19 — 43

lornajarrettblanchard March 19, 1948

–43 Grazulis. Significant Tornadoes 1680-1991. 1993, p. 935.

Illinois (33)
–33 Madison County to Macoupin County, 6:30 am F4. Grazulis 1993, p. 935.
— 9 Fosterburg, Madison County.
–19 Bunker Hill, Macoupin County.
— 5 Gillespie, Macoupin County.

Kentucky ( 2)
— 2 Bracken County, 8 miles from Brookville, 2:00 pm F2. Grazulis 1993, p. 935.

Missouri ( 4)
— 4 Washington County to St. Francois County 6:15 am F4. Grazulis 1993, p. 935.

Ohio ( 4)
— 3 Van Wert, Allen, and Putnam counties, F2, Grazulis 1993, p. 935.
–2 Landeck, Allen County.
–1 Vaughnsville area (3 miles north of).
— 1 Coshocton County 6 pm, F3. (one mile south of Mohawk). Grazulis 1993, p. 935.

Narrative Information

Grazulis: “OH MAR 19, 1948 3k 17in…32m F2. VAN WERT/ALLEN/PUTNAM–Skipped ENE from Ohio City, to Landeck, to near Columbus Grove. Damage at an Ohio City cannery totaled $250,000. Two altar boys were killed in the destruction of the Catholic church at Landeck. The steeple fell into the church after the walls were torn away. One man died in the destruction of a barn 3m N of Vaughnsville. A later touchdown may have destroyed a 1000-foot-long barn, 2m E of Wayne in Wood County, killing thousands of ducks….

“MO MAR 19, 1948 0615 4k 38inj 400y 25m F4. WASHINGTON/ST.FRANCOIS—Moved NE from 5m SW of Belgrade, through that town, destroying at least eight homes. The deaths occurred there. In rural areas NE of Belgrade, farm animals were killed, homes and barns were torn apart, and furniture was “scattered for miles.” Another 50 homes were damaged or destroyed in the northern part of Bonne Terre, where 18 people were injured. $400,000.

“IL MAR 19, 1948 0630 33k 449inj 400y 28m F4. MADISON/MACOUPIN–Moved NE in the early morning from Alton, passing through and devastating the towns of Fosterburg (nine dead), Bunker Hill (19 dead), and Gillespie (five dead). The tornado destroyed 45 homes in Fosterburg, about half of the village. About 2000 buildings, or 80% of the town of Bunker Hill, was damaged or destroyed. About 250 homes were destroyed. Another 150 homes were damaged or destroyed at Gillespie. $3,600,000….

“KY MAR 19, 1948 1400 2k O inj 400y 10m F2. BRACKEN – A woman and her son were killed as a barn was leveled 8m from Brookville. $15,000….

“OH MAR 19, 1948 1800 lk 2inj 50y 5m F3. COSHOCTON – A farm was nearly leveled and a man was killed lm S of Mohawk, as this tornado moved NE from SW of Mohawk to near Warsaw. A small tornado may have been responsible for eight injuries in a school near Sandusky.” (Grazulis. Significant Tornadoes 1680-1991. 1993, p. 935.)

Sources

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

Schmidlin, Thomas W. and Jeanne Appelhans Schmidlin. Thunder in the Heartland: A Chronicle of Outstanding Weather Events in Ohio. Kent, OH: Kent State University Press, 1996.

State Journal Register, Springfield, IL. “Tornado blew away Bunker Hill 62 years ago.” 3-19-2010. Accessed 3-11-2020 at: https://www.sj-r.com/article/20100319/NEWS/303199899