Thursday, March 4, 2021

Throwback Thursday: The South Jackson Tornado

Death and destruction visited South Jackson in the form of a tornado 55 years ago.   The tornado killed a dozen people in Jackson and wiped out structures such as Candlestick Shopping Center.  The old newspaper stories are posted below.






16 comments:

Anonymous said...

On the second front page, note the small article to the right of the photo.

Anonymous said...

Wondering if the Larry Swales in the story, store clerk, is the Chancery Clerk out in Rankin today? (If I've aged you incorrectly, Larry, I apologize).

Anonymous said...

Yes, that's the same Larry Swales. He and his best friend the late Larry Temple were both there. Larry Temple had a job in the super market (if memory serves) and had a huge sliver of glass, about as big as a scimitar, that pierced one thigh through and through. Gives me the willies just to think about it.

James Bonney said...

I was with the Associated Press and wrote the story that was distributed nationally and used as the lead in the C-L on March 5. An interesting note: when I arrived at Candlestick Park An ambulance driver who I knew as a Ku Klux Klansman I covered a lot of the civil rights turmoil that was happening at the time) called me over and asked me to record the names of the dead as he stacked them in vehicles. The carnage was unbelievable. The next day (Saturday) my wife of six months, who was from Carthage and a MSCW journalism graduate, and I traced the storm through the rural areas on back roads. We saw hay that had impaled fence posts and dead cattle dropped as if they were grazing. We talked to a mother who had her baby ripped from her arms. The infant was found unharmed -- not even a scratch -- in the branches of a tree. And people were out helping friends and even strangers. The amazing thing was the calmness of the professionals such as law enforcement and rescue personnel. There was urgency, but no panic.

Anonymous said...

I purchased a property in 2003 and another in 2005. Even though they were located probably 15 miles apart (in a straight line), in piecing together information on them in the following years, I discovered the buildings on each of them had been flattened by that tornado. Seeing as how it was on the ground for TWO HUNDRED THREE miles, I suppose many people could have had that same experience!

Anonymous said...

What is a scimitar?

Anonymous said...

A scimitar is half a tar. Duh.

Anonymous said...

" What is a scimitar? "

A scimitar is a large curved medieval sword that originated in the Arab world.
A very wicked weapon for sure !

Not really effective in combat, but It was an extremely efficient for beheading . . . with one swing to the neck.


Anonymous said...

A scimitar is a type of sword or staff weapon commonly seen in the Disney Aladdin animated film. They are also part of the Wahhabi Shriners crest and closely associated with Islam and the Middle East. It is a curved blade, more narrow at the hilt, that curves up like a half moon and ends with one or two broad points.

Excellent for beheading.

Anonymous said...

The "Candlestick Park " tornado was one of the worst natural disasters to ever impact Jackson.

Although I was a small child from North Jackson, I do remember the sky.

As is always described, at first the wind stopped and everything went silent.
No birds chirping, no dogs barking , such as that.

I do remember the sky turning a vomit green/yellow color, followed by almost 'Pitch Black" hue.
While we never had wind or rain, we did hear the roar.

Dad was at work, and Mom was trying to appear unconcerned (for the kid's benefit) but I could tell that she was scared to death.

Anyway, we did not know until the next day how bad it had been.





Anonymous said...

Watched from about 400 yards as it want across our property

Anonymous said...

My mother and I stood on our front porch and watched the WLBT channel 3 transmission tower fall over from 15 miles away. The sky was indeed a strange green color, and I recall jumping in the air and letting the wind blow me back airborne for several feet, like I was flying.

Anonymous said...

I lived in South Jackson at the time (age 6), near Appleridge. I remember the sky as described and the sound. We attended Woodville Heights Baptist which was wiped out just before Candlestick.

Anonymous said...

The book "A World Turned Over" by Lorian Hemingway. Is a good read on this event.

Anonymous said...

Shame there wasn't more live coverage then like the 2011 Tornado. Still remember the WLBT interview...The Tornado took my Hamburger.

https://youtu.be/LkTCWR-tn6w

Not to make lite...In the 90s, at 3:30 AM a Tornado hit my mother's house that had just been built 18 months prior. Killed my grandmother and almost killed my mother. They were sleeping in the same bedroom, seperate beds. One never knows what tomorrow brings.

Anonymous said...

Thanks for post.


Recent Comments

Search Jackson Jambalaya

Subscribe to JJ's Youtube channel

Archives

Trollfest '09

Trollfest '07 was such a success that Jackson Jambalaya will once again host Trollfest '09. Catch this great event which will leave NE Jackson & Fondren in flames. Othor Cain and his band, The Black Power Structure headline the night while Sonjay Poontang returns for an encore performance. Former Frank Melton bodyguard Marcus Wright makes his premier appearance at Trollfest singing "I'm a Sweet Transvestite" from "The Rocky Horror Picture Show." Kamikaze will sing his new hit, “How I sold out to da Man.” Robbie Bell again performs: “Mamas, don't let your babies grow up to be Bells” and “Any friend of Ed Peters is a friend of mine”. After the show, Ms. Bell will autograph copies of her mug shot photos. In a salute to “Dancing with the Stars”, Ms. Bell and Hinds County District Attorney Robert Smith will dance the Wango Tango.

