–114 UP. “Pres. Eisenhower May Visit Worcester Tornado Area.” Lowell Sun, 6-11-1953, 1.

— 94 Brooks/Doswell. “Normalized Damage from Major Tornadoes…US: 1890-1999.” 2000.

— 94 Capecodtoday.com. Cape Cod History. “1953: Tornado Devastates Worcester…,” 6/9/10.

— 94 DeCosta-Klipa. “Remembering the deadly F4 tornado that ravaged Worcester.” 6-9-2017.

— 94 Grazulis. Significant Tornadoes 1680-1991. 1993, p. 974; Grazulis 2003, xvii, 974.

— 2 Barre.

— 9 Holden.

— 2 Rutland.

–12 Shrewsbury.

— 3 Southborough.

— 6 Westborough.

–60 Worcester (northern).

— 93 UP. “Search for Missing Continues Today…Tornado Area.” Lowell Sun, MA, 6-12-1953, 1.

— 90 Carbin, Schaefer, Edwards (SPC). The 15 Deadliest U.S. Tornado Days since 1950.

— 90 Levine, Mark. F5. 2007, p. 71.

— 90 Ludlum. The American Weather Book, 1982, pp. 107, 114-118, 129.

— 90 NOAA. The 25 Deadliest U.S. Tornadoes.

— 87 Evening Gazette, Worcester, MA. “87 Killed…In City’s Worst Disaster.” 6-10-1953, p. 1.

— 87 Worcester Telegram, MA. “Ike Allots $500,000.” 6-15-1953, p. 1.

— 86. Worcester Telegram. “Two Infants…New-Born, Raise Tornado Toll to 86.” 6-13-1953, 1.

Narrative Information

Capecodtoday.com: “On this day in 1953, Worcester County was devastated by the strongest tornado ever to hit New England. With winds close to 300 mph, the twister traveled 46 miles across the county, reaching its peak intensity in Worcester. Cinderblock and brick buildings were picked up and smashed to rubble. Ponds were sucked dry. A 12-ton bus flew through the air. The storm left 94 dead, 1,288 injured, 15,000 homeless and over $53,000,000 in property damage. When survivors emerged from the wreckage, they viewed destruction so complete that many thought it was either a nuclear explosion or the apocalypse. Fifty years later one survivor recalled, “We thought the world was coming to an end. And when we saw what had happened, we were sure it had”.” (Capecodtoday.com. Cape Cod History. “1953: Tornado Devastates Worcester…,” 06/09/2010.)

Grazulis: “MA JUN 9, 1953 1525 94k 1288inj 1000y 46m F4. WORCESTER—Touching down far to the east of the traditional “tornado alley” this massive tornado was the equal of even the largest western tornadoes. The “huge cone of black smoke” touched down in the town of Petersham, near the NE shore of the Quabbin Reservoir. The funnel rapidly intensified and moved to the SE at about 35mph through Barre (two dead), Rutland (two dead), Holden (nine dead), the north part of Worcester (60 dead), Shrewsbury (12 dead), Westborough (six dead) and Southborough (three dead). The long-accepted death toll of 90 was shown to be incorrect by John M. O’Toole in his 1993 book Tornado! 84 Minutes, 94 Lives. This detailed study of the Worcester disaster offers another piece of evidence that many, if not most, large death totals are in error. The path turned to the NE for the last few miles. Debris was carried eastward and dropped in the Boston area and out in the Atlantic Ocean. The destruction was enormous, and an F5 rating is probably appropriate. Many of the houses that were nearly leveled were two- or three-story tenement buildings, built with dozens of interior walls which would add considerable structural strength. About 4,000 buildings were either damaged or destroyed, hundreds of automobiles were tossed about, and thousands of trees were splintered. $52,143,000….” (Grazulis. Significant Tornadoes 1680-1991. 1993, p. 974.)

“…at Assumption College, two nuns and a priest were killed at the college library. The Worcester Tornado carried a huge amount of debris eastward. It was not just paper that was carried 30 or 40 miles. At the Blue Hill Observatory, 35 miles east of Worcester, the director recovered a French music box, a three-foot-square aluminum trap door, a two pound piece of roof, and a couch cover that was frozen solid. A piece of frozen mattress was recovered from Massachusetts Bay, near Weymouth.” (Grazulis. Significant Tornadoes 1680-1991. 1993, p. 975.)

