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Benton Centennial
1887 - Benton, Iowa - 1987
The Tornado and the Hail
Bad Weather at Benton
On May 23, 1981, a tornado touched down at Clarence BARKER'S farm and much damage was sustained. The large, new machine
shed (supposedly storm-proof) was totally destroyed; trees were up-rooed; sheds were destroyed; some damage to the home was
sustained. Much of the hay was sucked up and carried away. Clarence BARKER was in the machine shed, but escaped with only a
minor injury. The tornado then went east across the fields and struck the Merle BUTLER home. Trees were up-rooted and
windows were broken, then it blew away all porch furniture at Helen BLUNCK'S. At Blanche GOLLIDAY'S the tornado up-rooted
a good, old apple tree, tore off a section of her roof, knocked down the antenna, and damaged her porch. The tornado skipped
to the Odd Fellows Hall, broke out the windows, and then tore off the front of the Benton Jail. It then went to Dick
BARKER'S trailer, picked up the trailer, and dropped it, splitting the trailer in half. The tornado then went to the park
where beautiful, old Cottonwood trees, in which three generations of the "Benton kids" had carved their initials, were
totally destroyed. The tornado continued to the Howard NICKLES home were extensive damage was sustained; the roof of the
home, both chimneys, front porch, and deck were damaged. The house was twisted on its foundation and all the windows were
broken. All the out-buildings were destroyed; trees were up-rooted. Vi and Howard, hearing the tornado, managed to get
into the cave and escaped injury.
Tornado damage at Clarence BARKER'S farm, May 23, 1981
On Election Day, June, 1982, the year following the tornado, Benton was struck by a very severe hail storm. All the
windows in most of the homes were broken. The storm broke the windows in one side of the Community Hall, swept through
the building, and broke them out on the other side. Paint was stripped from the homes and buildings. All cars setting
outside were heavily damaged.
SOURCE: 1887 - Benton, Iowa Centennial - 1987. p. 124.
Courtesy of Mount Ayr Public Library, Mount Ayr IA
Transcriptions and notes by Sharon R. Becker, October of 2012
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