Edit 4/26/2011: In 1967, Mindy’s family lived just up the street from us in the subdivision known as The Woodlands. Her brother Chris has his recollections of the tornado, along with an account written by his father in 1967, posted HERE. It is well worth your time to click on over there and give it a read. Note: The “Boy Scout Trail” Chris refers to was a path along a portion of the abandoned Palatine, Lake Zurich, and Wauconda Railroad. For a short time, the local Boy Scouts held campouts near the abandoned Lake Zurich station house, hence the name. The path was a shortcut from the Manor and the Woodlands subdivision to downtown Lake Zurich, which many of us used to circumvent the curfew and the requisite access-passes during the aftermath of the tornado. As kids, we experienced many good times along that trail; many of us used to hunt and camp in those woods and fish in the slough and Echo Lake. Alas, we were a brokenhearted group of kids when they extended Lions Drive the entire length of the trail and subdivided the area for houses.
................................
Edit 4/25/2011: The following photos of the 1967 Lake Zurich, Illinois tornado damage were generously contributed by Mindy Sherwood. Many thanks for sharing, Mindy!
Depending on your browser, you may be able to click on the photos for a larger view.
The view in the above photo looks like it is facing west down Miller Road, as seen from standing approximately halfway between Vista Road and Crescent Road (shown just to the left). I believe the blob of debris on the right is the rubble from the corner of the gymnasium / lunchroom portion of the Seth Paine Elementary school
The view in the above photo looks like it is facing northwest from Miller Road as seen from standing approximately halfway between Vista Road and Crescent Road, looking toward the remains of the Seth Paine Elementary School
..............................................................................
ORIGINAL BLOG-ENTRY TEXT:
I was a high school student back then. A scant few minutes after 5 PM forty-four years ago today, the small town I grew up in was hit by one of the many tornadoes that raked northern Illinois that same day. This tornado was not the stereotypical funnel that we have all seen in many photos and videos… it was a low, surprisingly fast moving, non-uniform, swirling black cloud looking much like dense smoke. As it mowed through our subdivision, I witnessed it ripping the Eisenhower era houses to shreds. Our house was among those spared by the storm, which demolished 75 and extensively damaged another 200 or so. It also destroyed the Seth Paine Grade School that was down the street from our house. A couple of days later, with the entire area still without electricity, natural gas, or water, the temperature dropped below freezing and we had about 3-inches of snow. For a good while, we all lived a primitive existence.
Click HERE and then click HERE to read some historic information in pdf files.
For many weeks now, I have tried to put my thoughts and recollections down about that day and the following recovery period but I keep freezing up when I sit down at the keyboard. I organize my thoughts each day but when I sit down to type, something akin to a melancholy sets in. Even after so many years, my memories are still vivid; perhaps I want the portraits in my mind to obey the inevitability of senescence and just fade away. For now, this entry will serve as a bookmark; I’ll fill in the blanks below when my moods allow.
...........................
23 comments:
I was little, but I remember it well. We lived near Midway, just north of Oak Lawn.
I was only six years old and lived in Lake Zurich when this tornado hit. I was the first to see it, out our large picture window. I called my Dad over and told him there was a fire in the woods, as it looked like smoke. Being from Kansas City, MO originally, he immediately recognized it as a tornado. My mother and father took us down to the bottom floor of our house. My brothers (ages 11 and 12) went into the crawl space while my father and mother lay on top of my sister (age 8) and I. Luckily, our house was spared, but I remember touring the neighborhood with my father, checking to see if our neighbors were okay. I cried when I saw that my school, Seth Paine, had been demolished. I vaguely remember spending the night in a hotel and our father having to get a pass from the authorities to return to our house. I have photos from that day. If I can figure out how to post them, I'll do that at a later time.
Hi Mindy,
Let me know if you post the photos online; I'd like to link this post to them. As an alternative, you could email them to me (my address is in my profile in the left sidebar of this site) and I can post them here with full credit to you. If there are any photos of the aftermath online, I have yet to find them.
We were all surprised at how much damage the tornado did to Seth Paine. It devastated the areas where we used to practice the "duck and cover" drills.
