Weiss Liquors Neon Sign - Damaged by Tornado

This sign appeard to have been severely damaged by the Mar. 3, 2020 tornado, as seen in this WTVF photo: ewscripps.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/96d9f75/2147483...

Main St. East Nashville (old U.S. 31E)

I loved how the sky looked on the day I took this photo. There were dark stormclouds in the sky, with the sun peaking through the clouds behind me to illuminate the sign. If you didn't notice it, there is a neon drop coming out of the jug. The second drip is on the R and then a splat.

37 Miles to Beautiful Rock City

This Rock City barn is located at the Ellis Homestead at Sequoyah Caverns. Clark Byers, who was the famous Rock City barn painter, later in life was hired to commercially operate the caverns. He painted ads for both tourist destinations on this barn.

I was last here in 2006. Since then, this barn has suffered some wind damage. I don't know this for certain, but I would imagine the storms that devestated parts of Alabama on April 27, 2011 did this damage. That storm was best known for the large Tornado that ripped through Tuscaloosa. It progressed later on Sand Mountain (past the house of one of my wife's relatives, about five miles from here) and kept going to Trenton, GA. You can easily see where parts of the roof were ripped off and deposited in the field.

ReLeaf Nashville Plaza - Centennial Park

14 years ago today was the day of the Nashville Tornado. Three years to the day later, this memorial in Centennial Park was dedicated. The only person to die in the tornado was at Centennial. The plaque reads:

ReLeaf Nashville replanted more than 6,500 shade trees in ten neighborhoods and fourteen city parks hit by tornadoes on April 16, 1998.

Newbern April 02, 2006 Tornado Memorial

Newbern is a city in Dyer County in West Tennessee. 6 years ago, the city was hit by a devastating tornado. This memorial is located in front of the train depot in Newbern, TN,

It reads:
For as long as the Train rolls by let the whistle sound the remembrance of these we love & miss.
(Then the 16 names are listed)
Along the railroad are 16 Dogwoods planted for each friend. Each tree greets visitors to a community who cares.

Wynnewood, after 2008 tornado damage

Tornados seem to hit Tennessee in the early part of the year. 4 years ago today, it hit one of Tennessee most important log buildings.

from Wikipedia:

Wynnewood, located in Castalian Springs, Sumner County, Tennessee, is the largest existing log structure in Tennessee. It was built in 1828 by A. R. Wynne, William Cage, and Stephen Roberts, to serve as a stagecoach inn for travelers between Nashville and Knoxville. In 1834, Wynne purchased his partners' shares in the property and moved into the inn with his family, where he resided until his death in 1893.

The building has since been placed on the National Register of Historic Places. It is open to the public and tours are available. On February 5, 2008, during the February 2008 tornado outbreak, Wynnewood suffered major damage to parts of the second story, roof, and trees on the property.

Recent Tonado Damage in Southwestern Virginia

From the huge tornado producing storms that hit the southeastern United States on April 27, 2011, One of those storms created an EF3 Tornado in Glade Spring, VA.



The tornado hit a lot full of truck trailers, crossed Interstate 81 near exit 29 and then went through a residential area. All of these photos were taken a couple of days later and shows what can be seen from the Interstate.

"The Day After"

Statue sponsored by Main Street Clarksville & The Leaf Chronicle. Sculpted by Scott Wise, October 2003. The Montgomery County Courthouse is in the background. Dedicated to the restoration following the 1999 tornado.

Montgomery County Courthouse - Clarksville

This is the 4th Courthouse to be built in Clarksville. It was constructed in 1879 for $100,000, and was placed in a location that was away from the town square. It was designed with Italianate and Victorian elements in a classical style and is topped with a tall clock tower.

This courthouse was built after a devestating fire turned the previous courthouse and much of the city was turned to rubble. On April 13, 1878, the fire started, which was aided by wind as well as the town's only fire engine broke down early. This fire wasn't fully out until another fire engine was sent by train from Nashville.

On March 12, 1900 another fire almost destroyed this courthouse. It was believed to have started in the southeast section of a flue in the office of the Circuit Court Clerk. By now, the town had learned its lesson and had better fire-fighting practices in place, which saved the building. Steel girders and beams in the ceiling were anchored in cement keeping the lower floor intact, although the roof and tower collapsed. After inspection, the remnants were deemed structurally sound and the building was rebuilt with a new clock and the soaring bronze eagle was reinstated in his aerie on the top.

On March 20, 1976, heavy winds caused the eagle on top to be blown off and it was feared to be lost but eventually found and reattached.

Disaster struck again on Jan. 22, 1999, when an F4 tornado struck downtown, crippling the courthouse and causing $74 million damage to the city. Sections of the roof and spires were ripped away, the clock tower was leveled and the east wall was collapsed. The eagle was never found. After considering building a new courthouse, city leaders decided to rebuild this one again. The exterior was rebuilt to look just like it had been and the interior was redesigned. A replicated tower and eagle was again placed on top. All repairs were completed in the fall of 2002.

How long will it last this time? Clarksville has a very storied past of disasters with fires, tornados and floods.