Worst Storm In Years Hits Lake And Town 1958

Worst Storm In Years Hits Lake And Town Area

Many Huge Trees Are Uprooted

Last Thursday the Lake Maxinkuckee area and the Town of Culver suffered a half dozen successive violent thunder and wind storms, the most severe striking the community around both 7 p.m. and 10 p.m. and causing untold damage - the worst in the Lake region in many years.

The Rev. Dr. Allan MacL. Frew of Detroit, summer resident: at 2124 East Shore Drive, stated that the velocity of the wind for nearly two minutes was around 100 miles per hour. He once rode the SS Queen Mary through a hurricane and made the comparison from that exciting experience.

Jim Cox On The Job

James R. Cox, who has done such a wonderful job again this season as special patrolman for the Lake Maxinkuckee Association, gave The Citizen the following partial list of damage he observed in his rounds early the next morning:

Damage At The Academy

At the Culver Military Academy numerous heavy branches were destroyed on a cottonwood tree near the nursery; the "A" boat was upset at its mooring; the canvas was ripped off the dressing room at the swimming pier; and the canvas and frame for the sunshade were badly damaged.

Two big trees were uprooted at the Ray Kline cottage on East Shore Lane with a large catalpa falling into a guest cottage causing damage to the porch roof.

The storm caused a minor tragedy at the Robert L. Haig year - round residence on East Shore Lane. Mr. Haig's German made motorcycle blew over on a case of beer, breaking every bottle but one. The Haigs also lost a tree.

From the Mrs. Harold B. West cottage south through the Lane to the East Shore Inn electric lights were out until 2 a.m.

On the West Shore an uprooted oak tree caused extensive damage to the garage on the Will Keisling property and to the garage of Mrs. Ralph Wickizer. Electric power was off from 7 to 10 p.m.

At the Floyd Poston of Attica cottage on South Shore Lane the top was ripped out of a mammoth tree.

On the East Shore the top of an oak tree crashed into the front of the Spencer home shattering a jalousie window and downspout on the house: a new pier was damaged at the Charles Maull residence; porch screens were blown off at the F. W. Dunn home: and a large maple tree uprooted at the Tommy Hendricks cottage narrowly missed the sun porch of the Stone residence.

Makes Hole-in-One

A chaise lounge, blown from the roof of the garage at the home of W. 0. Osborn, was found in the woods beyond the Maxinkuckee golf course.

At the C. Harvey Bradley place a tree was uprooted and a heavy bench was blown from the lakeside to State Road 117: a tree was blown down and the front screens blown off at the Wilkinson cottage; and at the John F. Kelly cottage four trees were uprooted and a window was broken.

Dr. Troy L. Babcock's six garbage cans were carried 80 feet down the road.

At the Cleveland home the near tornado blew open a terrace door, breaking the glass in several framed old prints and etchings. The Baxters found their sailboat against the front of their house, and the Culloms' lawn furniture was pushed right smack against their front door. Huge branches were strewn across the road at Maxinkuckee Landing and almost blocked entrance to the two grocery stores at that point. - Aug 27, 1958 Citizen