Freak Storm at Pleasant Plain 1925

WIGGINS, HODSON, MESSER

Posted By: Volunteer
Date: 5/7/2006 at 18:37:54

Davenport Democrat and Leader
Davenport, Scott, Iowa
June 3, 1925

RARE FREAKS BY THE STORM ARE REPORTED
Car Lifted Off Siding Placed on Main Track, 
Carried Three Miles
Special to the Democrat

Fairfield, Ia., June 3 - Pleasant Plain, 15 miles north of Fairfield, 15 miles north of Fairfield in Jefferson county, was badly hit by the storm of Monday evening, as the wind played the most freakish tricks and was accompanied by a terrific downpour of rain and some hail which was said to have been the size of hickory nuts. However the hail continued for a few seconds only and no great damage from it is reported. Small farm buildings were blown away, others unroofed, trees blown down, telephone and electric light wires were put out of commission, all with in a space of about 10 minutes.

An empty stock car standing on the side track of the Rock Island near the stock yards was picked up and nicely placed on the main track and blown almost to Brighton, three miles away. A train load of fruit approaching Pleasant Plain stopped three long enough for train men to clear away the wreckage of the company coal house which was blown on the tracks as the train came in. A large barn at the Fred Wiggins farm, near Pleasant Plain, was unroofed and the contents scattered. A garage at the Alson Hodson place in the town was blown over and the automobile it housed was completely wrecked.

At the Fred Messer home, four miles northeast of Fairfield, the wind picked up a heavy wire hay loader threw it over a wire fence and then as if that was not enough picked it up again and dashed it down, completely wrecking it. The loader was a large one and heavy made to fit a hay wagon.