Do You Remember?

     It’s hard to believe 27 years have passed since January 17, 1999 tornado made its destructive path through Madison County. It was the first time I experienced a tornado, and I still remember the sound of the wind. I also remember the eerie silence after it quickly moved on to the east of my community.
     In the weeks and months following, the Jackson Sun newspaper covered the destruction and the ensuing recovery efforts. Later, our library patrons often brought segments of the Jackson Sun and other periodicals reporting the events and documenting the extensive damage. Tennessee Room staff organized these pages and clippings into the Tennessee Tornado Collection. It is a comprehensive index of print media coverage of the 1999 tornado. Because newspapers on microfilm are only black-and-white images, the color photos in the actual newspaper pages are visually better at showing the damage. The pictures are stunning to see.

Photo from the January 19, 1999 Jackson Sun.

     The collection expanded when other tornado events struck the area. Earlier tornado events were next included, such as the 1923 Pinson tornado; the 1952 Henderson,              Tennessee/South Madison County tornado; the 1975, 2003, 2005, and 2008 tornadoes in Jackson and surrounding counties--and the collection continues to date.

     The Collection now includes a map of destructive tornado paths, and a set of about 700 photographs (like the one above) showing damaged homes and buildings. Tennessee Room staff will assist anyone who has an interest in these past storms or a need to do some research.