Wellington High School Drama Class, Mr Dave Conklin students: Camille Bowman, Megann Rosecrans, Taylor Petti, created a short documentary about the tornado and interviewed survivors who lived through and shared memories of the tornado night. The film was captured on DVD. As teacher Mr Conklin said, " Our goal was to capture this event for history and posterity." The film was presented at the commemorative event followed by stories from the audience including Charles Jackson, 82 and Gary Sanders, 67 and others. There were tears in the audience as they spoke their stories. The DVD is available for purchase from the Historical Society.
4-11-15, many attend the Memorial Plaque Dedication Ceremony at Pittsfield Township Hall. It was a beautiful sunny day 53 degrees and blue skies for our memorial event. Refreshments were served and everyone appreciated the gathering.
Roger Pickenpaugh, Author and Presenter at the 50th Anniversary and Memorial Commemorative stands with Ralph Hayes, founder of The Pittsfield Township Historical Society and Pittsfield Historian.
4-11-15 Roger Pickenpaugh, Guest Speaker, Author of "Night of the Wicked Winds" and "Flood of Tears" discusses details of the many tornado events that took place Palm Sunday 1965 across several states and devastated lives. Roger Pickenpaugh focussed on local Lorain County stories. Wonderful presentation.
Judy McCurdy and Dave Duchoslav unveil a plaque created to memorialize the victims who lost their lives the night of the Palm Sunday tornado on april 11, 1965. Judy McCurdy lost her father, Louis Klier. Dave Duchoslav lost Agnes Duchoslav, who was driving when the deadly tornado hit.
From Chronicle-Telegram,Page A-2 Sunday April 12, 2015 Jon Wysochanksi.
Photo by Kristin Bauer/Chronicle
From Chronicle-Telegram,Page A-2 Sunday April 12, 2015 Jon Wysochanksi.
Photo by Kristin Bauer/Chronicle
4-11-15~ The 50th Tornado Anniversary
Plaque dedicated on April 11th, 2015 to
those nine Pittsfield residents who lost
their lives and also dedicated to the
Community of Pittsfield which was changed
forever on April 11th, 1965. The memorial
plaque is mounted on the front of the
Pittsfield Township Hall.
Veiled plaque for Commemorative.
Below, the unveiling by families of
victims of the tornado.
April 11, 2015 ~ 50th Tornado Anniversary Commemorative and Dedication Gathering
Dan Clark, President of the Pittsfield Historical Society reads the names of those killed during the 1965 Palm Sunday Tornado during the 50th Anniversary Plaque dedication ceremony. Church Bells were Chimed after Dan read each and every victim's name. The event was well attended by about 215 . It was a somber, yet memorable event.
The belltower at the Pittsfield Community
Church (right) houses the only thing left of
the Methodist and Congregational Churches
after the tornado, the Bell.
Church (right) houses the only thing left of
the Methodist and Congregational Churches
after the tornado, the Bell.
On April 11, 1965, at approximately 11:08 P.M. a tornado swept through Pittsfield, Ohio destroying both the Congregational and Methodist Churches. Construction was started on the new church (left) shortly after the tornado, October 1965 and completed with its first Sermon June 12, 1966 by Pastor Elmer C Novak. The church is now known as Pittsfield Community Church. It took the place of both the Methodist and Congregational Churches that stood at the center of Pittsfield Twp. prior to the 1965 tornado.
(Photo and history with permission from Pittsfield Community Church)
(Photo and history with permission from Pittsfield Community Church)
Pittsfield Township, Ohio was completely destroyed by a tornado in 1965.
Take a look at the photo gallery (place cursor over picture below to display the play button):
- The original Pittsfiled Township Town Hall destroyed by the Palm Sunday Tornado in 1965.
- The double tornado that started in Indiana and came across Ohio, hitting Pittsfield around midnight April 11th, 1965.
- What was left of the town center. Make sure to look at the ' WHO WE ARE' video below .