Description: Caption reads: "Greene County, Xenia, Ohio Oct. 20. 1936 Sewing project in basement of Zion Baptist Church on East Main St. Known as Wilberforce Center, recently removed from the University - formerly had 40 women but most of them have been transferred to other projects." View on Ohio Memory.
Image ID: SA1039AV_B06F09_006_1
Subjects: Xenia (Ohio); Greene County (Ohio);
Places: Xenia (Ohio); Greene County (Ohio)
 

Description: Caption reads: "Greene County, Oct. 1936 Wilberforce University near Xenia, Ohio View of portion of 3/4 mile road construction." View on Ohio Memory.
Image ID: SA1039AV_B06F09_007_1
Subjects: Xenia (Ohio); Greene County (Ohio); Wilberforce University
Places: Xenia (Ohio); Greene County (Ohio)
 

Description: An image of Helen Hooven Santmyer. Santmyer (1895-1986) was an influential writer from Xenia, Ohio. She gained much notoriety in the 1980s with a very successful book titled "...And Ladies of the Club" that would become notably popular. Other published works include "Herbs and Apples" (1925), "The Fierce Dispute" (1929), "Ohio Town" (1962) and "Farewell, Summer" (1988). View on Ohio Memory.
Image ID: AL06797
Subjects: Authors, American--Ohio; Xenia (Ohio); Ohio Women; Older women
Places: Xenia (Ohio); Greene County (Ohio); Ohio
 

Description: Dated October 20, 1936, this photograph shows an athletic field at Wilberforce University in Greene County, Ohio. This photograph is one of the many visual materials collected for use in the Ohio Guide. In 1935, President Franklin D. Roosevelt established the Works Progress Administration by executive order to create jobs for the large numbers of unemployed laborers, as well as artists, musicians, actors, and writers. The Federal Arts Program, a sector of the Works Progress Administration, included the Federal Writers’ Project, one of the primary goals of which was to complete the America Guide series, a series of guidebooks for each state which included state history, art, architecture, music, literature, and points of interest to the major cities and tours throughout the state. Work on the Ohio Guide began in 1935 with the publication of several pamphlets and brochures. The Reorganization Act of 1939 consolidated the Works Progress Administration and other agencies into the Federal Works Administration, and the Federal Writers’ Project became the Federal Writers’ Project in Ohio. The final product was published in 1940 and went through several editions. The Ohio Guide Collection consists of 4,769 photographs collected for use in Ohio Guide and other publications of the Federal Writers’ Project in Ohio from 1935-1939. View on Ohio Memory.
Image ID: SA1039AV_B06F09_003_1
Subjects: Xenia (Ohio); Greene County (Ohio); Wilberforce University; Athletic fields
Places: Xenia (Ohio); Greene County (Ohio)
 

Description: This is an aerial photograph of two homes destroyed after the 1974 tornado. On April 3, 1974, an F5 category tornado struck Xenia, Ohio. The tornado that struck Xenia was just one of at least 148 tornados that occurred in the South and Midwest in a twenty-four hour period. This was the worst outbreak of tornados recorded in the twentieth century. The tornado that struck Xenia had maximum winds of three hundred miles per hour. It destroyed more than one thousand homes and businesses. Hardly any buildings remained standing in Xenia's downtown. Thirty-three people died in the storm, with approximately another 1,150 people injured. President Richard Nixon visited Xenia a week following the tornado. He stated, "It's the worst disaster I've ever seen." Xenia rebuilt quickly. By April 3, 1975, eighty percent of the destroyed homes and forty percent of the businesses had been rebuilt. It would take until 1984 for all structures to be repaired or rebuilt, but as bumper stickers that appeared within days of the tornado stated, "Xenia Lives!" View on Ohio Memory.
Image ID: AL07697
Subjects: Tornadoes--Ohio--Xenia; Tornado damage; Natural disasters; Xenia (Ohio)--History
Places: Xenia (Ohio)
 

Description: This photograph shows Xenia, Ohio, rescue workers searching through bricks after the April 3, 1974 tornado. The unidentified workers are inside a structure searching through rubble (loose bricks and sections of brick wall). Some of the workers appear to be National Guard members wearing uniform and helmets. The tornado "super outbreak" of April 3-4, 1974, resulted in 148 tornadoes in 13 states. The Xenia tornado caused the most deaths of any tornado in the outbreak. The tornado touched down at 4:30 p.m. nine miles southwest of Xenia and entered the city about ten minutes later. It continued northeastward on a path of 32 miles through Xenia and Wilberforce into Clark County. The tornado killed 32 people from Xenia to Wilberforce. About half of the buildings in the city of 27,000 were damaged, and 300 homes destroyed. Nine Xenia churches were destroyed, as were seven of the twelve schools in the city. Fortunately, the tornado occurred an hour after classes had been dismissed. The roof and windows were blown from the Greene County Courthouse. A train passing through Xenia was struck by the tornado and 7 of the 47 cars were blown over, resulting in the blockage of Main Street. More than 1,300 people were treated for injuries at Green Memorial Hospital. Restaurants that were not destroyed handed out thousands of free meals to residents and rescue workers in Xenia. Convoys of generators, floodlights, bulldozers, and dump trucks arrived overnight from nearby Wright-Patterson Air Force Base. The tornado also struck Wilberforce University and Central State University, destroying many buildings and injuring several people on each campus. View on Ohio Memory.
Image ID: AL05947
Subjects: Tornadoes--Ohio--Xenia; Xenia (Ohio)--History; Natural disasters; Greene County (Ohio)
Places: Xenia (Ohio); Greene County (Ohio)
 

