Disasters
Fires
1888
The business buildings on the east side of the village were all destroyed. Full account in the next section “1888 Fire in Dongola, IL”.
1914
This fire destroyed every building from the bank corner of Front and Cross Streets to the old Fragrant Fields building. Three lives were lost – Howard Snider, William Manning, and Jake Hase. “The Diary of Howard Snider” was published in the 1990’s.
1925
Fire destroyed the buildings and businesses of W.P. Rial and Preller Douglas.
1934
The first gymnasium on School Street burned due to a lightning strike.
1963
The Osman Produce Company. This was the original Tell Jones sweet potato house.
(Page 17 “Early History Section” & Pages 269-270 “Centennial Edition Section”)
There have been many fires and destruction during the years. In the early years there was no running water and no fire department. The fires noted are the largest to take place in Dongola memory.
Tornadoes
Home of Pam Lentz (Picture by Pam Lentz)
Destruction of old trees up E. Cross St.
Home of Pam Lentz (Photo by Ms. Lentz)
Tornado and storm leaving area (Picture by Wade Moseley)
(All Pictures taken or collected by Troy Corzine unless otherwise noted.)
April 28, 2002 was a date that Dongola and Cypress citizens will remember for a very long time. The Headline of the Dongola Tri-County Record on Thursday, May 2, 2002 was: “Killer Tornado Hits Dongola” Janie L. Chamness, 69, was killed by the tornado that blew a path of destruction through Dongola about 1:33 a.m. Sunday. Mrs. Chamness lived in a mobile home on Shake Rag road on the east side of Dongola. Coroner Darryl Rendleman said a witness living nearby saw the lights of her car on. Rendleman assumed she was attempting to find safer quarters, realized she didn’t have time and went back into her home.
The Coroner said the twister swept the mobile home off the concrete pad. The victim was found about 300 ft. across the road in a ditch among the debris from her home. Coroner Rendleman said Mrs. Chamness died from massive head injuries.
The Shake Rag road area was one of those receiving major damage. The home of Mrs. Chamness’ daughter and son-in-law next door, Terrie and Willie Rhymer, had portions standing, but was demolished along with several vehicles.
Across the road the mobile homes of Jeff Brown and Stanley and Cindy Rider were destroyed.
Down the road, the home of Mr. and Mrs. Carl Lingle was moved on its foundation and squashed by trees. The Lingles were awakened by their grandson because of strong wind and only had time to hit the floor by their bed as a tree crashed on the bedroom roof, mashing the ceiling to a few feet above them.
On the west side of town, Lake road was severely struck. The home of Eddie and Donna Goins was destroyed and a camper, parked in the yard, is missing. The house next door also was destroyed.
Across the road the mobile homes of Stephen Simmerman and Casey George were destroyed.
As the tornado, an F3 or larger, came into town from the west, major damage occurred in its path, from three to four tenths of a mile wide, Fire Chief Rick Acuff said Sunday afternoon some 30 to 35 families were homeless and at least seven were injured in addition to the fatality.
All fire departments in Union County were in Dongola to assist with the disaster along with County Police departments, State Police, Union County Rescue, Karnak, Ullin and Olmsted Fire Departments, Baptist Union Association Disaster team, Ullin Baptist church, Anna Heights Baptist church and several work groups. Food was provided at the Baptist church and the school.
Monday, Marion emergency personnel were here to assist and following the Marion tornado some years ago, had experience in the state and governmental agencies to contact for assistance and procedures to follow to help in the cleanup process.
Sunday as the day progressed, cleanup crews and utility crews were severely affected by sightseers blocking the street even though police attempted to limit them. Sunday evening emergency personnel virtually shut the town down and by Monday morning residents needed a written pass to go to work or other essential tasks.
As the twister crossed the railroad tracks, several of the large electrical poles on south Front Street were broken. Dongola’s electrical power is fed from the south and those poles had to be replaced before power could even get into town. All the streets in the path had many broken poles and very few power lines. By Tuesday electricity was restored to most homes in condition for it.
The path of the storm caused major damage to homes on S. Front Street, up the hill to Charles Street, E. Cross, Oak, and top of Elm Street at the Hanford Kaufman home and on to the Shake Rag Road.
Cypress school and the village of Cypress also were reported as receiving major tornado damage.
Union County is among the counties declared a federal disaster area by Illinois Governor George Ryan.
Nine homes were completely destroyed by the tornado in Dongola. 42 homes received major damage and 111 homes minor damage and another 18 homes were affected in some way.
A NOTICE Printed in the Dongola Tri-County Record: May 2, 2002
Village President Teddy L. Earnhart, Village Trustees, Dongola Fire Chief Ricky Acuff and the entire Fire Department, Police Chief John Snell and Village Employees want to express their sincere appreciation to ALL who have come to the aid of the Village during this terrible disaster. There is no way we can begin to thank each one individually. Your assistance has been invaluable and will never be forgotten!
Village of Dongola
First Baptist Church of Dongola is taking names and phone numbers of anyone needing helping clearing yards, driveways and/or small repair work on homes following the tornado in Dongola. The Red Cross was at the First Baptist Church after the disaster.
The Church of Christ and Lutheran church offered food and clothing to those in need.
Share and Care, Inc. kept longer hours and gathered basic household needs for starting a household from scratch.
The Osman Family gave $32,000 toward helping families needing assistance with recovery from tornado damage.
Tornadoes Warnings and watches are frequently televised in spring and fall due to changeable weather in this area. Southern Illinois is frequently caught between the two jet streams from Canada and the Gulf, which causes volatile weather when the cold dry air and the warmer wet air meet. We are unofficially part of the country known as Tornado Alley. The area also has several