Chateaugay, NY Tornado Ruins Town, July 1856

A TERRIBLE TORNADO -- VILLAGE OF CHATEAUGAY IN RUINS -- OVER ONE HUNDRED BUILDINGS DESTROYED.

From the Franklin County Republican.
Between the hours of 9 and 10 o'clock, Monday morning last, a fearful tornado passed over the towns of Constable, Burke, and Chateaugay, in this county, and extending into Clinton county, doing an incalculable amount of damage, sweeping down forests, scattering fences, destroying all manner of buildings and other property, and leaving nothing but desolation in its track.
From this point it swept with fearful rapidity and force, making a path through the forests and over the fields in nearly a direct course to Burke and Chateaugay -- leveling trees of every size and buildings as it went.
JEREMIAH ATHOMAS, in the employ of MR. M., was killed at this place.
From the west line of Burke to and including the hotel of S. D. ROBERTS, at Chateaugay Corners, 185 buildings, either unroofed, blown down or moved from their foundations, can be counted as you ride along the road. This does not include those partially injured, by the loss of a few shingles or tearing off portions of covering, but such as are nearly or quite destroyed.
The village of Chateaugay is a complete desolation.
Beyond Chateaugay we have heard of from 60 to 70 buildings which were more or less injured. The tornado extended for a distance of from 30 to 40 miles -- perhaps further, and it must have injured and destroyed nearly 400 buildings. $100,000 will not probably cover the damage. Fences are destroyed, and cattle and horses are roaming at large through the fields.
There are 364 buildings, of all kinds, from the west line of Burke to and including the village of Chateaugay, that were injured, unroofed and destroyed -- and more than two thirds of that number completely ruined. Among the 364, are 128 dwellings, 4 stores, 2 churches, 3 school-houses.

The New York Times New York 1856-07-09
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Researched and Transcribed by Stu Beitler. Thank you, Stu!