Description: Picture of firemen putting out flames after the 1974 Xenia tornado in the area just west of the Greene County Courthouse. Adair’s furniture store opened up onto S. Detroit Street on Route 68. As of 2014, the building was occupied by several stores, including the Hospice of the Miami Valley and Coldwell Banker Heritage Realtors. On April 3, 1974, an F5 category tornado struck Xenia, Ohio. The tornado that struck Xenia was just one of at least 148 tornadoes that occurred in the South and Midwest in a twenty-four period. This was the worst outbreak of tornadoes recorded in the twentieth century. The tornado that struck Xenia had maximum winds of three hundred miles per hour. It destroyed more than one thousand homes and businesses. Hardly any buildings remained standing in Xenia's downtown. Thirty-three people died in the storm, with approximately another 1,150 people injured. President Richard Nixon visited Xenia a week following the tornado. He stated, "It's the worst disaster I've ever seen." Xenia rebuilt quickly. By April 3, 1975, eighty percent of the destroyed homes and forty percent of the businesses had been rebuilt. It would take until 1984 for all structures to be repaired or rebuilt, but as bumper stickers that appeared within days of the tornado stated, "Xenia Lives!" View on Ohio Memory.
Image ID: AL07694
Subjects: Tornadoes--Ohio--Xenia; Tornado damage; Natural disasters; Xenia (Ohio)--History
Places: Xenia (Ohio); Greene County (Ohio)
 

Description: This photograph shows a tractor trailer overturned after the 1974 tornado. On April 3, 1974, an F5 category tornado struck Xenia, Ohio. The tornado that struck Xenia was just one of at least 148 tornados that occurred in the South and Midwest in a twenty-four period. This was the worst outbreak of tornados recorded in the twentieth century. The tornado that struck Xenia had maximum winds of three hundred miles per hour. It destroyed more than one thousand homes and businesses. Hardly any buildings remained standing in Xenia's downtown. Thirty-three people died in the storm, with approximately another 1,150 people injured. President Richard Nixon visited Xenia a week following the tornado. He stated, "It's the worst disaster I've ever seen." Xenia rebuilt quickly. By April 3, 1975, eighty percent of the destroyed homes and forty percent of the businesses had been rebuilt. It would take until 1984 for all structures to be repaired or rebuilt, but as bumper stickers that appeared within days of the tornado stated, "Xenia Lives!" View on Ohio Memory.
Image ID: AL07695
Subjects: Tornadoes--Ohio--Xenia; Tornado damage; Natural disasters; Xenia (Ohio)--History
Places: Xenia (Ohio); Greene County (Ohio)
 

Description: This photograph shows the National Guard clearing debris after the 1974 tornado. On April 3, 1974, an F5 category tornado struck Xenia, Ohio. The tornado that struck Xenia was just one of at least 148 tornados that occurred in the South and Midwest in a twenty-four hour period. This was the worst outbreak of tornados recorded in the twentieth century. The tornado that struck Xenia had maximum winds of three hundred miles per hour. It destroyed more than one thousand homes and businesses. Hardly any buildings remained standing in Xenia's downtown. Thirty-three people died in the storm, with approximately another 1,150 people injured. President Richard Nixon visited Xenia a week following the tornado. He stated, "It's the worst disaster I've ever seen." Xenia rebuilt quickly. By April 3, 1975, eighty percent of the destroyed homes and forty percent of the businesses had been rebuilt. It would take until 1984 for all structures to be repaired or rebuilt, but as bumper stickers that appeared within days of the tornado stated, "Xenia Lives!" View on Ohio Memory.
Image ID: AL07696
Subjects: Tornadoes--Ohio--Xenia; Tornado damage; Natural disasters; Xenia (Ohio)--History; National Guard
Places: Xenia (Ohio); Greene County (Ohio)
 

