1878 - Tornado

NORTHAMPTON, Mass., July 17.- The town is almost despoiled of its beautiful shade trees, mostly large elms, for which it is noted, there being some 15 uprooted on Elm-street alone. The horse cars to Florence cannot run for some day, there being many great trees across the track. On Main-street awnings and signs were blown down and the fronts of several stores blown in, the rain and broken glass damaging the stocks within. The Mansion House lost its tin roof and several chimneys, and the slate roof of the new First Church was badly damaged. The furniture house of W. L. Smith & Co. lost its tine roof and chimneys, while the stock in the house was heavily damaged by the rain. Several tobacco barns were demolished, and a man named Dumpacy is reported to have been buried in the ruins of one of them. Mr. Edwards, President of the Northampton Bank, suffers a great loss to his fine lawn and shade trees.