Spring Storm Brings Death and Destruction to Campus in 1922

On May 4th, 1922 a tornado hit the St. Edward’s campus causing severe damage to several buildings.  One student, Andrew McGrory of Port Arthur, was killed when he was caught out in the open by the storm.  The following excerpt is from a remembrance article published in the St. Edward’s Echo several years later.

“It was four o’clock in the afternoon.  The campus was filled as usual after the third period….with boys playing on the baseball diamond, some swimming in the natatorium, others walking about the grounds.  As if by magic, a dark cloud appeared upon the horizon to the north and a howling wind swept across the open spaces of the campus.  After five minutes of crashing, twisting, breaking and smashing, the tornado had destroyed St. Edward’s to an extent that was almost unbelievable.  The amount of damage to the buildings was quite extensive.  The top floor of Holy Cross Hall was cleanly sheared and destroyed.  Half was blown away.  The remaining half crashed into the second floor.  The boiler room and adjoining structure, then the candy store, was completely razed, as were the gymnasium and the natatorium.  The smoke stack was carried half a mile away.”

St. Edward’s Echo
May 1, 1940

For additional information contact the St. Edward’s University Archives.

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