Wrestling returns, except this time it will be a Battle Royal with Othor Cain, Ben Allen, Kim Wade, Haley Fisackerly, Alan Lange, and “Big Cat” Donna Ladd all in the ring at the same time. The Battle Royal will be in a steel cage, no time limit, no referee, and the losers must leave town. Marshand Crisler will be the honorary referee (as it gives him a title without actually having to do anything).


Meet KIM Waaaaaade at the Entergy Tent. For five pesos, Kim will sell you a chance to win a deed to a crack house on Ridgeway Street stuffed in the Howard Industries pinata. Don't worry if the pinata is beaten to shreds, as Mr. Wade has Jose, Emmanuel, and Carlos, all illegal immigrants, available as replacements for the it. Upon leaving the Entergy tent, fig leaves will be available in case Entergy literally takes everything you have as part of its Trollfest ticket price adjustment charge.

Donna Ladd of The Jackson Free Press will give several classes on learning how to write. Smearing, writing without factchecking, and reporting only one side of a story will be covered. A donation to pay their taxes will be accepted and she will be signing copies of their former federal tax liens. Ms. Ladd will give a dramatic reading of her two award-winning essays (They received The Jackson Free Press "Best Of" awards.) "Why everything is always about me" and "Why I cover murders better than anyone else in Jackson".

In the spirit of helping those who are less fortunate, Trollfest '09 adopts a cause for which a portion of the proceeds and donations will be donated: Keeping Frank Melton in his home. The “Keep Frank Melton From Being Homeless” booth will sell chances for five dollars to pin the tail on the jackass. John Reeves has graciously volunteered to be the jackass for this honorable excursion into saving Frank's ass. What's an ass between two friends after all? If Mr. Reeves is unable to um, perform, Speaker Billy McCoy has also volunteered as when the word “jackass” was mentioned he immediately ran as fast as he could to sign up.


In order to help clean up the legal profession, Adam Kilgore of the Mississippi Bar will be giving away free, round-trip plane tickets to the North Pole where they keep their bar complaint forms (which are NOT available online). If you don't want to go to the North Pole, you can enjoy Brant Brantley's (of the Mississippi Commission on Judicial Performance) free guided tours of the quicksand field over by High Street where all complaints against judges disappear. If for some reason you are unable to control yourself, never fear; Judge Houston Patton will operate his jail where no lawyers are needed or allowed as you just sit there for minutes... hours.... months...years until he decides he is tired of you sitting in his jail. Do not think Judge Patton is a bad judge however as he plans to serve free Mad Dog 20/20 to all inmates.

Trollfest '09 is a pet-friendly event as well. Feel free to bring your dog with you and do not worry if your pet gets hungry, as employees of the Jackson Zoo will be on hand to provide some of their animals as food when it gets to be feeding time for your little loved one.

Relax at the Fox News Tent. Since there are only three blonde reporters in Jackson (being blonde is a requirement for working at Fox News), Megan and Kathryn from WAPT and Wendy from WLBT will be on loan to Fox. To gain admittance to the VIP section, bring either your Republican Party ID card or a Rebel Flag. Bringing both and a torn-up Obama yard sign will entitle you to free drinks served by Megan, Wendy, and Kathryn. Get your tickets now. Since this is an event for trolls, no ID is required. Just bring the hate. Bring the family, Trollfest '09 is for EVERYONE!!!

This is definitely a Beaver production.


Note: Security provided by INS.

Trollfest '07

Jackson Jambalaya is the home of Trollfest '07. Catch this great event which promises to leave NE Jackson & Fondren in flames. Sonjay Poontang and his band headline the night with a special steel cage, no time limit "loser must leave town" bout between Alan Lange and "Big Cat"Donna Ladd following afterwards. Kamikaze will perform his new song F*** Bush, he's still a _____. Did I mention there was no referee? Dr. Heddy Matthias and Lori Gregory will face off in the undercard dueling with dangling participles and other um, devices. Robbie Bell will perform Her two latest songs: My Best Friends are in the Media and Mama's, Don't Let Your Babies Grow up to be George Bell. Sid Salter of The Clarion-Ledger will host "Pin the Tail on the Trial Lawyer", sponsored by State Farm.

There will be a hugging booth where in exchange for your young son, Frank Melton will give you a loooong hug. Trollfest will have a dunking booth where Muhammed the terrorist will curse you to Allah as you try to hit a target that will drop him into a vat of pig grease. However, in the true spirit of Separate But Equal, Don Imus and someone from NE Jackson will also sit in the dunking booth for an equal amount of time. Tom Head will give a reading for two hours on why he can't figure out who the hell he is. Cliff Cargill will give lessons with his .80 caliber desert eagle, using Frank Melton photos as targets. Tackleberry will be on hand for an autograph session. KIM Waaaaaade will be passing out free titles and deeds to crackhouses formerly owned by The Wood Street Players.

If you get tired come relax at the Fox News Tent. To gain admittance to the VIP section, bring either your Republican Party ID card or a Rebel Flag. Bringing both will entitle you to free drinks.Get your tickets now. Since this is an event for trolls, no ID is required, just bring the hate. Bring the family, Trollfest '07 is for EVERYONE!!!

This is definitely a Beaver production.

Note: Security provided by INS
.