• My grandmother was Lois Agnes Gooding - the daughter of Clarence Cyril Gooding and Mattie Peal Bowers. Albert Gooding was one of Clarence's younger brothers. My grandmother married Russell Cleon Dunn. They had two sons. My father was their oldest son - Malcolm Graeme Dunn. He was born in Anderson, Indiana.


• My name is Deborah Jean Dunn (Debbie). My married name is Moore. My pen name as the author of 2 books is DJ Lyons. I am the author of “The Bell Witch Unveiled At Last! The True Story Of A Poltergeist” published in March of 2008. I am also the author of “White Reindeer, Kudzu Monster, & Other Tales Of Wonder” to by published later in 2009. Visit my home page of http://askdjlyons.com for information about both books.


• My grandmother was 22 years old at the time when the tornado happened. She was home on her Easter break from college. She was helping her father in the Anderson courthouse. Her mother was home working in the garden in Frankton. They all saw the blood red skies. I asked my grandmother if it was like a sunset. She said that it looked as if the sky was on fire. My grandmother, her younger brother, and her father drove home as quickly as possible. Her mother wondered whether the world was coming to an end.


• The principal, Mr. Albert Gooding, also saw those blood red skies. He taught the older grades (5th through 8th) upstairs in the two-room, two-story schoolhouse. There was a woman teacher who taught the lower grades (1st through 4th) downstairs.


• Mr. Albert Gooding was going to send the kids home right away. The lower grade teacher chided him. He kept the kids inside and allowed them to play games. Then he got this horrible premonition that he could not shake. He ordered everybody to go home as quickly as possible. He urged the older kids to help the younger kids. He then got in his car to go to his home in Frankton that was about 3 miles away.


• The next morning, Mr. Albert Gooding drove back to Orestes. The bridge was out. Some parents of some of his students were waiting for him. They told him that it was a good thing that he had sent the kids home at exactly the time that he did as there was not one brick left standing of the schoolhouse. He waded across the roaring brook to view the devastation. My grandmother said that only one child got a broken arm from flying debris and that all the other kids were okay.


• I had to fictionalize some of the names as my grandmother did not recall the name of the lower grade teacher or the names of the parents who met him the next morning to show him around. Any help on that would be appreciated.


• My grandmother, Lois Agnes Gooding, became a music teacher at the consolidated school that they built. Her husband, Russell Cleon Dunn, also was a teacher at one of the schools where she taught music. They eventually married.


• My story would be more correctly called historical fiction. I wove together some newspaper accounts of the tornado and created a personal connection between my grandmother and the older couple, Sam and Rachel Jones, who tied themselves to the bed so as to have a soft landing should their roof come off and the bed go flying – which it did.


• Unfortunately, both of my grandmother' s parents died before I was born. I never got to meet any of the Gooding relatives. I know more details about Albert as a child, but I know very little about him beyond the time of the tornado. Was it correct that he became the principal of that Consolidated School? What was the name of the Consolidated School? Does anybody know?


• If you have more information I can add to my story, please e-mail me at moredunntales@yahoo.com. Thanks so much and best wishes to you,
  Debbie Dunn aka DJ Lyons

Newspaper Archives from Alexandria, Indiana
The Times-Tribune

MONDAY, APRIL 17, 1922 - DANGER HEAVY FLOODS FROM TOO MUCH RAIN
Weather Flawless — Services at the Churches Impressive and Inspiring

For the first time in many years Alexandria enjoyed an almost perfect Easter Sunday as far as the weather was concerned. There was nothing in the sky above or the horizon ‘round about to threaten the tranquility of the day. ...

TERRIFIC RAIN AND WINDSTORM SOME DAMAGE
Alexandria and Vicinity Visited by the Worst Storm in Many Years

A more or less disastrous rain and wind storm, semi-tropical in its nature, visited Alexandria and vicinity between the hours of 1 a.m. and 5 a.m. today. Vivid lightning and reverberating thunder accompanied the storm, the sky being at times like one sheet of flames. The rainfall was tremendous, the water coming down like a huge and solid wave, an impenetrable wall of water.

