Chateaugay, New York Tornado

June 30, 1856

Terrible Tornado in Franklin co., N.Y.

Between 300 and 400 Houses Damaged.

One of the peculiarities of the storms this summer is that they usually end in a tornado. We have had an uncommon number of hurricanes, destroying a large amount of property.  Next in destructiveness to that of Philadelphia last May is a storm which occurred on last Monday week in Franklin county, New York, and account of which we take from the Republican:

Between the hours 9 and 10 o'clock on Monday morning last a fearful tornado passed over the towns of Constable, Burke and Chateaugay, in this county, and extending into Clinton county, doing an incalculable amount of damage - sweeping down forests, scattering fences, destroying all manner of buildings and other property, and leaving nothing but desolation in its track.  A heavy and portentous cloud was first observed rising in the northwest, and soon another appeared in the southwest, moving in the direction of the former. -- These clouds met about two miles south of this village.

A friend, who was watching their coming together, said there was an instant crash of falling trees, fences, houses &c.-- From this point it swept on with fearful rapidity and force, making a path through the forests and over the fields in nearly a direct course to Burke and Chateaugay -- levelling trees of every size, and buildings as it went.  It struck the North street of Burke, near the Town House.  The store of Keller & Stewart was here unroofed, as were also several dwelling houses and other buildings, and passing a small hollow with little damage it struck with force about a half a mile further on, and from this point on to Chateaugay, a distance of six miles; hardly one building escaped uninjured, and not a barn was left standing -- Jeremiah Thomas, in the employ of Mr. Mitchell was killed.

From the west line of Burke to and including the hotel of S. D. Roberts at Chateaugay Corners, one hundred and eighty five buildings, either unroofed or blown down, or moved from their foundations, can be counted as you ride along the road.  This does not include those partially injured by the loss of a few shingles or the tearing off portions of covering, but such are nearly or quite destroyed.

The village of Chateaugay is a complete desolation.  Not a building escaped injury and a great number - we do not know how many - are completely destroyed.  The scene is one which baffles description. -- Stores, churches, dwellings, barns, sheds, out-buildings, all present a sad spectacle -- they are awfully shattered and broken to pieces.

Beyond Chateaugay we have heard of sixty to seventy buildings which were more or less injured.  The tornado extended for a distance of from thirty to forty miles -- perhaps further, and it must have injured and destroyed nearly four hundred buildings.  $100,000 will not probably cover the damage.

H. A. Taylor, Esq., of this village, who passed over the road on Tuesday, informs us that there are 364 buildings, of all kinds, from the west line of Burke to and including the village of Chateaugay, that were injured, unroofed and destroyed - and more than two-thirds of that number completely ruined.  Among the 364 are 128 dwellings, 4 stores, 2 churches and 3 schoolhouses.

The Adams Sentinel, Gettysburg, PA 14 July 1856

It's path was narrow, but within that limit it wrought awful havoc. ... From the Constable line to Burke Center the damage was less that from the latter point east, but at the Center the store of Keeler & Stewart and the school house were unroofed and several dwellings wrecked.  Thence the wind seems to have taken its course at a higher level until it neared Thayer's Corners, where it trended lower, and the store of Daniel Mitchell was utterly destroyed and its contents scattered.  Some of the goods that it contained were found later in the town of Clinton, ten or more miles east.  From Thayer's Corners on beyond Chateaugay village hardly a building escaped.  The only person killed was Jeremiah Thomas at Thayer's Corners, who was struck by a timber from Daniel Mitchell's store.  he had only recently sold his farm, and was about to move west.

Historical sketches of Franklin County and its several towns with many short biographies, 1918, page 230

On June 30, 1856, a terrible tornado swept through the town from the southwest, unroofing houses, razing buildings, and committing great damage.  The tornado was about a mile in width.  In the course of six miles 185 buildings were destroyed, unroofed, or moved.

The Catholic church at Chateaugay was completely demolished, and the Methodist and Presbyterian churches were badly damaged.

In Burke, Jeremiah Thomas was killed.

History of Clinton and Franklin Counties, New York : with illustrations and biographical sketches of its prominent men and pioneers, 1880, page 466

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Historical sketches of Franklin County and its several towns with many short biographies 1918 Use this Free trial to search for your ancestors.