Hoboken, NJ Tornado Damages Piers, July 1873

TORNADO IN JERSEY.

A few minutes after the heavy rain-storm had commenced in Hoboken, about 5 o'clock yesterday afternoon, the immense frame-work, over 400 feet in length, in course of construction on the pier of the New Hamburg Steam-ship line, in Hoboken, was struck by a tornado and entirely demolished. Over fifty men at work on the building had barely gained shelter in a building at the upper end of the pier when the crash came, or otherwise a number of lives would have been lost. The superintendent estimates the loss at $2,000. In West Hoboken Clinton Hall, a new building in course of construction, was struck by a gale of wind and completely destroyed, being leveled to the ground. Three workmen were buried in the ruins, and one was fatally injured.
The structure, which was being erected by Doric Lodge F. and A. M., of frame-work, 25 feet front, 90 feet deep, and 3 stories high, was damaged to about $4,000. The roof of a new building on Clinton avenue, Jersey City Heights, was carried bodily a block and a half, and was deposited in a vacant lot. A great number of fruit and shade trees were destroyed along the heights.

The New York Times New York 1873-07-04
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Researched and Transcribed by Stu Beitler. Thank you, Stu!