The storm began in a mild sort of manner earlier Sunday evening, the first premonitions of a wind making themselves felt shortly after 10 Sunday evening. The wind gradually grew stronger and more intense, bending the trees and carrying loose bits far remote from their original lodging places.

After midnight flashes of lightning altered the semi-tropical nature of the storm, and soon thereafter the rumblings of thunder were heard, steadily increasing in noise until it sounded like heavy artillery detonations. At 4 a.m. the storm had reached the climax of its power and force. It was then the rainfall was heaviest, in fact it seemed as though the very gates of heaven had become unhinged to permit the torrent to descend without let or hindrance. The wind came from the southwest and beat through the crevices of the window frames, flooding many a room, as many a housewife learned when dawn appeared. As if to add insult to injury, the electric lights ceased to function and Stygian darkness enveloped the homes where tallow dips and kerosene lamps were conspicuous by their absence. It was, indeed a night long to be remembered.

Damage in City

That not more damage was done in this city and vicinity is nothing short of miraculous. But as it was, minor damages were the result of the fierce storm in various sections of the city.

At the Lippincott glass factory a huge steel smoke stack was blown down, smashing the roof of the boiler house and disconnecting the steam pipe with the impact. The watchman, a colored man, thinking that the end had come, sought safety in the adjoining freight car. The fire department received a summons to come quick, as there was danger of a conflagration. Repair work was done by the department which stopped the danger of fire and prevented further damage from leaking pipe and mains.

Windows in the Stafford property on East Monroe street were blown out.

Cherry Tree Blown Down

Cherry trees in all parts of the city suffered demolition from the storm. ... To name them all would require too much space.

... Various sections of the surrounding country were called up by the Times-Tribune today to ascertain the extent of the damage done by the storm early this morning, but no alarming reports were received. From Herbert Hughes came the report that plenty of water stood around, but no damage from the windstorm. South of the city gave the same report. The insurance men in Alexandria holding tornado policies have nothing serious to report. It seems that the worst damage was inflicted in the city of Alexandria in toppling over trees and chimneys, breaking window panes and unroofing houses.

A section of the roof of the conveyor at the Banner Rock Products Co. factory was torn off by the wind. In many parts of the city window panes were smashed and shingles from roofs were scattered broadcast. It was truly and indeed the Night of the Big Wind and Deluge.

Reports were circulated this morning that Terre Haute had been partially razed by the storm and that Hartford City had suffered much damage.

High Water

This morning, after the storm, the sun came out and for a while the indications were that the weather would be calm. But later it began raining, the downpour assuming at intermittent times the proportions of a deluge. It rained practically all day. At 3 o’clock this afternoon the water on South Harrison street was within a few feet of the bridge. On North Harrison street the flood waters formed a veritable torrent, covering the street and in some places even the sidewalks were inundated. In the lowlands east and north of the city the country has the appearance of an inland sea, where turgid waters foam and surge in their impotent rage to find an outlet. Unless the rains cease the floods of the spring of 1913 will be repeated, only more so.

TUESDAY, APRIL 18, 1922 - DEATH AND DESTRUCTION WAKE OF CYCLONE

FURIOUS STORM SWEEPS FROM THE WEST TO NORTHEAST NORTH OF ALEXANDRIA LAST EVENING AT 6

Houses and Barns Razed to the Ground — Several Persons Killed and Many Injured by the Fierce Onrush of a Twister Whose Progress Nothing Could Stay

ORESTES IN PATH OF CYCLONE SUFFERS MUCH DAMAGE

Shortly after 6 o’clock last evening a terrific wind and rainstorm again visited this section of Madison county and with it, from the west came a cyclone, or “twister,” that carried death and destruction in its wake.

Lurid clouds, as though reflecting flames from the nether regions, swirled and whirled through the skies. Their irregular movements betokened the unusual and when the writer saw them in the northeast he felt that there was danger in that swirling mass. And so there was, for they contained the “twister” or cyclone that played havoc with everything in its path and carried rain and devastation wherever it went.