Ludlum: “On the late afternoon of June 9, 1953, a massive tornado formation spread a path of death and destruction for a period of 75 minutes over the rural country and through the towns and cities of Worcester County. Yet its coming was unheralded, and the exact nature of the striking force was unknown to most of its victims. There was no public alert from weather forecasters of the possibility of a tornado, and, even after one had been spawned and commenced its destructive work, there were no warnings to communities ahead of the coming disaster until near the end. The weather bureau forecast issued at 11:30 that morning called for ‘Windy, partly cloudy, hot and humid, with thunderstorms, some locally severe, developing this afternoon.’ Some consideration had been given by the forecasters to the possibility of a tornado, in view of the occurrence of tornadoes the previous day in Michigan, but it was felt that ‘it can’t happen here.’ Even if a tornado alert or community warning had been issued, New Englanders were not ‘tornado conscious’ in 1953, just as they had not been ‘hurricane conscious’ in 1938….

“The Worcester County Tornado funnel first made contact with the ground a short distance west of Petersham about 4:25 p.m., E.D.T. Moving east through Petersham, then southeast, the tornado hit Rutland squarely along Main Street about 4:45 p.m. The track continued southeast parallel to Route 22 to Holden, where for the first time a heavily built-up and populated area came within its destructive sweep. Holden was hit at 5:05 p.m., and soon thereafter the track cut across the northern extremity of the city of Worcester and continued southeast into Shrewsbury. Here in the approximately ten miles from the center of Holden to the center of Shrewsbury the greatest damage occurred and the most people were killed. The tornado’s width expanded to almost a mile, with the southern edge of the damage zone about three miles north of the green in downtown Worcester.

“The tornado entered Shrewsbury about 5:18 p.m., missing the center of the business area by a fortunate, last-second swerve. After crossing the Worcester Turnpike (Route 9) at the junction with South Street (Route 140), it swerved again and took an eastward track. Westboro was struck a damaging blow at 5:30 p.m. Then the path curved northeast again crossing the Worcester Turnpike and running parallel to the present route of the Massachusetts Turnpike (Interstate 90). The little community of Fayville was smashed at 5:40 p.m., and then the path of destruction ceased, close to the southeast corner of Sudbury Reservoir, within easy sight of the Framingham Exchange on Route 90….

“There were three major funnels in central New England that afternoon. While the Worcester County funnel was losing energy, a tornado swept through Exeter, New Hampshire, doing some structural damage bur causing no injuries or fatalities. A third formed to the south of the main Worcester County funnel about 5:30 p.m. and pursued a 29-mile course during the next hour from Sutton to Mansfield. The three storms combined to take 94 lives, inflict over 400 major and 900 minor injuries, and destroy an estimated $53 million in property. At that time this damage figure was the highest for any tornadic occurrence in all American history.” (Ludlum. The American Weather Book, 1982, pp. 107, 114-118.)

Newspapers

June 10: “Tornado Toll Estimates

Dead, 87, may go to 120.

Injured, 800, may go to 1000.

Buildings destroyed or damaged, 4000.

Homeless, 15,000.

Worcester Damage, $36,000,000 to homes, automobiles and furnishings.

Total Damage, $45,000,000

Telephones knocked out, 7000.

Automobiles wrecked, 2000 in Worcester.

Communities hit: Worcester, Holden, Shrewsbury, Petersham, Barre, Rutland, Grafton,

Westboro, Wrentham, Southboro, Templeton and Paxton.

“The Worcester chapter of the American Red Cross made this estimate of damages in area communities:

“Worcester: 1000 homes demolished and 2000 requiring major repair at total damage of $14,000,000. Also $10,000,000 damage to industrial, governmental and educational buildings, 2000 cars, $2,000,000 damages; damages to furnishings in 5000 homes, $10,000,000 damage.

“Shrewsbury: Total damage to homes, destroyed or partially wrecked, $3,000,000.

