Monadnock Moment No. 166

Multi Era 3 - 8: 1788 to 1938

Violent Winds

When we think of the famous hurricane of 1938, we are reminded of the great devastation which the storm caused in the Monadnock Region. Although that storm probably received the most publicity and media coverage of any storm to hit our area, the annals of local history are filled with reports of other violent hurricanes and tornados which visited the region.

Several hurricanes caused considerable damage in our vicinity during the early 1800s. A tornado during 1807 destroyed several buildings in downtown Keene. Another tornado cut a swath through the town of Antrim, toppling trees, flipping automobiles, destroying barns and damaging homes in 1922.

The "Great Gale" of July 1877 swept through Gilsum, Sullivan, and Nelson, flattening wood lots, sending carriages flying through the air, and moving several houses from their foundations. The wind lifted two people into the air and placed them down again uninjured.

Perhaps the most violent storm prior to 1938, however, was the hurricane of August 19, 1788. This storm had a narrow path, but was intense in our area. The local newspaper reported that the damage to houses, barns and cattle was beyond conception. Although no people lost their lives to these violent winds, more than 100 cows were killed by falling trees during the hurricane of 1788.