Description: This photograph is an exterior view of Bundy Hall, C. N. & I. Wilberforce University, designed by noted Columbus architect Frank Packard (1866-1923) and erected in 1917. ("C. N. & I." refers to "Combined Normal and Industrial.") The building was used for administration offices, classrooms, and storerooms. This image is part of the data gathered from an inventory of physical properties owned by the state. The inventory was conducted by the Ohio Department of Finance in 1931. In 1856, the Methodist Episcopal Church established Wilberforce University near Xenia, Ohio, to provide African American access to a college education. The university was the first private black college in the United States. Its founders named the institution after William Wilberforce, a prominent eighteenth-century abolitionist. A number of African-American Ohioans attended the school during its early years. During the American Civil War, attendance declined as many students enlisted in the Union army. Wilberforce University closed in 1862. In 1863, the African Methodist Episcopal Church acquired ownership of the university. Under the direction of Daniel Payne, a bishop in the African Methodist Episcopal Church, John Mitchell, the principal of a school in Cincinnati, and James Shorter, an African Methodist Episcopal pastor from Zanesville, Ohio, Wilberforce reopened its doors. The institution operated as a private university serving the African-American community for the next twenty-four years. In 1887, the State of Ohio began to provide Wilberforce with funds to help finance the institution, brought to an end the university's exclusively private status. The state also helped the university create a Normal and Industrial Department that eventually evolved into Central State University. Wilberforce University has experienced steady growth throughout the twentieth century. During the last decades of the twentieth century, the institution built a new residence hall, a student health center, a recreation and sports facility, and an administrative center. The university offers more than twenty degree programs and has exchange programs with universities around the world. In 2003, enrollment was more than 1,200 students. View on Ohio Memory.
Image ID: AL05850
Subjects: Cultural Ohio--Education; Wilberforce University; College buildings; Historical Black Colleges and Universities; Education, Higher--Ohio--History; Xenia (Ohio)
Places: Wilberforce (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 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)
 

Description: This is an aerial photograph 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 superoutbreak 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 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: AL05946
Subjects: Tornadoes--Ohio--Xenia; Xenia (Ohio)--History; Natural disasters; Greene County (Ohio)
Places: Xenia (Ohio); Greene County (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: 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 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: Signs read: "A Good Goal- Oil 5¢ a Gallon" and "Ready Mixed Paints, Oils, and Varnishes. Benzine and Gasoline." Photograph outside a general store with a group of people in front. Illustration for a Dayton Daily News article. View on Ohio Memory.
Image ID: SA1039AV_B09F03_004_001
Subjects: Xenia (Ohio)--History.; Gasoline.
Places: Xenia (Ohio); Greene County (Ohio)
 

Description: This is an aerial photograph of the aftermath of the Xenia, Ohio, tornado, 1974. It is what is known as a Super Outbreak of tornadoes. It remains one of the most destructive weather episodes on record in the United States. View on Ohio Memory.
Image ID: AL03679
Subjects: Xenia (Ohio); Ohio History--Natural and Native Ohio; Natural disasters--United States; Aerial views; Tornado damage
Places: Xenia (Ohio); Greene County (Ohio)