornado. Damage: All NOAA. The cyclone went from Primm's on to Centreville. If your child will play baseball or softball this spring, youll need to stock up on appropriate clothing and equipment. 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. Another tornado or downburst later struck near Monterey in eastern Putnam County, as the Nashville American reported "one of the worst wind storms in the history of the town" unroofed houses and barns, but the description of the damage is unclear whether a tornado or downburst was the cause. 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 house of Judge Lewis was also destroyed and several other houses damaged beyond repair. It is seldom our mountain country has such a cyclone. 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 is impossible to obtain details, as the wires are all down. It will amount to hundreds of thousands of dollars. Gibbons, of this place, was killed while eating. 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. FROM THE NASHVILLE AMERICAN, MAY 4 1909, PAGE 5, "THREE CHURCHES DESTROYED": ALEXANDRIA, Tenn., May 3. One negro family, Nancy Smith and two children lost their lives in the wreckage of their little home, and one of Till Bledsoe's children was killed. Will Ross Lackey, Jr., and Esq. It went on record as an F2 tornado. A family of tornadoes also affected later Hickman and Williamson Counties southwest of Nashville and later moved into Cookeville and Putnam Counties. At Trinity, about seven miles west of here, the damage is beyond description. 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. 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. FROM THE NASHVILLE AMERICAN, MAY 1 1909, PAGE 12, "PERHAPS FATALLY HURT": McEWEN, Tenn., April 30. These are some notable tornadoes, tornado outbreaks, and tornado outbreak sequences that have occurred in North America. It eventually passed just south of Franklin causing eight deaths and eleven injuries.