The beautiful little town of Orestes, about three miles west of Alexandria, was in the direct path of the cyclone. An inspection of the ruin wrought at Orestes was made by a representative of the Times-Tribune early this morning. This sight that presented itself to the writer’s eyes was pathetic. Ruins, ruins, destruction and devastation on every side. Dwellings leveled, trees uprooted and impeding traffic on the roads, houses without roofs, outbuildings scattered to the four winds of heaven, debris piled up in huge heaps, household goods blown hither and thither, desolation upon desolation, a scene of indescribable ruin and destruction.

The cyclone is reported to have started near the Brannock schoolhouse four miles southeast of Elwood, on the farm of Rudolph Waymire. All the buildings on the farm were demolished. The smoke house on Alva Waymire’s farm was destroyed. On the Wise farm a tenant house and barn were blown away. A new barn on the Ora Ebbert farm was blown down and a horse killed.

Part of the roof of K. F. Banty’s house and outbuildings was torn off. Major Vermillion’s barn blown to pieces and out-buildings gone. George Gosnell’s place and fruit trees blown down. Walter Smith’s barn blown to smithereens and one valuable cow was killed and another cow badly crippled. The chimney was blown off his house and windows smashed. Leo Vogel’s barn and outbuildings were demolished.

Coming further east, the tornado struck the eastern edge of Orestes with full force. “When I first saw it coming I was standing on my front porch watching the clouds,” said Earl Million to the Times-Tribune. “It was funnel shaped and black as midnight. It moved in a spiral direction, first north, then south, then north, then south, like a screw. It ascended, then descended and went with terrific speed. I could see shingles and every conceivable article flying in the air and I knew it was a cyclone. It passed to the south of my house and our section escaped without damage.”

Silo Works Wrecked

The Marshall McMahan house was partly damaged, but not as much as some other houses nearby. The McMahan garage was taken off it foundation and blown about 50 feet. West of the McMahan residence stood the home of Charles Ludlow. It was completely destroyed and not a vestige remains except a lot of debris. When the storm struck, Mr. Ludlow tried to hold the door against the wind. The fury of the storm carried him near the railroad track in the rear and when he was found his hands were still grasping the door. But life had fled the body of Mr. Ludlow. His wife and children were not severely injured. The beautiful bungalow home of Lawrence Shaw is badly damaged. The elevator belonging to the Urmston Grain Co. is a mass of wreckage, as is also the plant of the Orestes Silo Co. This huge building looks like it might topple over any time. Inside chaos and confusion reign supreme. Court Jones, secretary of the company, was on the ground early this morning and was making preparation to brace the walls and remove the material so as to give workmen a chance to repair the building. The loss, he said, would be $5000 or more. Tornado insurance will help some.

School House Destroyed

The beautiful school building in Orestes is in ruins, looking mutely as though asking why this awful visitation

The K. of P. building, a handsome new brick structure, was badly damaged, but can be repaired. Here the twister made a freak movement. The home of Doc Custer, diagonally across the from K. of P. building, remained unscathed, while the store building on the south side of the street had all the windows broken and otherwise damaged. A little further east, on the southside of the street stands the Christian church building. Only a few shingles were torn off, although other buildings adjacent were badly damaged. The house of Kermit King was taken off its foundation, roof demolished and windows broken.

Further east in Orestes the tornado kept its destructive course. The canning factory was completely razed, nothing remains of it except a mass of ruins. The little unoccupied house of the late J. Simonet was also completely destroyed. Ernest Goodman’s home was badly damaged, windows broken, partially unroofed and shaken from its foundation. Mrs. Goodman told the Times-Tribune that she does not know how they all escaped being killed. The residence of Emory Laycock, near the Goodman place was in the path of the cyclone and suffered considerable damage. It was simply miraculous that none of the family was killed or injured.

Auto Uninjured

The Riley Duke house in this vicinity was also damaged somewhat, but the garage was completely demolished. A peculiar feature of this incident was that the automobile in the garage was standing unhurt, with part of the garage wall leaning against it.

The depot at Orestes was leveled to the ground and only a heap of ruins are there to attest that a building ever stood there.

Still further east and to the north of the Union Traction line the twister careened its way taking up frame houses as though they were mere egg shells. The David Messmore place was ruined and near here two houses were smashed together by the fury of the wind.

Orestes presents a picture of desolation today that only the pen of a Milton could adequately describe. Woe, misery, suffering and want stalk gauntly through the streets and homes of that once happy and peaceful little community. It was a cyclone, one of those freaks of nature against which none can guard.

