One of the worst storms in the history of the Fairview territory hit unexpectedly Monday at 8 p.m. in September 1946, leaving 12 miles of destruction in farm and town property. It left wreckage and property damage in its wake to the estimated extent of half a million dollars.

It came suddenly from the southwest and left a wreckage of trees, homes and farm buildings. The area struck was from about five miles southwest of Fairview to the Cartwright, N.D., breaks. Its width was from Ridgelawn, between Sidney and Fairview, to Dore, N.D.

It damaged shelter belts, orchards, hay stacks and feed yards. Nearly every farm home received extensive injury in real estate or personal property. Fairview’s loss was extensive. The Rural Electric Association and telephone lines were out of service for more than 24 hours and in some sections for more than 48 hours. Power company men worked night and day to reinstate the utilities.

The Arthur Johnson house (old cheese factory) in the depot section of Fairview was sawed in two by the storm, the upper story from the bottom story was torn out from under and the upper section let down within a few feet from the foundation. The mother, holding one of the children in her lap, was knocked across the room against the wall and was rendered unconscious, but she still clung to the 3-year-old child in her arms. The other children in the upper floor, preparing for bed, were unharmed.

Other damages in Fairview were: center window of the post office broken; John Miller’s slaughter house tipped and partly on the sidewalk; Allen-Dahl potato warehouse smashed on the east side; parts of the old coal mine shaft broke off and fell on DeSautel’s house; International Elevator top partly blown off; front bakery windows broken; the flour milling structure of the Fairview Mill was largely destroyed; bricks were loosened and taken off on the west side of high school building; Ulrich’s house was damaged, trees on top of the house, front windows broken and gas line broken; Jenkins chicken house was on top of the toilet; hole in roof of grade school, rain leaked through fifth, third and first grade.

Walter Romeo’s house was not to be seen after the tornado hit. Louie Bouchard’s roof on his new house blew off, and part of it landed on Sam Hardy’s lawn, the other half hit Darrel Owen’s garage and ripped part of it off. Charles McCloskey’s house has roof torn off.

Damages in the valley east and northeast of Fairview were the big red barn and other buildings on Bob Flynn’s Shamrock farm, sheds and storage buildings on the Benoit-Hardy farm, buildings on the Allen Morrill, John Reidle, Nick Noteboom and Bert Nevins farms. The silo on the Bud Starr stock farm was also damaged by the force of the storm.

Three people were seriously injured at Walt Lanouette ranch six miles southwest of Fairview on Third Hay Creek. Lanouette was hosting a “fry” in honor of Mr. and Mrs. James Jacobson who came here from New York to visit his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Jacobson.

The party was over and people were beginning to leave when the storm came up with such fury that the ranch party was unable to get out of the way before it struck. All occupants except Lanouette were out of the cabin (clubhouse) when the structure left its foundation and swept into an automobile and broke into many pieces. Lanouette was hurled 200 feet away with lumber and a stove on him. Lanouette was taken to the Sidney Hospital after suffering from a fractured skull and at least one broken bone in his shoulder.

Mrs. Alling was in the Alling car, and Mr. Alling (the news editor) was trying to get to it when the clubhouse was hurtled over the car by the wind. Mrs. Alling and the ladies in the car escaped injury but were unable to get out of the car. Mr. Alling was tossed into the air and struck by a flying table. His injuries were minor.

Mrs. Maxson left the building in company with several other women a few seconds before it became a cracker box in the storm. She was stuck by something as she crawled toward the automobile and was unconscious for 24 hours. She was taken to Sidney hospital and was suffering from bodily injuries and shock but had no broken bones.

The most miraculous event occurred when the Orpheum Theatre management would not let anyone exit through the front door during the storm and probably saved the structure and scores of lives.

Old timers say they never recalled a storm of this kind in their history. It is possible the sheltered position of Fairview and the valley had much to do with softening the effects of a storm which might have taken many lives.

EDITOR’S NOTE: Fairview Times.