1931 Eureka Tornado History Shared

I recently found a file of tornado-related pictures dated Sept. 1, 1931, including a view of Lambert Field in 1930, the new Highway 66 Overpass at Rock City soon after, and many of houses damaged in the tornado. Calvin Couch's wife had set a dozen jars of canned peaches on a table in the house on the lot next to what is now . The house had some damage, but the jars of peaches were found unharmed on their tray in the backyard.

In one picture, John Claffey had a new ford Model A and had built a garage for it with a shed for his old buggy attached, and the car with little damage is sitting on top of the buggy.  

I think the Quinn place was behind what became Rock City after Highway 66 opened and one of the Heitman barns pictured was on the farm between the railroads and across what became Highway 66. 

The other barn was in downtown Eureka on land now owned by my brother Wm. F. "Bud" Weber. During the storm he was trying to separate our herd bull and the bull of our neighbor who had gotten together to have a storm of their own. Seeing the rest of the herd nearby between our old house and Times Beach react to the pressure of the storm and start to run in a large circle must have motivated me as for some reason — I began running in a circle also and ran out of my shorts!

My parents were visiting the home of my oldest brother's in-laws at the Brown Estate atop the hill toward Crescent when the storm hit the hill and blew apart. As the trees were bent low by the storm, they took shelter in the entrance canopy and made it through OK.

Just a little history you newcomers might not have heard. 

I find my memory is much better than Herman Cain and other politicians; and I have pictures to prove it. 

Enjoy, George