1957 — Dec 18, tornadoes, Jackson County/11, Jefferson & Perry Counties, 1 each2, IL– 13

— 13 Daily Gazette, Sterling-Rock Falls, IL. “Tornado Toll in Increased to 13.” 12-19-1957, p1.
— 13 NCDC/NOAA. Storm Events Database. Search Results Illinois, Tornado, 12-18-1957.
— 1 Jefferson County, 15:55
— 1 Perry County
–11 Jackson County
— 12 Grazulis. Significant Tornadoes 1680-1991. 1993, pp. 508, 1013.
— 1 Sunfield community, Perry County 16:35 F5 tornado
–10 Murphysboro [Jackson County] 16:45 F4 tornado
— 1 Sand Ridge [Jackson County] 16:45 F4 tornado

Narrative Information

Grazulis: “IL DEC 18, 1957 16:35 1k 6 inj 200y 5m F5 Perry [county] – Moved ENE at Sunfield. An entire community literally vanished as the Sunfield community was wiped out at the intersection of US-51 and hwy-154. A man was caught in the open and killed

Grazulis: “IL DEC 18, 1957 1645 llk 200inj 300y 30m F4. JACKSON/ WILLIAMSON/ FRANKLIN [counties]–This tornado followed very closely a section of the great Tri-state Tornado of March 18, 1925. It began a few miles WSW of Gorham and moved ENE at 60mph. All tornadoes this day moved very rapidly. The point of origin may have been in Missouri. Forty houses were damaged or destroyed in Gorham, but the most intense damage was at Murphysboro. Ten deaths occurred in the SE part of town, with one additional death at Sand Ridge. The F4 damage area was very small, and was in the area with most of the deaths, in the older section of town. The city was without electric power for nearly three days because most of the utilities were centered in the major damage area. Intermittent damage continued to the ENE in sections of Desoto, Hurst, Bush, and Plumfield. (Grazulis 1993, pp. 508, 1012-1013.)

Named Victims
Mt. Vernon Mt. Vernon Register News, IL. “1 Dead, 42 Hurt in Mt. V. Tornado.” 12-19-1957, 1.
1. Bradley Kent Copple, 4.
Murphysboro
1. Mrs. Martha Butcher UP. “List Murphysboro Tornado Victims.”
2. Donald Ray Butcher, 5, daughter of Martha “
3. Janey Denise Butcher, 3, daughter of Martha “
4. Mary Jean Butcher, 13, daughter of Martha “
5. Brenda Joyce Johnson, 12 “
6. Wendy Irene Johnson, 2, from injuries Dec 21. AP. “Murphysboro Toll Reaches 10.”
7. Mrs. Julia Marshall, 72 UP. “List Murphysboro Tornado Victims.”
8. Bobby Marshall, 2, grandson of Mrs. Marshall “
9. Mrs. Anna Minley, about 60
Sunfield
1. James Carter, operator of the Teacup Inn, intersection of US 51 and Route 154.

Sources

Associated Press. “Murphysboro Toll Reaches 10.” Clipping in Jen Narramore’s Tornado Talk website, posted 12-18-2019. Accessed 2-23-2023 at: https://www.tornadotalk.com/murphysboro-il-f4-tornado-december-18-1957/

Benton News (Kathy Kopshever), IL. “The 1957 Tornadoes: Sunfield Hard-Hit 55 Years Ago Today.” 12-18-2012 update. Accessed 2-23-2023 at: https://www.bentoneveningnews.com/article/20121218/news/701251135/

Daily Gazette, Sterling-Rock Falls, IL. “Tornado Toll in Increased to 13.” 12-19-1957, p1. Accessed 2-23-2023 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/sterling-daily-gazette-dec-19-1957-p-2/

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

Mt. Vernon Register News, IL. “1 Dead, 42 Hurt in Mt. V. Tornado.” 12-19-1957, 1. Accessed 2-23-2023 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/mount-vernon-register-news-dec-19-1957-p-1/

National Centers for Environmental Information/NOAA. Storm Events Database. Search Results Illinois, Tornado, 12-18-1957. Accessed 2-23-2023 at: https://www.ncdc.noaa.gov/stormevents/listevents.jsp?eventType=%28C%29+Tornado&beginDate_mm=12&beginDate_dd=18&beginDate_yyyy=1957&endDate_mm=12&endDate_dd=18&endDate_yyyy=1957&county=ALL&hailfilter=0.00&tornfilter=0&windfilter=000&sort=DT&submitbutton=Search&statefips=17%2CILLINOIS

National Climatic Data Center. Event Record Details, Tornado, Illinois, 18 Dec 1957. NCDC, NOAA, Department of Commerce. Accessed 2-4-2009 at:
http://www4.ncdc.noaa.gov/cgi-win/wwcgi.dll?wwevent~ShowEvent~28707

United Press. “List Murphysboro Tornado Victims.” Clipping in Jen Narramore’s Tornado Talk website, posted 12-18-2019. Accessed 2-23-2023 at: https://www.tornadotalk.com/murphysboro-il-f4-tornado-december-18-1957/