Comments on: Photos of the Oak Lawn Tornado http://oaklawntornado.com Stories Of Illinois Tornado Day, 1967 Mon, 23 Jan 2012 21:18:45 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 By: cathy krupa(mayton) http://oaklawntornado.com/photos-of-the-oak-lawn-tornado/#comment-1081 cathy krupa(mayton) Mon, 26 Sep 2011 15:15:17 +0000 http://oaklawntornado.com/photos/#comment-1081 i was 11 years old and i still remember when the tornado went up my driveway and didnt touch my house but hit 3 other house i was 11 years old and i still remember when the tornado went up my driveway and didnt touch my house but hit 3 other house

]]> By: Save Ferris http://oaklawntornado.com/photos-of-the-oak-lawn-tornado/#comment-923 Save Ferris Sat, 13 Aug 2011 22:43:03 +0000 http://oaklawntornado.com/photos/#comment-923 I was 17 when this tornado hit. I lived in Beverly but I was picking up my cousin from oak lawn high school as I attended a school that got out a couple hours before hers. I remember being about 4 blocks east of sw hwy on 95th at a light, maybe even as east as Ridgeland. I remember feeling the life drain out of my legs and body and feel like I can't get there fast enough and feeling hopeless to get there and what I was seeing. Luckily she was okay but I know many others were not. I pray for all of those kids. I was 17 when this tornado hit. I lived in Beverly but I was picking up my cousin from oak lawn high school as I attended a school that got out a couple hours before hers. I remember being about 4 blocks east of sw hwy on 95th at a light, maybe even as east as Ridgeland. I remember feeling the life drain out of my legs and body and feel like I can’t get there fast enough and feeling hopeless to get there and what I was seeing. Luckily she was okay but I know many others were not. I pray for all of those kids.

]]> By: Brian Jennings http://oaklawntornado.com/photos-of-the-oak-lawn-tornado/#comment-801 Brian Jennings Mon, 06 Jun 2011 09:03:55 +0000 http://oaklawntornado.com/photos/#comment-801 Today, June 4, 2011, Oak Lawn again experienced high winds, albeit only 70mph this time. Mother nature took a several hundred pound branch from my tree and speared the windshield of my formerly pristine car. I now live 1/2 mile from the corner of 95th& Southwest Highway. Although I was only seven at the time and we lived nearly 5 miles away in thse days, I vividly recall the'67 tornado. I hid in the basement with my mom. A man who did carpentry for us named Bill, had the misfortune of being at that intersection at that moment. He died along with many. A sad, bewildering moment for a kid who had watched every move when Bill the carpenter had finished the basement of our home. Today, June 4, 2011, Oak Lawn again experienced high winds, albeit only 70mph this time. Mother nature took a several hundred pound branch from my tree and speared the windshield of my formerly pristine car. I now live 1/2 mile from the corner of 95th& Southwest Highway. Although I was only seven at the time and we lived nearly 5 miles away in thse days, I vividly recall the’67 tornado. I hid in the basement with my mom. A man who did carpentry for us named Bill, had the misfortune of being at that intersection at that moment. He died along with many. A sad, bewildering moment for a kid who had watched every move when Bill the carpenter had finished the basement of our home.

]]> By: Shirley http://oaklawntornado.com/photos-of-the-oak-lawn-tornado/#comment-797 Shirley Fri, 03 Jun 2011 02:13:32 +0000 http://oaklawntornado.com/photos/#comment-797 I was 8 years old at the time. We lived at 88th and Ridgeland and I remember my mother had me posted at the front window to watch for a tornado. My sister was 4 months old and my 5 year old brother was in a body cast. I spotted the tornado and my mother put my brother and sister, one under each arm, and we ran to the neighbor who had a basement. I can still hear the sounds and feel the wind whenever I think about it! It was absolutely terrifying, and the memories are still as vivid as though it all just happened yesterday. I was 8 years old at the time. We lived at 88th and Ridgeland and I remember my mother had me posted at the front window to watch for a tornado. My sister was 4 months old and my 5 year old brother was in a body cast. I spotted the tornado and my mother put my brother and sister, one under each arm, and we ran to the neighbor who had a basement. I can still hear the sounds and feel the wind whenever I think about it! It was absolutely terrifying, and the memories are still as vivid as though it all just happened yesterday.

