Xenia, Ohio Tornado Audio - April 3, 1974 (New DES Stereo Audio)

Aside from my interests in music, I also have a keen interest in the weather, and significant weather events throughout U.S. history. This event is one of the most devastating, and took place on the afternoon of April 3, 1974, 51 years ago today. At around 4:30 in the afternoon, an F5 tornado tore through the town of Xenia, Ohio, a small town roughly 16 miles Southwest of Dayton, Ohio, or about 55 miles Northeast of Cincinnati, Ohio. Entire neighborhoods, schools, and businesses were leveled, and 34 people lost their lives - 32 from the tornado directly, and 2 from indirect after effects. The photograph in this video was taken by Fred Stewart at Greene Memorial Hospital in Xenia. Stewart was public information director at the hospital, but also a photography aficionado. His photograph now remains one of the most iconic images of the storm's destruction. Pictured second in the video is the memorial plaque for the victims, ranging from small children to the elderly. There is little motion picture footage of this storm in existence, and only one example of its sound - what you are listening to here. Recorded by a Xenia resident named Mr. Brokeshoulder, I believe this was recorded in an apartment building in the direct path of the destruction. The original recording was super high quality, but in mono sound. Here, using DES, we can now hear whistling of the wind, thunder, and very sadly near the end of the recording, the blowing of a train horn, a Penn Central local freight that was only seconds away from being derailed and tossed from the tracks. This video and recording are for the purposes of memorialization and done in the highest of respect to all who were affected that day, and forever. ***No copyright infringement is at all intended, and all credit goes to proper authorities over these historic articles. If any of these authorities would like this video removed, please ask, and I will do so at once, no questions asked.