Following the course of the cyclone the Times-Tribune visited the home of Alfred Welborn, south of the Union Traction line one mile east of Orestes. This beautiful little bungalow home was as completely destroyed as though some vandal had deliberately gone about the work of destruction. Even the outbuildings were demolished, and an automobile presented a sorry looking sight. Just to the north of the Welborn place, lives Charles Walker. Here the wind blew down a large barn and other outbuildings, unroofed a crib filled with corn and took some of the roof off the house. A big piece of galvanized iron was blown into a cedar tree close by and there it hung in mute appeal to be taken down. Pieces of wreckage were scattered in the adjacent fields.

Kelly Ax Factory Demolished

Still continuing east, in a northerly direction, the twister struck the remains of the old Kelly Ax factory, now owned by W. L. Wallick. Here is where James Finney and wife were accustomed to come and milk their cows. They were thusly engaged when the cyclone struck the building. Only a remnant of the walls remain standing. Finney and wife were both severely injured, but it is hoped that they will recover. It was at first reported that Mr. Finney’s back was broken, but that was disclaimed this morning. Across the road form the Kelly Ax the residence of Miles Dickey was destroyed, also his outbuildings. The home of Lowry Lewis was badly damaged, while the house of Jake Beilhartz also suffered severely. His barn was unroofed, automobile upturned —and other damages inflicted. Last night the Times-Tribune visited the scene, but because of tangled telephone and telegraph wires that obstructed passage and also because of the intense darkness little could be learned. One man said that huge balls of fire jumped from pole to pole and the funnel shaped cloud made a terrific roaring noise like that of a mighty body of rushing waters.

The barn of Charles Hughes and other outbuildings were destroyed and the rear part of the house torn away. The Hughes garage and tenant house were badly damaged. On the Henry Bell farm a large poultry house was demolished, windmill blown down and rear of house damaged. Austin Hughes had a barn and house both damaged, but not blown down. Clyde Vinson suffered badly from the storm, the rear part of his house demolished and front blown across the fence into a field. This new barn was also unroofed. The roof of the Mt. Pisgah Church was torn off, school building wrecked. John Righter’s house and barn both destroyed completely. Righter, who is 72 years of age, was seriously injured about the head. Richard Goodman, aged 50, was killed when the cyclone struck and destroyed his house. His housekeeper, severely injured at the same time, died this morning. At the home of Clell Hatton, Dora Epdgraff, 10 years old, lies at the point of death, having been injured in the storm. She was brought to the Alexandria Hospital today in the Heritage Ambulance.

... The Dagen school house, unused, was completely destroyed. ...

Path of Cyclone

The path of the cyclone was narrow, but its peculiar spiral movements made it cover more ground than is usually covered by a similar storm. For instance, it struck the Welborn house from the south and carried the wreckage near the tracks of the Traction line, continuing its course north it struck the big barn and outbuildings of Charles Walker. Then it pursued its northeasterly course until it struck the Kelly Ax factory, then it twisted easterly and northerly. Had it come a mile further south it would have razed Alexandria, and then there would have been a different story to tell.

The cyclone in its course of unabated fury spared nothing. Telephone and telegraph posts laden with death-dealing electricity, went down like chaff. Orchard trees, forest trees, fences and buildings were as mere feathers against its onslaughts. Hundreds of chickens were killed, and many pigs suffered a similar fate. That the loss of human life was not greater is nothing short of miraculous.

Peculiar Incident

A peculiar feature, worthy of mention in connection with the cyclone happened at the Clyde Vinson farm. The house had been picked up and moved about 100 feet, damaging the dining table and furniture. Everything in the house was turned topsy-turvy, thrown hither and thither but a lighted hanging lamp, suspended from the ceiling of the rocking house was undisturbed and continued to send out its rays of light through the darkness. Also a basket of eggs in the same house were undisturbed and not one egg was broken.

Hundreds visited the scene of the tornado’s course this morning and this afternoon. At Orestes sightseers came early and the streets of the little town were congested with automobiles. The wires being down and poles and trees across the street made traffic via auto rather difficult. Doc. Custer stood at the corner of the principal thoroughfare and regulated traffic as best he could.

