A Town Closes Ranks After The Tornado of 1936

I was watching coverage of the dramatic rescue of the trapped coal miners the other night, and listening to how the whole town had closed ranks to support and help the miners' families ... and it reminded me of the news coverage of Gainesville, Georgia, immediately after the Tornado of 1936. I have a yellowed old copy of the Gainesville Eagle dated April 16, 1936, and it has some fascinating copy under a section called "Personal Mention".

It goes like this:

Mr. And Mrs. R. F. Christopher are with Dr. and Mrs. B. F. Holcomb on Morningside Drive. Their apartment on East Spring was demolished.

Mr. And Mrs. Ed Roper and family are at the home of Mr. And Mrs. Wilson Smith on Ridgewood Ave.

Misses Mollie and Essie Jarrett left for their home near Gillsville. Their brother, Mr. Gower Garrett, was among the number who lost their life. He was seated in his car in front of a barber shop on South Bradford Street.

Mr. And Mrs. Garland Bennett are with Mr. And Mrs. L. L. Savage on North Street. Their home on Sycamore Street was greatly damaged.

Mrs. Janie Wayne and daughters are with Mrs. J. O. Lay on Academy Street. Their home on Sycamore Street was destroyed.

Mr. And Mrs. Ben Ashe and daughters and Mr. S. G. Garrett are with Mr. And Mrs. J. C. Garrett on West Broad Street. Their home on West Avenue was demolished.

Mr. And Mrs. John Hawkins are with Mrs. J. S. Allen on West Broad Street.

Personal mentions like these filled much of the paper that day.

Gainesville had more than 200 people killed in the Tornado of '36, and almost 1,000 injured. For the most part the funerals had been held, and the injured cared for. These were the stories from 10 days later, and Gainesville was closing ranks to care for lAose'whose homes had been severely damaged or destroyed.

This is Gordon Sawyer, from a window on historic Green Street.

http://accesswdun.com/article/2002/8/190683