1965 — July 24, heavy rain and flash flooding, Northeast TN, esp. Clinchmore, TN — 7

— 7 UPI. “East Tennessee Flood Kills 7.” Kingsport Times, TN. 7-26-1965, p. 1.
— 6 ESSA, Weather Bureau. Storm Data, Vol. 7, No. 7, July 1965, p. 95.
–5 Clinchmore. Water sweeps home away; family of five killed.
–1 New Market. Water pours into home; child drowns.
–>5 UPI. “East Tennessee Flood Claims 5.” Kingsport Times-News, TN. 7-25-1965, 8-A.
–3 Clinchmore; James Byrge, 70s; eldest daughter; grandson, 13. (Two others missing.)
–1 Elk Creek near Jellico; Ruby Thurman, 8, slips into rain-swollen creek and drowns.
–1 New Market, Jefferson County. David Anthony Cooley, 6-months, in crib.

Narrative Information

Storm Data: “Northeast Tennessee…24-25…6 [killed]…Flash floods

“Heavy convection rains and thunderstorms dropped up to seven inches of water within 24-30 hour period in a band from Scott, Campbell and Claiborne Counties southward to Anderson, Knox and Jefferson Counties. Hardest hit was the community of Clinchmore, 20 miles north of Knoxville was swept away by a wall of water from a collapsed railroad trestle which dammed up debris and water across a mountain stream. The area, about three miles long and 100 to 200 yards wide, was completely leveled. Flash flooding also struck at New River, Scott County, Briceville and Lake City in Anderson County and Strawberry Plains in Jefferson County. A family of five were killed at Clinchmore when water swept away their home. At New Market in Jefferson County a child was reported to have drowned when water poured into the house. Many highways and bridges in the area were damaged or washed away.” (Environmental Science Services Administration, Weather Bureau. Storm Data, Vol. 7, No. 7, July 1965, p. 95.)

Newspapers

July 25, UPI: “La Follette, Tenn. (UPI) – At least five persons were known dead Saturday [July 24] as the Campbell County rescue squad scoured a nearby creek for the bodies of two others feared drowned in a flash flood which ripped through a three=county east Tennessee area.

“Rescue squad members recovered the body of James Byrge, a retired coal miner in his 70s, his eldest daughter and a 13-year-old grandson, but were still seeking another Byrge daughter and another child. Authorities said the missing victims lived in the home with Byrge in nearby Clinchmore, and the grandson must have been visiting when the raging waters destroyed the house.

“Other victims were:

“Eight-year-old Ruby Thurman of Toledo, Ohio, on vacation, who drowned when she slipped into rain-swollen Elk Creek near Jellico.

“Six-months-old David Anthony Cooley drowned in his crib at New Market in Jefferson County while his parents, Mr. and Mrs. James Cooley, slept nearby. A spokesman said the water rose so rapidly and silently that the Cooley’s were not awakened.” (United Press International. “East Tennessee Flood Claims 5.” Kingsport Times-News, TN. 7-25-1965, 8-A.)

July 26, UPI: “LaFollette, Tenn. (UPI) A flash flood which ripped through three East Tennessee counties Saturday claimed seven lives. The bodies of Mrs. Dorothy Tackett, 27, and Polly By7rge, 13, were recovered by the Campbell county Rescue Squad Sunday. They had been presumed dead since the raging waters destroyed the house in which they were staying in nearby Clinchmore. Earlier, rescue squad members recovered the bodies of James Byrge, 72, his daughter, Pauline Byrge, about 27, and Byrge’s three-year-old grandson, identified only as Tackett. Mrs. Tackett was the daughter of Byrge and the mother of the three-year-old child. Polly Byrge was the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Early Byrge.

“Other victims of the flood were: Eight-year-old Ruby Thurman of Toledo Ohio, on vacation, who drowned when she slipped into rain-swollen Elk Creek near Jellico. Six-months-old David Anthony Cooley, who drowned in his crib at New Market at Jefferson County while his parents, Mr. and Mrs. James Cooley, slept in a bed nearby….

“A Tennessee Valley Authority reporting station here said it recorded more than four inches of rain in the 12-hour period ending at 8 a.m. Saturday.

“High water also left widespread damage in Campbell and Jefferson County communities of Briceville, Lake City and Strawberry Plains. One Strawberry Plains resident said ‘at least 6 inches, possibly 8, fell here.’” (UPI. “East Tennessee Flood Kills 7.” Kingsport Times, TN. 7-26-1965, p. 1.)

Sources

Environmental Science Services Administration, Weather Bureau. Storm Data, Vol. 7, No. 7, July 1965. Accessed 5-30-2022 at: https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/pub/orders/IPS/IPS-6C25494A-4801-4A02-AC60-67BA24438803.pdf

United Press International. “East Tennessee Flood Claims 5.” Kingsport Times-News, TN. 7-25-1965, 8-A. Accessed 5-30-2022: https://newspaperarchive.com/kingsport-times-news-jul-25-1965-p-16/

UPI (United Press International). “East Tennessee Flood Kills 7.” Kingsport Times, TN. 7-26-1965, p. 1. Accessed 5-30-2022 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/kingsport-times-jul-26-1965-p-1/