On Thursday, April 12, 1945, at 10:20pm just hours after residents learned of the death of President Franklin Delano Roosevelt, a tornado struck Quincy without warning. Nineteen people were reported injured but no one died.
The storm had touched down in Palmyra, Missouri, before striking Quincy. It then continued on to Mendon, Plymouth, and Industry, Illinois.
Mayor Edward Schneidman declared a state of emergency. Governor Dwight Green activated the state militia, and nearly 175 state police officers were sent to Quincy. On Friday, sightseers were so thick that the militia has to fix bayonets to clear people from the streets.
Losses from the tornado were estimated at about $1 million.
A second serious storm hit the city on July 2. This storm destroyed many of the trees in the city, damaged numerous buildings, and cut CIPS transmission lines that interrupted services to all Adams County.
These two photos of the Adams County Court House looking at the East Wing from Vermont Street (facing north), the photo at the top of this post is from the Broadway Street side. All photographs are donated by the Historical Society of Quincy & Adams County and Arlene Middendorf. (you can click each image for a large version)...
Alley between 5th & 6th, on Hampshire next to the Hotel Quincy
East side of 4th Street, between Jersey & York
Rear of St. Peter's Catholic Church, Meyer-Schutter Grocery at 120 South 8th Street
Jefferson-Johnson Motors, 323 Maine Street
7th & Hampshire, south side of street next to Musselman Building
Hampshire Street between 5th & 6th Streets
Belasco Theater, 6th & Hampshire
Richardson Lubricating Company, Front Street
Consolidated Oil Building, Front Street
Hampshire between 6th & 7th, taken from rear of building
St. Peter's Catholic Church, 8th & Maine
South side of Hampshire, between 5th & 6th
Hampshire Street, between 5th & 6th, looking west
Rescue of two residents, rear of Werneth's Market, between 6th & 7th on Hampshire
St. Peter's Catholic Church
Stern Building, northwest corner of 5th & Hampshire
Chatten Implement Company, 10th & Broadway
Rear of St. Peter's Catholic Church, 8th & Maine
Between 5th & 6th, looking east down Hampshire
Between 6th & 7th, looking west down Hampshire
