The Hail Storm
It happened soon after the turn of the
century. I have not been able to determine the exact year
but it was before 1910. A most bizarre hail storm occurred
at Brooks and the surrounding area. Huge hail stones fell
stripping bark from the trees, beating crops into the
ground, and damaging houses. Those who can remember the
storm say that there are even today evidences of that
storm. One very old “tin” roofed house in the area still
shows patched holes in its roof caused by the hail stones.
I’ve heard reports of hail stones as large as golf balls to
grapefruit. Although it’s hard to confirm how large the
hail stones really were, there is no question that the
intensity and force with which they fell was like no thing
that had been seen before or has been seen since.
Most buildings and houses had metal roofs often referred to
as “tin” roofs. This was a very effective and relatively
inexpensive way of roofing a building. Many old timers
still remember the delightful sound of gentle rain on the
“tin” roof which could give you a warm and protected
feeling especially at night as you drifted off to sleep.
At that time, Mr. Frank Putman ran a country store in
Brooks. It too had a “tin” roof. When the hail storm
occurred, there were a number of patrons in the store. As
the storm intensified the noise of the hail hitting the
roof was terrific and even frightening. It sounded as
though the roof would be torn from the building. Those in
the store found cover under tables and counters.
It was difficult to hear anything other than the pounding
hail stones on the roof, but someone in the crowd shouted,
“I think it’s time to pray!”
“I believe it’s too late!” loudly responded one of the
others.
*************
I recently received an email from Dan Langford, Jr. His
father, Dan Langford, Sr. was a former high school student
of mine and the son of Hubert and Kathryn Langford. Mr.
Langford practically ran Brooks while he was alive. He was
Mayor, fire chief, postmaster, EMC emergency contact, and
the owner of the only grocery store in Brooks. Mrs.
Langford was principal and teacher of the Brooks Elementary
School for many years.
In Dan's email he told me that he had heard the "Hail
Storm" story, as it has been told in Brooks all of his
life. The following is really the way it happened:
The hail storm occurred in 1933. Folks had gathered outside
Mr. W.C. "Buck"Putman's store after church under the tin
shed roof that covered the unpaved sidewalk when the storm
began. The hail hitting on the roof was terrific. It
sounded as though the roof would be torn off. Mr. Jim
Woolsey suggested in the heat of the storm that they should
offer up a prayer.
Mr. George Leach responded, " Mr. Jim, I believe we've done
waited too long."
Some said the damage from the storm was so pervasive that a
cat could be thrown through every roof in town with no harm
to the cat.
Dan went on to say he had verified the story with Gerald
Woolsey, who heard it directly from his grandfather Mr. Jim
Woolsey.