Tornado and Gas Station Blasts Haunt DeWitt Histories
A historic 1860 tornado devastated DeWitt and Camanche, killing 28 and destroying the county seat, with vivid scenes of twin tornadoes and massive damage. In 1945 a gas station blast killed five men, with a coroner’s jury finding no negligence amid conflicting witness accounts.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
DeWitt
Camanche
Clinton County
Western Historical Society of
Chicago
Towa
Hardin County
Mississippi River
Iowa
Deep Creek Township
Hazel Green
Wisconsin
DeWitt Fire Disaster Recalled In 1964 Centennial
In reminiscences from a DeWitt centennial issue, witnesses describe aid to burning victims after a 1945 gas station explosion. Mrs. Albright notes Shrke was blown through a window. the fire department fought a blaze Mrs. Moses called the most wicked she had seen. Elsie Hartmann recalls a Clinton hospital emergency call for gauze and ointments.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Observer
Clinton
Herbert Shrke
Shell ‘Servicenter
Albert McDonald
Charles Mohr
Allen Leitz
Davenport
Ed Anderson
DeWitt
Majestic Theatre
Galitz
DeWitt Brewery opens with new lager in DeWitt
The subscriber announces a newly erected DeWitt brewery now in operation on Clinton and Tyler Streets. It keeps on hand and for sale the best lager beer in the west and solicit patronage. Brewery on Clinton and Tyler Streets. Vincenes Vegge. From the DeWitt Standard, March 7, 1860.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
DeWitt
Clinton and
Tyler Streets
Standard
Also Mentioned on This Page
Parsell
Lyons
Merlyn Krukow
Donald Anderson
William E. Galitz
Herbert Thrice
Shell Servicenter
Roy Boysen
Nettie Albright
Luther Wagner
O. S. Moses
Elmer Grover
C. N. Richmond
C. R. Stagers
William Galitz
Harrington Implement Store
Harrington’s
Donald
Anderson
de Witt
Eclipse Lumber Company
New Fire Station
William Clark
Ray Dobler
THE
Dewitt Observer
Krukow & McClimon
E. E. Krukow
WM. McClimon
M. D. Krukow
Dewitt Brewery
Crossroads
11Th St
4Th Avenue
Keith
Elly
Walter
Biocade
John
Taylor
Insurance & Real Estate
Ed Christiansen
C. C
Christiansen
First
Insurance
This is just the beginning! Our collection holds over 300 years of history, including rare newspapers, obituaries, marriage records, birth records, and so much more—most of which you won’t find anywhere else!