Remembering ….. 1965 Palm Sunday Tornado

It was 60 years ago on Palm Sunday, April 11, 1965 that a devastating a tornado outbreak occurred with 55 tornadoes tearing through six Midwestern states (Iowa, Wisconsin, Illinois, Indiana, Michigan and Ohio) causing widespread destruction and 271 deaths and 3,662 injuries. The tornadoes at that time were rated on the Fujita Scale, F0 – F5. The F4 tornadoes had wind speeds of 201-250 mph. In 2007, weather scientists began to use an Enhanced Fujita Scale, thus the EF rating that we hear about.

Photo from the Bluffton News-Banner showing the foundation of the James and Susan Harris residence. Susan Harris and her 9 year old daughter, Deborah were killed by flying debris when they were taking cover in a shallow well pit near the home. James Harris, the father and children Garry 8 and Dana 3 were visiting another home and all survived. It is believed that the tornado that went through Wells and Adams County that evening between 8:00 – 8:30pm was a F4 in intensity, with winds 201-250mph.

Pictured above is the Friends Church at Keystone where 12 members of the congregation survived by taking shelter under the church pews which you can see in the photo. The church was located across the road from the Harris residence.

This photo shows the destruction and debris around the Keystone Friends Church and the Harris residence. It was reported that 50 structures were destroyed in Wells County with the township figures being: Chester 26, Nottingham 20 and Jackson 4.

This photo shows the EUB Church at Linn Grove. Photo taken at the spot that the crumbled home trailer (seen next to the church) once stood. It was reported that 134 homes in Adams County were destroyed.

The article on the left tells what schools are in session and a report on damages to some of the schools. People who lived through the Palm Sunday event will remember being without electricity and telephone for several days. Indiana & Michigan Power reported that the tornadoes downed a total of 54 steel high-tension electric towers which distributed power throughout Northeast Indiana. Indiana & Michigan Power used two large wood poles with cross-bars as temporary towers at the locations to hold the heavy lines. In addition, it was reported that the Marion electric sub-station and the Linn Grove sub-station were destroyed. At the time, I & M reported that the likelihood of tornadoes taking out that many towers and substations was 1 in 800,000. The city of Bluffton had their own electric generating plant so things were more normal with the schools open and the hospital taking care of the injured. It was reported that the Decatur and Berne newspapers were printed in Bluffton that week since they were without power.

In Indiana on that Palm Sunday, 10 separate tornadoes were identified causing 137 deaths over 1,200 injuries. This is the first ever photograph of twin tornadoes. The photo was taken on Palm Sunday by Paul Huffman with the Elkhart Truth newspaper on highway U.S. 33 in Elkhart County.