DAR to commemorate Coatesville tornado this Sunday

One of the most devastating tornadoes to hit the area, the 1948 Coatesville Tornado left quite a path of destruction, inflicting destruction in the western Hendricks County town and also damaging more than 40 Putnam County farms.

Courtesy photo

COATESVILLE — March 26, 1948: 5:23 p.m.

In less than two minutes, 14 people were killed.

This Sunday will mark the 75th anniversary of the Coatesville tornado.

Fillmore resident Sharon Ellett grew up with the ever-present fear and additional parental caution of wind and sudden storms. Although a baby at the time, Ellett lost five members of her family, including her paternal grandparents, by the tornado that decimated Coatesville on March 26, 1948. Many others from her family were injured and sent to hospitals in the aftermath.

A Washburn Chapter DAR member and family historian, Ellett often wondered about her grandparents. However, when she asked questions, such as “What did Grandma cook for Christmas dinner?” it would bring on tears and sadness by the adults in her family who would never forget that day and all they lost.

Ellett has spearheaded a commemorative event to remember the victims and the survivors of the Coatesville Tornado. She has asked area churches to say a prayer or have a moment of silence during their Sunday morning worship service to mark the occasion.

At 5:23 p.m., the Coatesville Missionary Baptist Church chimes will resonate with “Amazing Grace.” A wreath will be placed on the memorial at the corner of Milton and Hadley and church bells will toll 14 times in remembrance of the 14 who died that day.

The dead at Coatesville included Richard Ellett, Wayne Beaman, Julia Lawrence, Frank Ellett, Lottie (Hall) Ellett, Perry Knight, Frank Grimes, Wayne Pursell and wife Muriel Goodman Pursell, Russell White, Harry Rumley, Janice Coffee, Victor Wise (died of heart attack upon learning of grandson’s death) and Harry Britton of Crawfordsville, a salesman.

The death toll spread beyond Coatesville with Donald Howard and Jesse Dooley dying at Danville, as well as Grace Hadley and Harley Hartsaw at Hadley.

Those injured in area hospitals included:

At Robert Long Hospital, Indianapolis: Fern Cline, Fannie Mark, Flossie Marley, Mrs. Charles West, Maude Wood, Earl Wallace, Riley Sacre, Orena Cummins and Lois Pennington.

At Methodist Hospital, Indianapolis: Anna Stewart; Rose Edwards; Kenneth Jenkins, baby (14 months old), his daughter and Mrs. Jenkins; Atlas Phillips; Howard Davis; George Masten; Elvin Stewart; Helen Lininger; and Daisy Boal.

At Putnam County Hospital: Ruth Marley, Herschel Greenlee, Russell Siddons, Frankie Ellett, Shirley Masten, Dorcas Cline, Rose White, Annett Lawrence, Lawrence Acton, Gail (O’Hair) Robinson, Mrs. Austin, Mrs. Cox, Bert Wallace and Max Dillon.

At St. Vincent Hospital, Indianapolis: James Walters and Ward Rollings

The following is an excerpt from an article that appeared in the Coatesville Herald, April 1, 1948. The author is Harmon H. Hathaway, publisher.

The tremendous funnel-shaped twister hit the town about 5:23 and it is believed that it lasted about one minute and 50 seconds. The tornado shaped up in Clay County, cut across Putnam County in a northeasterly direction, and swept into Coatesville from the southwest. It hit the Charles Cline farm, crumbled most of Water street, demolished the Coatesville Elevator and Feed Company, swept on thru the business district, utterly destroying every thing in its path, swinging out of town through the library, the Methodist Church, the Earl Wallace farm and onward northeast. The terrific impact struck Hadley laying it flat and swept onward into Danville, continuing to demolish thru the west part of Danville and finally blowing itself out near Brownsburg. The swath was estimated to be about one-eight of a mile wide.

The terrific destruction can not be described. The utter chaos which enveloped the town can not be imagined. There are no words in the English vocabulary to completely describe the condition. The giant twister came in with a whirl wind seemed to suck everything in its path, and then completely twist it to shreds. As the wind sucked the air from buildings, the houses literally exploded with the occupants in them.

The National Society Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR) is a women’s service organization whose members can trace their lineage to an individual who contributed to securing American independence during the Revolutionary War.

If you are interested in learning more about DAR membership, visit https://www.facebook.com/ Washburn.NSDAR or contact dianabrumfield@gmail.com.

Courtesy photo