Copyright USGenNet Inc., 2022 All Rights Reserved USGenNet Data Repository Please read USGenNet Copyright Statement on this page: Transcribed and submitted by Linda Talbott for the USGenNet Data Repository http://www.us-data.org/ =========================================================================== Formatted by USGenNet Data Repository Chief Archivist, Linda Talbott All of the above information must remain when copied or downloaded. =========================================================================== The Nevada Daily Mail Nevada, MO Monday, June 19, 1939 TORNADO KILLS NINE AND INURES SIXTY; MANY HOMES LEVELED Seven Towns Near Minneapolis Were Struck - Town of Anoka Hardest Hit, Six Blocks Being Demolished. (By the Associated Press) Minneapolis, June 19. - A tornado that howled across 25 miles of countryside near hear Sunday killed nine persons injured upwards of 60 and wrecked an estimated $500,000 worth of property. The death list, first placed at 10, was re- duced today when a man officials had listed among the dead when he could not be found showed up at his home. The national guard, meanwhile, set up a refugee encampment to provide food and shelter for those whose homes were wiped out by the storm, and guardsmen and volunteers poked about in the wreckage seeking possible undiscovered victims. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - (By the Associated Press) Minneapolis, June 19. - A tornado, generating out of a sultry afternoon, roared across a 25-mile long area west and north of here in the Anoka vici- nity yesterday, killing ten persons, injuring more than sixty and destroying upwards of 100 farm houses and other buildings. The known dead: Mrs. ANNA FREEMAN, 76, Minneapolis Miss ELLEN FREEMAN, Minneapolis Mr. and Mrs. JAMES BRADLEY, Minneapolis H. G. GROAT, 95, Anoka LEO KIDD, 25, Anoka E. SYRING, Osseo FRED ZIMMERMAN, 75, Champlin EDWARD MARRISSETTE, Anoka, WPA worker WALTER ISRAEL, 28, Anoka Seven towns, Corcoran, Maple Grove, Champlin, Anoka, Cedar, St. Francis and Bethel, lay in the path of the tornado, which rushed out of the southwest, but the principal damage occurred at Anoka, a town of about 5,000, where the wind cut a swath two blocks wide. Forty to fifty houses were destroyed at Anoka as well as a church, armory, a large store and garage. At Cedar, a church, creamery, schoolhouse and three homes were flattened. Damage in the other towns was less. In the country- side many farm homes, barns and other buildings were demolished. The national guard quickly took command and nurses and doctors brought from the Twin Cities, worked by candlelight to minister to the injured. Speeding home after an outing, Mrs. FREEMAN, her son-in-law and daughter, Mr. and Mrs. BRADLEY, and another daughter, ELLEN FREEMAN, ran head-on into the tornado, which whipped their machine through the air for several hundred yards, killing them all. GROUT'S house was flattened and he and an unidenti- fied man died beneath it. Fishing on a river band near his house, ZIMMERMAN was whirled 175 yards through the air to his death. Dipping with deadly force out of the southwest, the storm first cracked across an area near Corcoran, several miles northwest of here. It was there that Mrs. FREEMAN and her family died. Rising freakishly, the tornado streaked on a huge "U" course toward Anoka, where it struck earthward again. Six blocks of Third street in Anoka were leveled. MIKE SCHOMMER and his family of seven heard the storm and dashed to their basement. The TOM DORR farm, near Anoka, was struck, the house shoved off its foundation and ROY BARNES, standing in the farmyard, was hurled 100 feet. He suffered leg and head injuries. Sitting in his car talking to FRANK SAUSIER, RICHARD KARSTAD 28, suffered a skull fracture as the wind bent the machine double about a tree. SAUSIER escaped uninjured. The city hospital at Anoka treated forty-four per- sons for broken arms and legs and less severe injuries. Twelve men were brought to Minneapolis hospitals and seven to St. Paul. ==========================================================================