Jackson County IL Archives News.....REBUILDING [following March 1929 Tri-State Tornado] April 1, 1925 ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/il/ilfiles.htm ************************************************ File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Karima Allison quest@insightbb.com July 9, 2006, 4:06 pm Murphysboro Daily Independent April 1, 1925 A. BUTCHER, who lived at 619 North 15th Street and had his property badly damaged is at work remodeling his property. He says he will be larger and better than ever. J. B. GRACE who lived at 1516 Gartside street and conducted a grocery and meat market on Liberty street is coming back with a new store and dwelling house combined at 1516 Gartside street. He stated Tuesday that he would be ready for business in about ten days. W. A. BILDERBACK, who was near the center of destruction when it swept through Murphysboro March the 18th, and lost his beautiful home at 19th and Herbert streets, has not given up yet. Mr. BILDERBACK said "This is the second cyclone that I have been in. I am going to rebuild as soon as I can." Isaac MERRELL, colored, who lives at 724 North 17th street, will remodel his property soon. MERRELL says: "I have lived in Murphysboro 30 years and am satisfied with the place." E. YOUNGMAN, who conducts a blacksmith and wagon shop at 17th and Grace streets, is still on the job. The storm destroyed his shop, but he still has men doing his general repair work, while others are repairing the shop. Phil LEWIS at 1605 Grace street remarked Tuesday that he would rebuild soon. In fact he is going some improving now. Harve WHITSON, who lived at 1919 Gartside street, stated Tuesday that he had three pieces of property destroyed during the great twister that struck Murphysboro March 18th, and that he was going to rebuild as good or better than ever. Mobile & Ohio engineer Fred DEZONIA has reserved himself a seat on the Builders Bandwagon. He announced Wednesday that he had sold his Spruce Street property which was damaged by the cyclone to contractor Geo. SWAFFORD. He is now on the lookout for a desirable building lot on a quiet residential street and plans to build according to his own ideas of what a home should be. When seen by an Independent reporter Wednesday Mr. DEZONIA said "You can tell 'em all that I'm going to rebuild. I have several lots in view, and just as soon as I close a deal for one of them, I'm going to build a home for my family." Claude WISELY awarded contracts Tuesday for the construction of two new greenhouses each 200 feet long and 36 fee wide. Work on the buildings is to start at once and one of the stipulations is that they are to be completed in six weeks. Mr. WISELY suffered a heavy loss both by fire and tornado. The WISELY building on West Walnut street with its entire stock and book accounts was destroyed by fire following the tornado. "I'm rebuilding my greenhouses on a bigger scale than before, because I believe in a bigger and better Murphysboro" he said. Harry GEARHART of Grand Tower, who owned property that was destroyed at 1935 Elm Street, is rebuilding. It will only be a few days until his property will be good as new. A. S. ISOM, who had a beautiful brick home at 2008 Elm street, destroyed March 18, has built a lean-to at his place and will move in it in a few days. He expects to rebuild soon. Mrs. Ben DANIEL, who lost several pieces of valuable property on Logan street March 18, is preparing to rebuild. J. DUNN who lost his home, also his son Arthur, during the awful cyclone, at 2027 Elm street, has a body of men clearing away the wreck preparatory to rebuilding soon. Nathan BUTCHER will rebuild his beautiful home at 2006 Elm street soon. J. J. ZIMMER stated Wednesday that he would rebuild as soon or better than ever soon. Wilson DOWNEN who had his home destroyed at 2010 Elm street says he will rebuild. Robert NETHERCOTT photographer, how located at 4 South 10th street, stated to an Independent representative Wednesday, that he would build a modern bungalow to replace the one destroyed by the cyclone March 18. A. PIQUARD is planning on staying in Murphysboro. He expects to rebuild soon. Mrs. D. G. TEWKSBURY, 1512 Elm street, who was in Cleveland visiting her son, Carl TEWKSBURY, when the tornado struck Murphysboro, returned home Monday evening. The TEWKSBURY home was seriously damaged by the storm but Mr. TEWSBURY has his place in the hands of contractors and it is ready for occupancy. Henry BORGSMILLER, Sr., who was injured in the cyclone of March 18th, is improving nicely. He is at the home of his son, Herman BORGSMILLER, 1822 Division street. Additional Comments: 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. Transcribed by Mary Riseling from her grandfather, Dr. C. E. Riseling's collection of old newspapers. File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/il/jackson/newspapers/rebuildi24nnw.txt This file has been created by a form at http://www.genrecords.net/ilfiles/ File size: 5.5 Kb