“Holden: Same as Shrewsbury.

“Rutland: $1,000,000 damage to homes.

“A preliminary estimate of damage for the following towns was provided by State Department of Public Works engineers:

Westboro: $2,500,000.

Northboro: $1,000,000.

Southboro: $250,000.

Barre: $200,000.

“Alfred W. Smith, president of the Worcester County Electric Co., who surveyed the path of the tornado, said it inflicted damage in a belt from one quarter to one-half mile wide.” (Evening Gazette, Worcester, MA. “87 Killed, 800 Injured In City’s Worst Disaster.” 6-10-1953, p. 1.)

June 11: “More Than 100 of 114 Dead Already Identified; At Least 10,000 Homeless…June 11 (UP)–President Eisenhower today considered a plan to made a personal inspection of the Worcester, Mass. area–devastated Tuesday by a death-dealing tornado. Mr. Eisenhower early today designated the path of the New England twister and flooded portions of northwest Iowa[1] major disaster areas. The president’s action opened the door for federal relief funds for the two areas. White House sources…said Mr. Eisenhower had decided to visit the tornado ruins in Massachusetts, if he can fit such a trip into his busy week-end schedule….

“Gov. Christian A. Herter of Massachusetts wired the president, asking $10,000,000 in relief funds….” (United Press. “Pres. Eisenhower May Visit Worcester Tornado Area.” Lowell Sun, 6-11-1953, p. 1.)

June 11: “National Guardsmen patrolled the tornado-devastated Worcester area today to deter looters as weary rescue workers continued to search rubble for more possible victims.

“The death toll from Tuesday’s twister stood at 114 with many still missing. The injured numbered 1000 and 10,000 were homeless. Property damage was estimated conservatively at $75 million.

“More than 100 of the dead already have been identified. Worcester was the hardest hit with 78 dead. Holden and Shrewsbury each counted ten killed. Others were Westboro, six; Southboro, three; Barre and Rutland, two each, and one each in Sterling, Northboro and West Boylston.

“Power was still out in many areas, but repair crews worked around the clock. Telephone crews were rapidly reconnecting some 8500 disabled telephone lines.

“Quick action was assured in Washington on a resolution filed by U.S. Sen. Saltonstall (R) Mass. for $25 million in federal relief funds for the city of Worcester and the dozen stricken communities. Gov. Christian A. Herter, meanwhile, announced he would address a joint session of the Massachusetts legislature Friday to explain the needs of the ruined central Massachusetts area. He said he would follow his message on disaster relief with a second message early next week. This will deal with rehabilitation, but will not be submitted until a definite assessment of damages has been made….” (International News Service. “Worcester.” Lowell Sun, MA, 6-11-1953, p. 1.)

June 12: “Worcester, June 12 (UP)–The search for the missing continued today in the rubble left by Massachusetts’ $75,000,000 tornado as the city of Worcester set aside tomorrow for a day of mourning.

“The Red Cross set the death toll at 93 early today, bringing to 247 the combined death toll in the Massachusetts twister last Tuesday and Monday’s midwestern tornadoes. Tem persons were reported missing and feared lost in the ruins of homes and other buildings torn apart by the whirling column of debris-littered air.

“The Red Cross said some 350 storm victims remained hospitalized today and many were in critical condition. Estimating that 2657 families were homeless or suffered loss, the Red Cross also increased its allotment of relief funds from $100,000 to $250,000….” (UP. “Search for Missing Continues Today Throughout Tornado Area.” Lowell Sun, MA, 6-12-1953, p. 1.)

June 15: “President Eisenhower yesterday allotted $500,000 in disaster relief funds to tornado-blasted Central Massachusetts. More may be coming later, the President indicated. The President announced the allotment shortly before flying over Worcester, Shrewsbury and Holden for a look at tornado damage. While he flew over Worcester, state and city officials radioed him an appeal for 500 federal-owned house trailers. Among other major developments:

“1) Four house trailers arrived from Newport, R.I., at the Lincolnwood area. Twenty-six more are due from Newport today. Two hundred others are on the way from Wichita, Kans.