Thanks for stopping by,
Zack
Wow incredible pics. I was only 5 when it hit Lake Zurich, but I have only vague recollections of it. I lived off Pamela Rd a stone's throw from the lake. I do remember people hauling wood and debris around and then hearing that Seth Paine was hit. I never knew or saw the horrific effects of the tornado.
Awesome blog Zack. I was class of 79 in LZ high.
Hey there Oscar. It's nice to hear another voice from the old town. It was not a bad place to grow up.
Thanks for stopping by.
Thanks for sharing the information and pictures. My parents had just sold their house in Acorn Acres, and our family had moved to Mundelein. Because my dad was the builder, and the house was half destroyed, we were able to go over there so the new owner could consult with him. I'll never forget the destruction. You're right, it wasn't a bad place to grow up--in fact, it was a wonderful place to grow up. We've got great memories--boy, Lake Zurich sure has changed!
My name is Steve Holvay, I lived on Vista road from 1955 to 1966. We were in Mrs.Ullrich's class at Seth Paine 1960-61. I was gone by the time the Tornado hit but I know that my old house had minor damage & survives today remodeled. Hope everything in the Zacary family is o.k. including Jeff & Wayne.
Hey there Stephen! I drove by your old house just yesterday and was wondering how you were. Gosh it sure has been a long time. My brothers are all fine; thanks for asking. I'll let them know that you checked in at the blog. Hope all is well with you.
I neglected to mention that the old May Whitney school is now being razed. The late Mrs.Browne, our junior high social studies teacher said the cafeteria in that building was the safest place in all Lake Zurich in case of a tornado or worse an atomic bomb attack. I didn't think they would ever give up that fallout shelter. Isn't it costing 1/2 a million dollars to tear it down? To cange the subject I remember your mom used to call you by your middle name Allan. Or is it spelled with just one l ?
Heh! "Allen"
I still have relatives who know me by no other name.
Below is a url to a post I did regarding my Mom's habit of calling us by our middle names. It needs to be copied and pasted to the browser window since I don't know how to create a link in the comment section.
http://jamesazacharyjr.blogspot.com/2008/06/entry-for-june-05-2008.html
I had lived at Lake entereance to the Manor on PineTree Row - across from the Steinke's. We had moved to town just a few months before - the tornados were so bad that they made the news almost immediately - my grandparents lived in Indiana and they couldn't remember if we had just moved in or out...grandpa kept trying to call us but the operator wouldn't let his call in...they were so desperate for news that the operator finaly said she would let the call in but just for a quick minute..my mom answered and my grandpa asked if we were all ok and AS SOON as mom said yes, the operator disconnected the call...but my grandparents at least knew we were safe...bless her heart!! My dad was in the National Guard as well as several other men in LZ..Chief Prehm asked my dad to get the guys together and in uniform and they did security at all the enterances into the manor to keep people out..from that, my dad became a part-time policeman and the Ela Township Civil Defense Director. I remember when I finally got to see the damage, all that was left standing at many homes, was the plumbing pipes sticking up in the air...from that, I always tell people if you don't have a basement to stay in the bathroom and hug the toilet! It was a horrifying day and yet LZ was blessed that there were no deaths!!! I also remember that the next day we had 3 inches of snow!
My name is Dorene Roderick Farris. I remember the tornado well. I was at Seth Paine just about a half hour before it hit. We left because it started to rain! I barely got home and it hit. When we looked outside I couldn't believe what we saw. We had a car in our back yard that wasn't ours. Houses that were completely gone. People were walking around in shock as to what had just happened. My dad worked at Bell and Howell and did not know what had happened. I remembering using someones phone to call him and up until that time I hadn't cried. When I heard my dads voice, I started to cry and couldn't stop. I know they called our manor, the miracle manor because no one had died. Jean, I also remember houses where only the pipes sticking out and I, too tell people to get to their bathrooms. James (Allen), do you remember me? My mom and dad were best friends with yours. I think one of your brothers was named after my dad, Ray. I remember your parents well. I was in the same class as Jeff. Where is he now? Steven, you were my next door neighbor!! We moved in 1971 to Arkansas.