Description: This photograph shows an aerial view of residences in Xenia, Ohio, on April 4, 1974, the day after a tornado swept through the city. Visible are shattered houses, scattered debris, streets, and a few vehicles. The tornado super-outbreak of April 3-4, 1974, resulted in 148 tornadoes in 13 states. The Xenia tornado caused the most deaths of any tornado in the outbreak. The tornado touched down at 4:30 p.m. nine miles southwest of Xenia and entered the city about ten minutes later. It continued northeastward on a path of 32 miles through Xenia and Wilberforce into Clark County. The Xenia tornado killed 32 people from Xenia to Wilberforce. About half of the buildings in the city of 27,000 were damaged and 300 homes destroyed. Nine Xenia churches were destroyed, as were seven of the twelve schools in the city. Fortunately, the tornado occurred an hour after classes had been dismissed. The roof and windows were blown from the Greene County Courthouse. A train passing through Xenia was struck by the tornado and 7 of the 47 cars were blown over, resulting in the blockage of Main Street. More than 1,300 people were treated for injuries at Green Memorial Hospital. Restaurants that were not destroyed handed out thousands of free meals to residents and rescue workers in Xenia. Convoys of generators, floodlights, bulldozers, and dump trucks arrived overnight from nearby Wright-Patterson Air Force Base. The tornado also struck Wilberforce University and Central State University, destroying many buildings and injuring several people on each campus. View on Ohio Memory.
Image ID: AL05943
Subjects: Tornadoes--Ohio--Xenia; Xenia (Ohio)--History; Natural disasters; Greene County (Ohio);
Places: Xenia (Ohio); Greene County (Ohio)
 

Description: This photograph shows an aerial view of residences in Xenia, Ohio, on April 4, 1974, the day after a tornado swept through the city. Visible are shattered houses, scattered debris, streets, and a few vehicles. The tornado super-outbreak of April 3-4, 1974, resulted in 148 tornadoes in 13 states. The Xenia tornado caused the most deaths of any tornado in the outbreak. The tornado touched down at 4:30 p.m. nine miles southwest of Xenia and entered the city about ten minutes later. It continued northeastward on a path of 32 miles through Xenia and Wilberforce into Clark County. The tornado killed 32 people from Xenia to Wilberforce. About half of the buildings in the city of 27,000 were damaged, and 300 homes destroyed. Nine Xenia churches were destroyed, as were seven of the twelve schools in the city. Fortunately, the tornado occurred an hour after classes had been dismissed. The roof and windows were blown from the Greene County Courthouse. A train passing through Xenia was struck by the tornado and 7 of the 47 cars were blown over, resulting in the blockage of Main Street. More than 1,300 people were treated for injuries at Green Memorial Hospital. Restaurants that were not destroyed handed out thousands of free meals to residents and rescue workers in Xenia. Convoys of generators, floodlights, bulldozers, and dump trucks arrived overnight from nearby Wright-Patterson Air Force Base. The tornado also struck Wilberforce University and Central State University, destroying many buildings and injuring several people on each campus. View on Ohio Memory.
Image ID: AL05944
Subjects: Tornadoes--Ohio--Xenia; Xenia (Ohio)--History; Natural disasters; Greene County (Ohio);
Places: Xenia (Ohio); Greene County (Ohio)
 

Description: This photograph shows an aerial view of residences in Xenia, Ohio, on April 4, 1974, the day after a tornado swept through the city. Visible are shattered houses, scattered debris, streets, and a few vehicles. The tornado "super-outbreak" of April 3-4, 1974, resulted in 148 tornadoes in 13 states. The Xenia tornado caused the most deaths of any tornado in the outbreak. It touched down at 4:30 p.m. nine miles southwest of Xenia and entered the city about ten minutes later. It continued northeastward on a path of 32 miles through Xenia and Wilberforce into Clark County. The tornado killed 32 people from Xenia to Wilberforce. About half of the buildings in the city of 27,000 were damaged, and 300 homes destroyed. Nine Xenia churches were destroyed, as were seven of the twelve schools in the city. Fortunately, the tornado occurred an hour after classes had been dismissed. The roof and windows were blown from the Greene County Courthouse. A train passing through Xenia was struck by the tornado and 7 of the 47 cars were blown over, resulting in the blockage of Main Street. More than 1,300 people were treated for injuries at Greene Memorial Hospital. Restaurants that were not destroyed handed out thousands of free meals to residents and rescue workers in Xenia. Convoys of generators, floodlights, bulldozers, and dump trucks arrived overnight from nearby Wright-Patterson Air Force Base. The tornado also struck Wilberforce University and Central State University, destroying many buildings and injuring several people on each campus. View on Ohio Memory.
Image ID: AL05945
Subjects: Tornadoes--Ohio--Xenia; Xenia (Ohio)--History; Natural disasters; Greene County (Ohio)
Places: Xenia (Ohio); Greene County (Ohio)