]]> By: Roberta Hollister http://oaklawntornado.com/photos-of-the-oak-lawn-tornado/#comment-793 Roberta Hollister Sat, 28 May 2011 12:26:25 +0000 http://oaklawntornado.com/photos/#comment-793 I was 13 at the time of the Oaklawn tornado and although I lived in Tinley Park, it is a day that was permanently etched in my mind. There were severe storms over the entire area and the sky was green. I had family living near the area, as well as close friends. I vivedly remember the worry until we could reach our loved ones who lived near there. It was horrible listening to the reports of children my age being killed in the grocery store and skating rink. I experienced two other tornadoes and possibly a third during my childhood. The area used to be called tornado alley. I was 13 at the time of the Oaklawn tornado and although I lived in Tinley Park, it is a day that was permanently etched in my mind. There were severe storms over the entire area and the sky was green. I had family living near the area, as well as close friends. I vivedly remember the worry until we could reach our loved ones who lived near there. It was horrible listening to the reports of children my age being killed in the grocery store and skating rink. I experienced two other tornadoes and possibly a third during my childhood. The area used to be called tornado alley.

]]> By: Paul S. http://oaklawntornado.com/photos-of-the-oak-lawn-tornado/#comment-544 Paul S. Wed, 27 Apr 2011 17:37:08 +0000 http://oaklawntornado.com/photos/#comment-544 I have so many memories of that day! I remember that it was the first day of the OLCHS spring play and I was going to stay at school instead of going home, but I found out you had to have a suit jacket for opening night. I went home and was eating a tuna fish sandwich when the storm hit. The quiet, the green, the noise and then, the blackness were all consuming. After a bit, my cousin came down and said he was going up to the high school to see if he could help and wanted to know if I would come with. I said yes, and we jumped in his car and headed up there. The destruction was almost too much to bear! I had NEVER seen anything like it. Tree limbs were sticking straight up in the ground, driven there by the storm. I remember that there was a 2x4 sticking out of the side of a house at about a 60 degree angle! When we got up to the high school, it was jaw-dropping! I couldn't believe it! The Red Barn Restaurant was gone, the gas station on the corner was gone, everything was in such a state of devastation. My cousin and I helped the firemen pull people from the wreckage and I remember thinking that I could have been up here. I came across a car that had been blown into the football practice field and when I looked in the car, all I saw was blood! I was freaked out and pretty numb from then on that night. Later that week, some of us got out of classes to help clean up the mess. We were assigned to tree duty. A guy with a chainsaw would cut pieces off and we would haul them over to a waiting truck. I will never forget that day or the aftermath. I have so many memories of that day! I remember that it was the first day of the OLCHS spring play and I was going to stay at school instead of going home, but I found out you had to have a suit jacket for opening night. I went home and was eating a tuna fish sandwich when the storm hit. The quiet, the green, the noise and then, the blackness were all consuming. After a bit, my cousin came down and said he was going up to the high school to see if he could help and wanted to know if I would come with. I said yes, and we jumped in his car and headed up there. The destruction was almost too much to bear! I had NEVER seen anything like it. Tree limbs were sticking straight up in the ground, driven there by the storm. I remember that there was a 2×4 sticking out of the side of a house at about a 60 degree angle!

When we got up to the high school, it was jaw-dropping! I couldn’t believe it! The Red Barn Restaurant was gone, the gas station on the corner was gone, everything was in such a state of devastation. My cousin and I helped the firemen pull people from the wreckage and I remember thinking that I could have been up here.

I came across a car that had been blown into the football practice field and when I looked in the car, all I saw was blood! I was freaked out and pretty numb from then on that night.

Later that week, some of us got out of classes to help clean up the mess. We were assigned to tree duty. A guy with a chainsaw would cut pieces off and we would haul them over to a waiting truck.

I will never forget that day or the aftermath.