If I may borrow an oft used exclamation from my Mother’s lexicon, “Goodness sakes alive!” HELLO DOREEN! It is so great to hear from you! I remember you and your parents like it was yesterday. We moved from Chicago in 1956 and the first people I remember stopping over were your folks. If I recall correctly, Chico and Cokie were the names of the two Chihuahuas your mom owned. You have no idea how much all of us boys looked forward to your Mom bringing us bags of used comic books! Mom and Dad loved all of you so very much.
Just a couple of days ago I heard from Lee Hughes, one of your neighbors from down on Miller Road. His brother Don lives in Arizona and works for the governor’s office.
Our youngest brother, Ray (AKA “Brad”), still lives in the old house at Golf View and Vista. The rest of the brothers live in nearby towns. They will be thrilled to hear that you checked in.
Dad passed away on November 13, 2006, in his sleep at home. He had been fighting a bad heart for over 20-years. Following a series of strokes, Mom passed away less than a year later, under hospice care, at home, on September 30, 2007.
The manor is still pretty much the same (as is your former house), but you would not recognize much of the downtown Lake Zurich; they are making a mess of it trying to make it look modern. It has lost most of the landmarks and all of the small town charm.
Thanks for your recollections of the tornado, but most of all I want to thank you for checking in. Please keep in touch.
Best,
“Allen”
First of all, I can't believe you remembered the names of our dogs!!!Dad passed away in 1973 and mom in 1985, both of them had cancer.I remember mom saving those comic books for you boys. They loved you guys too. I've been married for almost 38 yrs. Have two boys and two grandsons and awaiting the arrival of a new baby girl at the end of May.
I've heard that I wouldn't recognize Lake Zurich. I guess where there was an open field in front of our house,there is now a row of houses. We were in Illinois about 2 yrs. ago but my family lives in Chicago and we didn't get a chance to go to LZ. My husband is into Sporting Clays and he is going to a tournament at the gun club near Grays Lake. Have you heard of it? I won't be able to go with him because I'm a school secretary and that will be our first week of school. I don't think they would let me off. Tell those brothers of yours I said "hi". I think about LZ quite often and all the friends I had there. Still keep in touch with some. Yes, I'd like to keep in touch!!
Dorene
Dave Jones here. I lived on Pine Tree row just down the street from Oscar, hi Oscar!
I remember we were in the grocery store in Wauconda when this thing hit. The power went out and they brought us flashlights so we could finish our shopping. On the drive home I remember the scared feeling as we passed the distruction.
Luckily our house which was a couple of blocks away was spared any damage.
We finished our kindergarten and first grade in trailers at May Whitney.
It took me years to get over the distruction, still all these years later I go outside and watch when a severe storm passes through.
Hi, My name is Mary Hall Smith, I was 7 yrs old when the tornado hit. I lived on the corner of Miller and Summit, 61 Miller Rd., I stumbled across your blog the other day as my co-workers and I were talking about tornados and of course I shared my story and thus found your website. I have a few but vivid memories of that day, my mom, brother Jim and myself were returning from Barrington from shopping at the Jewel, as we got into town we stopped at the IGA and some woman came out of the store and asked my mom if she was Mrs. Hall, she said yes and the woman said your house is gone. WOW! So immediately we went home and as we came down Vista rd past Elliots house, looked across the field on the right and indeed saw our house with no roof! I can still see that image in my mind as if it was yesterday. My oldest brother Greg was the only one home as the tornado hit. Him and Rhonda, our collie dog, had gone into the lower level of the house, no time to get into the crawlspace, but made it with only a few cuts and bruises. One of the amazing things was we still had phone service so my mom called her mom and dad that lived in Skokie to tell them what had happened and all were ok. Then we realized our shetland pony Toby was gone and his barn was no where to be found. I think someone found him in one of the fields around finally!I remember going into my house and everything was a mess. Glass all over, furniture broken and thrown around. I remember going up to my bedroom and seeing the sky as I looked up, the roof was really gone. Everything was wet and a mess. The only thing I remember I wanted to find was my rosary I got for my confirmation, (we went to St.Francis De Sales school)I found it and then realize our cat Black