The Alexandria-Summitville pike was the Mecca which drew hundreds of sightseers all day. In the jam one person, Inglis, got injured by an auto running over his foot. Dr. Keller, who was on the scene, rendered first aid.

The ambulance of the local undertakers were busy this morning and last night. They responded with alacrity to the appeals for aid and everything was done that could be done to assist the unfortunate made homeless by the awful storm. Mr. Finney, whose head was injured, received surgical attention as soon as physicians could reach them, Drs. Keller and Otto being on the ground without loss of time.

The tornado extended from Frankton on the west to Wheeling on the east.

It was a beautiful day today, the sky was clear and no signs of an impending storm were visible.

CHARLES LUDLOW WILL BE BURIED WEDNESDAY 2 P.M.

Was Victim of Cyclone That Passed Over Orestes Monday Night at 6 P.M.

The funeral of Charles Ludlow, aged 40 years and 17 days, who was killed last evening in the Orestes tornado, will be held Wednesday afternoon at 2 o’clock from the Christian church at Orestes, Rev. Charles Waymire will officiate. ...

Richard Goodman’s Death

The body of Richard Goodman, aged 52, who was fatally injured in the storm at his home, 3 1/2 miles northeast of the city last night and who died while on the way to the Alexandria hospital, was taken to the Heritage & Son undertaking parlors last night. His arms and chest were mangled. ...

Mrs. Epdegraff Dies

Mrs. Mollie Epdegraff, who was the housekeeper of Richard Goodman and who was seriously injured during the tornado last night, died this morning at the Alexandria hospital where she was hastily taken last night after the accident. Mrs. Epdegraff was 53 years, 10 months and 17 days old. ...

ALL STREAMS AT HIGH WATER MARK AT PRESENT

All the streams in the vicinity of Alexandria have been at high water marks the past three days. Pipe Creek, west of the old plate glass factory is nearly to the level of the road going west, and covers the road going south to the Ed Vermilion farm. In the bottoms east of the city the flood waters have covered everything and the bridge to Scott Addition crossed a surging and roaring current of muddy waters. At 3 o’clock this afternoon the waters had receded considerably, and if it does not rain any more in the next few days, all streams will be well within their normal banks.

Call for Relief Committee

... In view of the widespread suffering and loss of property due to the cyclone that devastated Orestes and caused so much loss to the people of that community, the Times-Tribune suggests that a Relief Committee be appointed in Alexandria whose duty it will be to investigate the conditions in Orestes and to furnish such assistance as may be necessary. This newspaper furthermore suggests that this Relief Committee be empowered to accept contributions of money, food or clothing, in case investigations show they are needed, and relieve whatever distress there may be. This is a time when humanitarian instinct ought to manifest itself. It is NOW when help is mostly needed. There are many families in Orestes who have lost their all. Alexandria ought to get busy at once. In order to save time and avoid delay, the Times-Tribune will receive voluntary contributions for the relief of the tornado victims until such a time as a proper Relief Committee can be selected.

All those willing to give something for this purpose please inform the Times-Tribune at once. All contributions will be acknowledged in these columns. Mr. E. E. Davis has headed the list with a cash subscription of $50.00. Who is next?

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 19, 1922 - MANY VICTIMS OF THE STORM IN INDIANA

CYCLONE TALK IS ABOUT ALL THAT IS HEARD NOW

Later Reports from Different Sections of the State Show Much Destruction

The tornado that swept over the northern part of Madison county Monday evening and spread such havoc and desolation in hundreds of homes is still the chief topic of conversation and will continue to be for days and weeks to come.

According to the reports from the different sections of the state, storms did millions of dollars worth of damage and numbers of people were killed. Central and southern Indiana are the sections hardest hit by the storm. Thus far the deaths directly caused by the storm are known to be twenty and more than 300 injured.

Many Victims of Storm

Fuller report, after wire communication are resumed will, no doubt, add many more victims to the list of casualties and the amount of property destroyed.