]]> By: Joe C http://oaklawntornado.com/photos-of-the-oak-lawn-tornado/#comment-496 Joe C Fri, 22 Apr 2011 18:45:05 +0000 http://oaklawntornado.com/photos/#comment-496 I will never forget crouching near my Grandmothers picture window at her house on Southwest hwy, just across from the catholic school, and praying hard! The blackness was tangible! I will never forget that day, or the fact that it took my father three additional days to get clearance to drive down Southwest hwy and pick me up. Driving away from the scene was horrifying, all the destruction, it was almost too much to take in. Seeing that the little flower shop next to Grandma's house destroyed, along with twenty more down Southwest hwy really makes one feel lucky to be alive! I am always worried to this day when sirens fire up during bad storms, makes me cringe! I will never forget crouching near my Grandmothers picture window at her house on Southwest hwy, just across from the catholic school, and praying hard! The blackness was tangible! I will never forget that day, or the fact that it took my father three additional days to get clearance to drive down Southwest hwy and pick me up. Driving away from the scene was horrifying, all the destruction, it was almost too much to take in. Seeing that the little flower shop next to Grandma’s house destroyed, along with twenty more down Southwest hwy really makes one feel lucky to be alive! I am always worried to this day when sirens fire up during bad storms, makes me cringe!

]]> By: Adam Zart http://oaklawntornado.com/photos-of-the-oak-lawn-tornado/#comment-174 Adam Zart Mon, 31 Jan 2011 23:43:30 +0000 http://oaklawntornado.com/photos/#comment-174 I was 4 years old and lived two blocks from 95th and southwest highway in 1967 when that storm hit. Our garage was in the neighbors yard. the neighbors houses on either side of us were so damaged the were burned down by the fire department. I will never forget the sounds that tornado made. Looking at the pictures still gives me goose bumps. I was 4 years old and lived two blocks from 95th and southwest highway in 1967 when that storm hit. Our garage was in the neighbors yard. the neighbors houses on either side of us were so damaged the were burned down by the fire department. I will never forget the sounds that tornado made. Looking at the pictures still gives me goose bumps.

]]> By: George H. http://oaklawntornado.com/photos-of-the-oak-lawn-tornado/#comment-173 George H. Sat, 29 Jan 2011 00:00:24 +0000 http://oaklawntornado.com/photos/#comment-173 I remember it well. I was to have had a ballgame that evening at the Little League fields @ 99th & Central. Instead, I recall being awed by the armed National Guard soldier, posted on the corner; forbidding non-residents entry into town. The corner of 95th & Southwest Highway was also home to the bus barn, with buses strewn about like toys in the tornado's wake. I understand that they are STILL uncovering debris from that event; used at the time as landfill, during Oak Lawn's growth years. I remember it well. I was to have had a ballgame that evening at the Little League fields @ 99th & Central. Instead, I recall being awed by the armed National Guard soldier, posted on the corner; forbidding non-residents entry into town. The corner of 95th & Southwest Highway was also home to the bus barn, with buses strewn about like toys in the tornado’s wake. I understand that they are STILL uncovering debris from that event; used at the time as landfill, during Oak Lawn’s growth years.

]]> By: Larry R. http://oaklawntornado.com/photos-of-the-oak-lawn-tornado/#comment-155 Larry R. Wed, 22 Dec 2010 23:05:25 +0000 http://oaklawntornado.com/photos/#comment-155 This brings back memories. I was a member of the Lansing FD and responded to the fire house on that day. We had an old 12 cylinder LaFrance that was used for mutual aid calls at that time and that was the equipment that we sent to Oaklawn. Myself and fellow firefighter Bill Smith rode outside on the back step from Lansing to Oaklawn via the Ill. Toll road at 60 mph in a downpour. When we got close , we had to stop and add oil to the engine. That old truck was really pounding, It took 6 quarts of oil to at least get a oil pressure reading. A long time ago, but some memories never go away. This brings back memories. I was a member of the Lansing FD and responded to the fire house on that day. We had an old 12 cylinder LaFrance that was used for mutual aid calls at that time and that was the equipment that we sent to Oaklawn. Myself and fellow firefighter Bill Smith rode outside on the back step from Lansing to Oaklawn via the Ill. Toll road at 60 mph in a downpour. When we got close , we had to stop and add oil to the engine. That old truck was really pounding, It took 6 quarts of oil to at least get a oil pressure reading.
A long time ago, but some memories never go away.

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