6 October 1996 – Great Storm in Carroll

“Great Storm in Carroll”

Carroll County Times Article for 6 October 1996

By Jay A. Graybeal

One the most severe storms ever experienced in our county struck on September 29, 1896. The storm was so large and violent that properties were damaged throughout the county. The October 3rd issue of the Democratic Advocate newspaper carried reports of the storm damage from nearly every community:

The first two storms were cyclonic in their nature, and the track of destruction was narrow. The storm of Tuesday night, however, was general and the violence of the wind was terrific. Havoc was wrought everywhere, and nearly every piece of property in the county was more or less damaged. In this city and in other towns, where buildings were protected by each other, no one’s loss was very considerable, but almost every house was injured to some extent.

Barns and houses were unroofed all over the county. Outhouses were wrecked and the material scattered. Fences were carried away and cornshocks were scattered, and occasionally carried to neighboring property. Carriages and machinery were damaged by falling sheds. Horses and cows were killed by falling barns and stables. Great damage was done to timber, and magnificent shade trees were uprooted or shorn of their branches, while many orchards were nearly wiped out of existence.

The damage done will foot up many thousands of dollars, perhaps run into the hundred of thousands, and it will require a score of years to replace the beautiful shade trees that decorated the homes of many, sheltering the family from the warm rays of the sun in the summer and protecting the homes against the high winds of the winter.

A considerable number of persons had storm insurance policies, and all these were wise. Many more are now obtaining storm policies, the insurance agents all being busy issuing them.

At Gassaway Gosnell’s, near Winfield, a cow shed was lifted up and carried away, and the cow was left standing unharmed.

At Washington Baumgartner’s, near Taneytown, the gable of the dwelling was blown in, and the outbuildings were so piled about that house that it was difficult for the family to get out.

A brick house on the farm of Attorney General Clabaugh had a gable blown in.

The barn, wagon-shed and corn crib of J. W. Weant, at Double Pipe Creek, were wrecked. Part of the single roof of the residence of I. F. Miller was carried away.

Some of the buildings at Walden’s training farm of Middleburg were damaged and wrecked.

The flour mill, near York Road, owned by Dr. Milton Hammond, of Baltimore, was unroofed. The damage will amount to thousands of dollars. At the house of Mr. David Prugh several large trees were blown upon the house but the occupants escaped injury. His straw stack was swept away, and fences and corn in the shocks were scattered about. The barn of Columbus Nugeon was also swept away. The roof of the M. E. Church, South, was partially torn off. The lumber shed of Wade H. D. Warfield at Sykesville was demolished and his lumber carried away. The front of John McDonald store was blown in; the residence of Dr. J. W. Steele was badly damaged, and Wm. H. Bennett’s roof was carried away. The roads were blocked and fences are lying in every direction. At the residence of Mrs. Little several trees were torn up, and other damage done. At Warfield College many fine oaks were prostrated and one was hurled against the east end of the college. Two trees were uprooted from the grounds of the Protestant Episcopal rectory and hurled against the building. Considerable property of Springfield Insane Asylum was damaged.

Near Sykesville barn of Charles E. Harman was blown down and seven horses caught in the ruins, and the horses of E. A. Merceron were caught in the ruins of his barn. All the horses were injured to some extent.

The storm continued so terrific that persons were afraid to retire and sat up all night and breathed with joy when daylight came. At the residence of Mrs. J. B. George 10 or 15 large trees were uprooted and the lawn presented a sight no peer can describe. At Never Die Park thousands of large trees were blown down, and it is almost impossible to walk through what was once a beautiful grove. The damage will amount to thousands of dollars. At the house of Mr. David Prugh several large trees were blown upon the house but the occupants escaped injury. His straw stack was swept away, and fences and corn in the shocks were scattered about. The barn of Columbus Nugeon was also swept away. The roof of the M. E. Church, South, was partially torn off. The lumber shed of Wade H. D. Warfield at Sykesville was demolished and his lumber carried away. The front of John McDonald store was blown in; the residence of Dr. J. W. Steele was badly damaged, and Wm. H. Bennett’s roof was carried away. The roads were blocked and fences are lying in every direction. At the residence of Mrs. Little several trees were torn up, and other damage done. At Warfield College many fine oaks were prostrated and one was hurled against the east end of the college. Two trees were uprooted from the grounds of the Protestant Episcopal rectory and hurled against the building. Considerable property of Springfield Insane Asylum was damaged.

Near Sykesville barn of Charles E. Harman was blown down and seven horses caught in the ruins, and the horses of E. A. Merceron were caught in the ruins of his barn. All the horses were injured to some extent.