There seems to be not much difference in the effects of the tornado in the sections swept by it after striking the western edge of Monroe township, near Orestes. From its very entrance to its exit in Monroe it was as violent one place as in another. That Orestes looks a little more desolate than the section east of the Alexandria-Summitville pike is merely because it is less densely populated, Orestes being a village, where the buildings were closely established, and the other farms, with buildings further apart. Had the tornado struck Alexandria, with the same force that it swept over the northern part of Monroe township, it would have caused a great loss of life and a tremendous destruction of property. ...

Tornado Freakishness

The freakishness of the progress of the tornado made it seem to cover more territory than it really did. Its movements were criss-cross or spiral, like the threads of a screw. This was demonstrated in Orestes. ...

THURSDAY, APRIL 20, 1922 - CHARLES LUDLOW, TORNADO VICTIM, BURIED YESTERDAY

FREAKISH CYCLONE

Another family near the Harris place, that of Kit Carmin, was totally destroyed. Here the “twister” also acted in a freakish manner. It picked up a hog house in the rear of the yard and carried it some distance. When Mr. and Mrs. Carmin saw what the storm was doing, they lashed themselves together on the bed. The cyclone wrecked the house, picked up the bed containing Mr. and Mrs. Carmin and after sundry and divers gyrations, deposited the bed and its contents on the very spot from which the hog house had been taken.

And the most wonderful part of it all was that neither Mr. Carmin nor his wife were injured in the least. But to say that they were not nearly scared to death would be telling something far removed from the truth. The cyclone performed many freakish acts in its course over the northern part of Madison and Delaware counties, and a book would be required to chronicle all of them.

MUST REBUILD ORESTES SCHOOL

At Orestes the beautiful school building is a wreck, the cyclone paying special attention to that structure, for it is now nothing but a heap of ruins. It has been damaged beyond repair and an entirely new building, so it is thought, will be necessary. The Monroe township advisory board will meet soon to take up the matter and discuss the erection of a new and larger building and have it ready for occupancy by next September. William Cunningham, trustee, says there are too many pupils at Orestes to undertake to transfer them all to other schools in Monroe township. At any rate such action would be hardly worth while, as the district schools will soon close.

Records of the pupils in charge of the teachers of the Orestes school are in the wreck.

Mr. Cunningham said that since the Eighth grade pupils had been examined, those who passed will be graduated and among the lower grades he presumed it would be in order to promote pupils on their work up to the end of last week.

Mr. Cunningham also said that interior examination of the school building has not been made, but that the exterior shows walls cracked and that they can not be repaired.

FRIDAY, APRIL 21, 1922 - CONTRIBUTIONS FOR RELIEF OF STORM VICTIMS

... The Tornado Relief Fund is growing by leaps and bounds, the total sum thus far subscribed is around $1000.

SATURDAY, APRIL 22, 1922 - THE TOWNSHIP ADVISORY BOARD TO MEET MONDAY

William Cunningham, trustee of Monroe township, has called a meeting of the township advisory board for next Monday night at his office in this city, for the purpose of taking some action in regard to the wrecked school houses at Mr. Pisgah and Orestes. The buildings were almost totally ruined by the tornado last Monday night. The committee is composed of M. M. Walker, Dan Young, and Roy Ladd.

MONDAY, APRIL 24, 1922 - MONROE TOWNSHIP BOARD OF SUPERVISORS TO MEET TRUSTEE’S OFFICE TONIGHT

The Monroe Township Board of Supervisors will meet at the office of Township Trustee William Cunningham, Alexandria, at 7:30 o’clock tonight to discuss the subject of re-building the school house at Orestes, which was almost totally destroyed by the cyclone Monday night, April 17. It is the consensus of opinion of the board, that inasmuch as it will be quite, if not utterly, impossible to re-build the school and have it in readiness for the opening term next fall, that a hard and fast decision to re-build will be made to await future developments. In case the school is not rebuilt in time for next fall’s term, it is more than likely that the Orestes school children will be hauled to Alexandria where they will attend school. This is in line with the idea of school consolidation, which has already received some attention by the people of Monroe township.