Jackie was no where to be found. She always like to sleep in the bathroom in the linen closet so I remember trying to open the bathroom door but was stuck, finally someone got the door open and there was the cat meowing very strangely. I must tell you that cat was never the same after that, she got real weird. Like so many residents we stayed at the hotel cottages in town. That was an experience in itself! Finally we got a trailer and lived in that in our back yard until our house was fixed. I know I will always remember this time in my life as every April 21st at 5:03 comes around. I don't remember you Zach but I am sure you probable knew my brothers Jim and Greg. I read the comments from the others that posted and was happy to read Doreen Rodricks post. I remember her very well. I think my brother Jim and her maybe liked each other anyway it was fun to read what she is doing now. Thank you for allowing us to share our experience of that day on your website, I currently live in Ozark Missouri. Married for 21 yrs with 3 children, just about to be empty nesters! Mom and dad have passed, Greg lives in Algonquin, Jim in Plainfield IL and my sister Jeri Ann lives in Lake of The Ozarks MO. The last time I was in LZ was about 7 yrs ago, my niece was married in Crystle Lake so I wanted my kids to see where I lived and was able to show them. I was disappointed to see homes built in Berlin's field and also the field between Summit and Vista. And of course there was no Boy Scout Trail any more! I keep in touch with my best friend Barb Stouffer, they lived next to us if you remember, she lives in Florida now. I better sign off now I could go on and on with my memories! Again thanks for your blog!
Hi Mary, I am very pleased that you stopped by to share your family's story. Yes, I do remember your brothers (and the pony!) and I do remember you running around outside, playing in the yard.
Could you ask Barb Stouffer if she has access to any of her father's old photos? He was an avid and talented photographer and if his photos of Lake Zurich still exist, they would be a historical treasure. Surprisingly how few old photos of Lake Zurich's 1950's and 1960's exist online.
Many thanks again!
Best,
Zack
Hi James and Mary,
This is Pat Elliott.
I was thinking about the storm today after there a mention on the local radio station.
I was over at Carol Kush's house watching TV when the strom came thru.
Hello Pat! Great to hear from ya. Wayne will be tickled that you popped in.
Hi Jim!
This is Joie Parks (your old neighbor).
I was just telling my granddaughter about the tornado that hit Lake Zurich in 1967. She said google it and see what comes up and here we are. Great pictures by the way. We were lucky up the hill on Vista Road, not like Northcrest, Miller, Rugby, etc. I remember Bill and Kevin in the golf course hiding in a ditch, my mom standing by the window doing dishes seeing a garage roof fly by before taking cover in a closet, and me trying to get home (it took 2 hours before they would let me in the manor)from work in Barrington. I will never forget that dark purple sky. Hope all is well with you and your family. Saw Wayne a few years back - was happy to see him. Thanks again for the great pictures so I could show my granddaughter. Take care.
Joie
Hi Joie! Goodness, it has been such a long time. Thanks for checking in! This blog entry has turned into a suprising reunion of neighbors.
Mindy Sherwood was kind enough to supply the photos. Most of us have misplaced those few photos that we took.
I'll tell everyone that you said "Hi."
This is Lisa Kerkera Hightower; I was 6 when the tornado hit. I didn't live in the Manor, but down the road from it, across from Breezewald Park on Old Rand Road. You could see the lake from my bedroom; and I remember seeing bad weather moving across the lake that day. I didn't know I was seeing a tornado.
I attended Seth Paine, too, and remember spending the rest of the year attending class at a church down the road from the house. I can't remember the name of the church for the life of me, now, but I always used to cut through the parking lot on the way to school when I ended up at May Whitney... and beyond.
Thanks for the reminder about the Boy Scout Trail. I *loved* adventuring down there before it was developed; there was some little lake I used to visit back there. (Don't tell me it was the slough, because I know it wasn't!)
My brothers (Greg, Derek Kerkera) still live in the area. I'm now in the tornado-riddled south (Arkansas), but whenever we have scares around here, I remember that tornado in '67.
Hi Lisa, thanks for stopping by.
I believe Echo Lake is what you visited from the old Boy Scout trail, and (I think) St. Peters was the name of the church you referred to. They demolished May Whitney school a year or more ago; kinda sad to see it go.
Best wishes,
Zack
Post a Comment