Photos: Hansen, Judy Marden - Family Collection

Contact: stan@wiclarkcountyhistory.org;

Contributor: Judy Marden Hansen

 

----Source: Family Photo Album

 

Judy (Marden) Hansen Family Album

 

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The 1907 Clark County, Wisconsin Tornado


One storm starting near Tioga left a path of destruction in the Towns of Seif, Weston, Pine Valley and Grant on July 3, 1907. On that Wednesday afternoon it was excessively hot, humid and very still. At about 4 o’clock, the sky became slightly cloudy with three or four layers of clouds, each moving in different directions, which caught the attention of many people.

About a half hour later a tornado made its way cresting over the top of the mounds northwest of the city. Many Neillsville residents retreated to their basements while others remained to watch the tornado’s course of direction that went east passing on the north of the city. The tornado moved slowly, weaving back and forth, visible for nearly an hour from the time it was first sighted.

Soon after the tornado lifted, dissipating into another cloud, one of the Buddenhagen boys galloped into town on a winded horse, seeking medical aid for the John Charles family. Buddenhagen lived on what is now the Wetzel farm. Soon after, Zura Fricke was brought to the city by buggy, with injuries. Calls for medical aid came from the Town of Weston, members of the Wenzel, August Beyer, Louis Quast families, and some others who were hurt. Louis Quast, his wife and all seven children received injuries.

The Chas. Poppe farm was hit as the tornado caught the barn but missed the house. Richard Beyer’s family lived in a log house and was in the process of building a new farm house when the tornado struck, destroying both houses, the barns, granary, etc.
 

90-1 John Charles, $6235 damages

90-2 John Charles, $6,235 damages

90-3 John Charles, $6,235 damages

90-4 John Charles, $6,235 damages

90-4A John Charles, $6,235 damages

90-5 Charles Shepard, $700 damages

90-6 Charles Poppe, $580 damages

90-7

90-8

90-9 H.Bienick, $1325 damages

90-10

90-11, ? Smith, $915 damages

90-12 Wm. Buddenhagen, $1,010 damages

90-13

90-14 Louis Quast, $1,075 damages

90-15 John Waters, $3,007 damages

90-16 John Aumann

90-17 August Beyer

90-18

90-19

90-19

Surrounded by debris, a wood stock-watering tank remained with a bent-over cast iron well pump that had the pump jack driving gears still attached with one gear broken half off.

90-21

     

 

 

91-1,  Building the Hatfield Dam

Hatfield Dam Construction

 

91-2, Building the Hatfield Dam

    

 

91-3, Building the Hatfield Dam

91-4, Building the Hatfield Dam

91-5, Building the Hatfield Dam

91-6, Building the Hatfield Dam

91-7, Building the Hatfield Dam

91-7, Building the Hatfield Dam

 

Flood Takes out the Hatfield Dam

 

The 1911 Black River flood was preceded by a week of nearly continuous rain, and upriver dams — including the one at Hatfield — eventually were washed out, sending raging waters toward the city. Historical accounts state about 80 buildings were washed away as waters reached Second Street and filled between Madison and Pierce streets. It was estimated the flood caused about $1.5 million in damages.

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