A Look Back

Wicked Weather

By Rebecca Crago, Research Center Coordinator, Historical Society of Frederick County

The unfortunate day of May 2, 1929, began with looming dark clouds, gusting winds and torrential downpours that lasted well into the afternoon. By 3 p.m., news of a tornado that had wreaked havoc in the Midwest was warning local residents that the storm was heading toward Maryland. Farmers and residents began preparing for disaster as the Potomac River rose at a rate of one foot per hour. The tornado touched down in Brunswick and Mt. Pleasant, causing two deaths and several injuries. By the time it was over, the storm had hit 11 states, including the town of Rye Cove, Va., where 19 children were killed in a schoolhouse.

This scene shows workers from the Potomac Edison Company attempting to repair one of many damaged utility poles after the storm, which disabled power and telephone service throughout the county. Because of the power outage, the Frederick News-Post had to delay its print of the newspaper for the first time by four hours. Outside of Frederick City, crops and barns from surrounding farmlands were destroyed, while cattle and other livestock were injured.

The roof of “Richfield,” home to Maryland’s first governor, Thomas Johnson, and the birthplace of war hero Adm. Winfield Scott Schley, was torn from the building, where a clock from the second story was found 75 feet from the house. The time had stopped at 8:30 p.m.