“2) Housing officials said trailer homes should also be set up in Shrewsbury and Holden.

“3) I was the first day in the six-day disaster period so far, that no one died of tornado injuries. The death toll stood at 87.

“4) Uncounted thousands of sightseeing motorists crawled into Worcester, jamming highways.

“5) Governor Herter paid his third visit to Worcester….”

(Worcester Telegram, MA. “Ike Allots $500,000.” 6-15-1953, p. 1.)

Sources

Brooks, Harold E. and Charles A Doswell III (NOAA/National Severe Storms Laboratory). “Normalized Damage from Major Tornadoes in the United States: 1890-1999.” Revised manuscript submitted as Note to Weather and Forecasting, Vol. 16, 9 p., Sep 2000. Accessed 11-25-2017 at: http://www.nssl.noaa.gov/users/brooks/public_html/damage/tdam1.html

Capecodtoday.com. Cape Cod History. “1953: Tornado Devastates Worcester…,” 6-9-2010. Accessed at: http://www.capecodtoday.com/blogs/index.php?blog=161&paged=5

Carbin, Greg, Joe Schaefer, Roger Edwards. The 15 Deadliest U.S. Tornado Days since 1950. Storm Prediction Center, NOAA. 10-12-2009 at: http://www.spc.noaa.gov/faq//tornado/fatalday.htm

DeCosta-Klipa, Nik. “Remembering the deadly F4 tornado that ravaged Worcester.” Boston.com, 6-9-2017. Accessed 5-15-2019 at: https://www.boston.com/news/history/2017/06/09/remembering-the-tornado-that-ravaged-worcester

Evening Gazette, Worcester, MA. “87 Killed, 800 Injured In City’s Worst Disaster.” 6-10-1953, p. 1. Accessed 5-15-2019 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/worcester-evening-gazette-jun-10-1953-p-1/

Grazulis, Thomas P. Significant Tornadoes 1680-1991: A Chronology and Analysis of Events. St. Johnsbury, VE: Environmental Films, 1993, 1,326 pages.

Grazulis, Thomas P. and Dan Flores. The Tornado: Nature’s Ultimate Windstorm. Norman: University of Oklahoma Press, Feb 2003, 304 pages. Partially digitized by Google. Accessed at: http://books.google.com/books?id=3zEYILW2MJIC&dq=1920+Palm+Sunday+Tornado+outbreak&lr=&source=gbs_summary_s&cad=0

International News Service. “Worcester.” Lowell Sun, MA, 6-11-1953, p. 1. Accessed 5-15-2019 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/lowell-sun-jun-11-1953-p-1/

Levine, Mark. F5: Devastation, Survival, and the Most Violent Tornado Outbreak of the Twentieth Century. New York: Miramax Books, 2007.

Ludlum, David M. The American Weather Book. Boston: Houghton Mifflin Co., 1982.

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. The 25 Deadliest U.S. Tornadoes. Storm Prediction Center, NOAA. Accessed 10-12-2008 at: http://www.spc.noaa.gov/faq/tornado/killers.html

United Press. “Pres. Eisenhower May Visit Worcester Tornado Area.” Lowell Sun, 6-11-1953, p. 1. Accessed 5-15-2019 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/lowell-sun-jun-11-1953-p-1/

United Press. “Search for Missing Continues Today Throughout Tornado Area.” Lowell Sun, MA, 6-12-1953, p. 1. Accessed 5-15-2019 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/lowell-sun-jun-12-1953-p-36/

Worcester Telegram, MA. “Ike Allots $500,000.” 6-15-1953, p. 1. Accessed 5-15-2019 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/worcester-telegram-jun-15-1953-p-1/

Worcester Telegram, MA. “Two Infants, One New-Born, Raise Tornado Toll to 86.” 6-13-1953, p. 1. Accessed 5-15-2019 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/worcester-telegram-jun-13-1953-p-1/

[1] Probably a reference to the June 8 Floyd River flood in Sioux City, which killed 14 people.

1953 — June 9, MA F4 Tornado; Worcester/60, Holden/9, Shrewsbury/12, Westborough/6– 94