On the fourth of July in 1946 a huge storm pass over a the area southwest and north and east of Thief River Falls. Fifty barns were destroyed in Pennington county as well as extensive damage to 100 barns, 80 houses, and outbuildings and 40 silos. The article talks about all the trees destroyed along Conley, St. Paul, Markley and Kendall Avenue on the east side and along Riverside on the west. Many trees also were damaged in Greenwood Cemetery and in the tourist park at Oakland Park. Another storm moved in on July 5 with additional damage from the lightening. Although houses were blown off their foundation, a tornado was never mentioned.
Such as it was in 1999 when a 100 mph straight wind went through mid central Minnesota up to and to include the northwest angle. They didn't call it a tornado either. It amazes me how a wind can cause so much damage.
The fireworks of the previous storms ws lightening.
A little different than chasing fireflies as a child and rubbing them on your cowboy hat hoping the hat would glow! The only noise we made was by taking the caps out of our cap guns and hitting them with a hammer. If we did it in the garage, it made an echo, which made it louder, but grandma didn't like it; neither did the gun shy collie.
We didn't do fireworks in Minnesota except one year when Daddy brought home two grocery bags full. Greg and I used them all up long before dark. There weren't fireworks displays hosted by local men's clubs then. Our family did not do picnics, it was for the most part, just another day.
Imagine how exciting it was for young adults to lay on the grass on the hill of the campus of the University of Kansas and watch the fireworks which where launched from the football stadium with the Memorial Campanile and Carillon behind us. Each aeriel shot into the night sky was more impressive than the last. It would become family tradition for us to watch the display each year. It would be the same hill the children sled on and where they marched down the hill to receive their degrees as graduates of KU. Yes, this is Titletown where Jayhawks rule! Little plug for the basketball team!!!
Long into fall and winter, the sidewalk in front of our house held evidence where smoke bombs had burned during the few days of early July. In the evening, a metal coffee can with water sat on the porch where they would dispose of their used sparkles. Trips to the fireworks stands were frequent; better to buy a few at a time and make the 'fun' last longer. We knew within inches just where the city property stopped and county started by where the tents were posted. No one blew off their hand or were burned, perhaps we were lucky, there where always stories in the paper about injuries. Near midnight on the fourth, which was the last legal time to shoot off fire crackers, Black Cats, which may have come packaged in a hundred, were lit and popped their way into oblivion.
Old Trunks wishes all a safe and happy 4th.
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