TUESDAY, APRIL 25, 1922 - NATIONAL RED CROSS MAY HELP ORESTES VICTIMS - ADVISORY BOARD MEETS BUT REACHES NO DECISION ON REBUILDING SCHOOLS

Trustee William Cunningham and the Monroe township advisory board met at Mr. Cunningham’s office last night and held a meeting to discuss the matter of rebuilding the school houses at Orestes and Pisgah. The matter was pretty well gone over but no decision was made. The meeting was adjourned to Friday night of this week, when another meeting of the township and the advisory board will be held.

SATURDAY, APRIL 29, 1922 - CONSOLIDATED SCHOOL TO BE BUILT AT ORESTES TO TAKE IN SEVERAL SCHOOLS

At the meeting of the Monroe township advisory board held with Township Trustee William Cunningham at his office last night, it was unanimously decided to build a consolidated school at Orestes which would be large enough to accommodate the pupils of seven schools in the western part of the township. The school to be located at Orestes would have to be at a different location than at the old site, as the present law provides that no school can be within 500 feet of a railroad.

CLEANING-UP CREW HAS COMPLETED ITS WORK

The “cleaning-up” crew which was employed by the committee for the relief of the storm victims, has finished its work. It was the duty of the crew to help the farmers clear up the fields of the debris and wreckage scattered over the farms in the path of the tornado, thus giving the farmers an opportunity to perform their spring plowing and seeding, which had been rudely interrupted by the cyclone. The farmers were very appreciative of this assistance. The crew was under the foremanship of George Harman.

???Date Unknown??? - TEARING DOWN SCHOOL BUILDING AT ORESTES

Work on tearing down the old Orestes school house is progressing. All the material that can possibly be salvaged will be stored for use in the new school building.

???Date Unknown??? - TEMPORARY SCHOOL FOR ORESTES IN K. P. HALL

William Cunningham, trustee of Monroe township, has ordered 48 new school seats to be used with the desks out of the old Orestes school building blown down by the tornado. In caring for the Orestes pupils, temporary school quarters are to be arranged at the Orestes K. of P. hall for the coming school term. This arrangement will obviate the bringing of the Orestes children to Alexandria next fall.

???Date Unknown??? - TRUSTEE SELLS OLD ORESTES SCHOOL GROUNDS

E. S. Plackard, of Orestes, has purchased the old Orestes school building and grounds of the Monroe township trustee, the consideration being $100, according to announcement today by Mr. Montgomery, trustee. Mr. Plackard contemplates erecting a storage building for automobiles on this site. It will be recalled that the old Orestes school building was destroyed when a cyclone visited this community April 17, 1922.

???Date Unknown??? - BUY THREE ACRES OF LAND FOR NEW ORESTES SCHOOL

Township Trustee William Cunningham and the Monroe township advisory board have closed the deal for three acres of land upon which to be erected the new Orestes consolidated school buildings. The land was purchased from David Ebsted for $500, which is a fair price taking into consideration that Mr. Ebsted had to cut it out of his farm.

NEARLY 2 YEARS LATER:

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 9, 1924 - ORESTES SCHOOL DEDICATION OF LAST EVENING

Large Number of Patrons and Friends Attend — A Fine Program Rendered

The dedicatory exercises of the new consolidated school at Orestes last evening was a huge success. The school house will be crowded to overflowing for the affair. It is estimated that between five and six hundred patrons and friends attend the exercises.

... A group of whistling solos by Miss Imogene Bowers, of Frankton, added much to the program.

... the dedication of the new school was a very successful affair. School will close early in May.

My Grandmother, Lois Agnes Gooding Dunn (1900-1997), states:

I was Lois Gooding at the time.

The town “Orestes” had suffered a lot of destruction. One man had been killed.

I had been home on Easter break from the Cincinnati Conservatory when the tornado hit. Orestes was 15 miles east of where we lived in Frankton, Indiana.

Throughout the summer, a six-teacher Consolidated Building was being built. They were wanting a music teacher, for this school, as well, several one-room schools.

I had graduated, a Diploma from Cincinnati Conservatory of Music. And also, had my License entitling myself to teach Music in the schools.

I had the Consolidated school. And I would have a piano and music room.

Uncle Allie was the temporary principal of the Consolidated School.

Yes, when a storm came up, the school children were frantic. Perhaps I wasn’t much better but didn’t dare show it.

I taught six years.