Readers Share Their Memories of the 1979 Tornado in Northern Connecticut

Following Patch's story Monday on the 37th anniversary of the devastating 1979 tornado that swept through north-central Connecticut, numerous readers shared their memories of that day via social media.

A partial listing of readers' comments follows:

• "I remember it well. Was home sick and saw the green sky and the sound of a freight train. Sounded like the nails were going to just pull away from the house. My dad worked at Choice Vend too and cars were just demolished on Rte. 75 area. Had friends at work that lost everything. One gentleman's house was still standing, but when they inspected it, the nails indeed had pulled away from the frame and it had to be torn down. Another lady at work lost her dog, who had been tied up to his dog house outside." - Lauren Buika
• "I was in it on a school bus at the ripe old age of 12. The bus engine cut out just up the hill from the light at Brown's Harvest. I have 8mm films of the damage taken along 75 by my Mom a few days later." - Janet Harbut
• "I was sitting at my desk, correcting papers and it got as black as night outside. The street lights came on. When it cleared and I headed home, I found trees across my road (Suffield). Some neighbors had used chainsaws to clear a path. When I got to the house, I found the electrical box had been torn off the house, but no other damage to the house. However, the tornado had pick up the end of our barn and moved it 3 feet, but then set it back down! We still had to tear that part down as there was no way to pick it back up and put it on the foundation." - Peggy Carney
• "My dad was the director of the Bradley Air Museum. Bad day. And my band was scheduled to play the Cloud 9 at the airport. Needless to say the gig was canceled!" - Glen O'Keefe
• "I was working at Montgomery Company. Ginny decided to take the kids (aged 3 years and 13 months) across town to McDonald's for a bite. She got onto Spring St. in Windsor Locks and a squirrel ran out in front of her and she hit it, killing it. She was so upset that she turned around and went home. Because she did, she wasn't there on Route 75 when the tornado hit. I've had a soft spot for squirrels ever since. Most winters I feed them. I honestly feel God sacrificed that squirrel to keep my family safe." - Gary Stephens
• "I returned from a business trip in Washington, DC to an off site parking lot on Route 75 to find my car damaged. Still count my blessings after seeing the bank building and hearing about the guy that was in or near it." - Bob Lyke
• "Was running late get to work at then Hamilton Standard or would have been in its path on Route 20. Guess was not my time!" - Sylvia Zimmer
• "My girls were stuck at school and we ended up going into the basement with the day care kids. Very scary!!" - Cecile Ouellette Hansen
• "All the cars in our parking lot at work were totaled and we lost the roof of the building." - Denise Perry
• "I was sitting in Mr. Andy's science class asking if a green sky was normal. Next thing he was telling everyone to get away from the windows." - Mary-Jo Bielecki

Video credit: Benjamin Snell via YouTube

Photo via YouTube