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TORNADO HITS CHARLES CITY, ONE IS KILLED Twister in Floyd County Sweeps All in Path—Crops Ruined, Houses Destroyed, and Live Stock Killed. Charles City - (Special) -- Charles City was struck by a tornado between 5 and 6 o'clock yesterday afternoon. W. H. Beck, a prominent liveryman, aged 65, was instantly killed, and several others are probably fatally Injured. The storm started about ten miles southwest of town and continued in a northeasterly direction to a point a mile west of Charles City where its course was changed to the east. It struck the south part of the city, narrowly missing Charles City college. Three Blocks Destroyed. The tornado swept through three blocks of the residence district, demolishing everything in its path. The storm lifted a mile and half northwest of the city. The residence of a farmer named Huxall, eight miles southwest of town was the first building struck by the tornado. All the barns and out buildings were completely wrecked and the farmer and his family barely escaped with their lives. While the path of the twister, was not more than fifteen rods wide, yet its work was complete. All farm crops in its vicinity were ruined; livestock was killed; horses and cattle were carried great distances through mid air. The air was filled with flying debris. Telephone poles, farm houses and vehicles could be seen shooting through the air at terrific speed. Crops Ruined A deluge followed and whole fields were inundated. Hundreds of acres of corn along the Cedar River have been ruined and the damage to livestock will amount to thousands of dollars. The storm could be seen approaching from a distance and hundreds found safety in their cellars. It is a miracle that the loss of life was not greater. The houses struck in Charles City were principally frame structures, one and two stories in height. Many narrow escapes are reported. A farmer named Moofjorf, living at the edge of town, was badly injured by fling timbers. His house was complete wrecked. Children Hurt Two or three small stores were blown down and their contents scattered. Several children were nearly killed by a falling chimney. Two of them are in serious condition. By great good fortune the course of the tornado was through the most sparely settled district. Details are slowly coming in from the farming farmers. Most of them are cut off from the telephone communication and it will be some time before the amount of the damage can be correctly estimated. [Des Moines Daily News, Monday, June 8, 1908] |
The Charles City Tornado of May 15, 1968 On the afternoon of May 15, 1968, an F5 tornado moved through Butler, Chickasaw, Floyd, Franklin, and Howard Counties in northeast Iowa. The tornado moved northeast from north of Hansell, passing east of Aredale, west of Greene, east of Marble Rock, and devastating Charles City.  The tornado grew larger and more intense as it approached Charles City, striking the city at approximately 4:50 p.m. The huge tornado passed directly through town, destroying 337 homes and 1250 vehicles, and causing about $30 million in damage. Ironically, the tornado damaged 8 churches in town, but left the bars standing. Debris from Charles City was found as far away as LeRoy, Minnesota, nearly 35 miles to the north.  The tornado continued to the northeast hitting Elma, where it caused another $1.5 million in damage. From Elma the tornado turned to the north and dissipated south of Chester, 4 miles south of the Minnesota border. The tornado was on the ground for 65 miles, reaching a width of 400 yards. Nearly 2000 homes were damaged or destroyed. All 13 deaths occurred in Floyd County. 450 injuries were reported in Floyd County and 12 injuries in Howard County. [Above text from Iowa History Project on IAGenWeb] Deaths The following is a list of the individuals who died as a result of the May 15, 1968 tornado which struck Charles City and vicinity. 1. Murray Loomer 2. Sadie (Mrs. Raymond) Chambers 3. Harry Hall 4. Arthur Jacobs The Social Security Death Index says: ARTHUR JACOBS was born on 05 Jul 1885, and died May 1968, last residing at ZIP CODE 50616 (Charles City, Floyd, Iowa); SSN: 484-36-6554 issued in Iowa. 5. August Merten The Social Security Death Index says: AUGUST MERTEN was born 07 Oct 1900 and died May 1968 residing at 50616 (Charles City, Floyd, Iowa); SSN 484-36-6180 issued in Iowa. 6. May (Mrs. James) Gault 7. Lela (Mrs. Carl) Wolff 8. Florine (Mrs. Leland) Leach, 55 9. Tom Hall, 16 10. Marie Greenlees The Social Security Death Index says: MARIE GREENLEES was born on 27 Oct 1885, and died May 1968, last residing at ZIP CODE 50616 (Charles City, Floyd, Iowa); SSN: 479-30-6550 issued in Iowa. 11. John Kneisel The Social Security Death Index says: JOHN KNEISEL was born on 12 Aug 1878, and died 15 May 1968, last residing at ZIP CODE 50616 (Charles City, Floyd, Iowa); SSN: 482-32-8136 issued in Iowa. 12. Minnie (Mrs. John) Kneisel The Social Security Death Index says: MINNIE M. KNEISEL was born on 04 Jun 1885, and died 15 May 1968, last residing at ZIP CODE 50616 (Charles City, Floyd, Iowa); SSN: 478-66-6454 issued in Iowa. 13. Robert Stotts, 22 (U.N.I. student; not from Charles City) 14. Mrs. Virval Dawson, 45 RE: Iowa City Press-Citizen Iowa 1968-05-16 The Charles City Press has a blog where people can enter comments and life experiences regarding the tornado. Many of the comments entered there are interesting to read. |
