The 1925 Tornado

March 18, 1925

Tornado Photo Gallery

Widely considered the most devastating and powerful tornado in American history, the Great Tri-State Tornado ripped through Missouri, Illinois, and Indiana on March 18, 1925. In its 219-mile-long wake it left four completely destroyed towns, six severely damaged ones, 15,000 destroyed homes, and 2,000 injured. Most significantly, 695 people were killed, a record for a single tornado. The Great Tri-State Tornado left a legacy that is evidenced by ghost towns, lost ancestors, and stories passed from generation to generation.

PRINCETON INDIANA THURSDAY, MARCH 19, 1925

Where The Twister Hit Hard

South Main street, following Wednesday's tornado, presented an almost unbelievable contrast in the short space of three or four blocks.
Three blocks south of the square evidence of the tornado's toll was still lacking. Here and there a tree was uprooted but the appearance was only that of 'a strong wind.
Three blocks more and the scene began to shift rapidly. In every home were one or several broken window panes. Here and there a whole row or trees lay flattened, many of them monarchs that had stood for many years.

Where Storm Hit

By the time the 900 and 1000 blocks were reached the full effects of the storm's fury came to light. Porches were blown from buildings, every window pane was broken and the west sides of buildings were covered with debris carried by the storm. Telephone poles were down in many cases making streets almost impassable.

Electric light wires leading into the south part of the city were cut immediately after the storm. It was a wise precaution, for wires in every sort of jumble covered sidewalks and streets.

Heinz Plant

The storage building of the Heinz plant was blown away and piles of tomato pulp in 5-gallon cans stood unprotected. The second story and roof of the main factory and the office building were a tangled mass.

Looking eastward, the Southern shops appeared to be a ruin. Familiar buildings were missing and the windows of other structures were gone.

Baldwin Heights consolidated grade school

Baldwin Heights Leveled

Baldwin Heights felt the full force of the tornado. Houses were either leveled or wrecked. The first rescue squads which first entered the houses found whole families, injured, lying about on the floor, many of them unconscious.
The new Heinz greenhouse was flattened on its foundations. Near it stood a harnessed horse, bruised and bleeding, awaiting its master. Aimlessly it wandered behind rescuers up the hill. Hours later in the night it was seen standing on the left side of a wrecked house, seeking shelter from a biting wind. Another homeless animal had joined it.

The 1925 Tornado was the
Deadliest tornado
The most deaths from one tornado in the United States is 695, on March 18, 1925 in Missouri, Illinois and Indiana. This tornado also ranks first as the tornado with the longest continuous track on the ground, 219 miles; first with a 3.5-hour continuous duration on the ground; first in total area of destruction, covering 164 square miles; first in dimensions, with the funnel sometimes exceeding one mile wide; and third in forward speed, reaching a maximum of 73 mph, while averaging 62 mph over its duration.

"Telephone and telegraph wires on the C. & E. I. railroad were blown down and the power lines of the traction line went down. On the railroad was an engine. Behind it lay its tender, on the side, overturned by the wind. For the most part, however, the line was clear and trains were running through with-in a few hours.

This American Eagle was carried 200 miles, by the Tornado on March 18, 1925, from the Ozark Mountains in south Missouri to Patoka Indiana. Its body was still warm when it was found.

Wing spread was 7' Ft. 4"

The Talon spread was 7 1/2 Ft. 

The Wilkinson grocery was unroofed and the whole new addition just south of the railroad wrecked. At the George McGilliard home concrete blocks almost lifted the basement but four pups escaped injury.
The Brokaw home was still standing but wrecked. The Ballard home was badly damaged.
The Oscar Spore barn about a mile south of Baldwin Heights, caught fire, one of the few blazes in the tornado's wake. It smoldered far into the night.

Loss of Life: 
Indiana 70
Missouri 13
Illinois 606
TOTAL 689

Injured:
Indiana 354
Missouri 63
Illinois 1,563,
TOTAL 1,980

Property Loss: 
Indiana $2,775,000
Missouri $564,000
Illinois $13,193,000

TOTAL: $16,532,000

Baldwin Heights consolidated grade school

Princeton IN, Genealogy, History
Gibson County, Princeton, Indiana