I don't have much information regarding these specific photographs, all are listed as 1910-1920 Tornado/Storm near Willisville. A couple of the photos have 1910 written on them. I did find these two newspaper articles:
23 Apr 1912:
Full reports from districts in the path of the devastating tornado that swept over Illinois and Indiana Sunday place the dead at 53 and the injured at 200. The death toll may be increased from 15 to 20, as many of the injured are in serious condition..... Southern Illinois was the heaviest sufferer from the wind. Wires are still down and communication is meager. Bush, Willisville, IL and Morocco, Ind were almost completely destroyed....Deaths in tornado: Bush 18, Willisville 3, Murphysboro 3, Freeman 3, Sheldon 2, West Frankfort 8, Hamilton County 1, Campus 3, Lowell Ind 3, Morocco Ind 9.
Monday, May 28 1917
The tornado which seemed to originate near Willisville, Perry County, IL late yesterday virtually demolished that village, then rose and whirled rapidly southward, dipping to the earth at intervals to tear roofs from houses or wreck flimsy structures. Information today from Willisville was that 15 houses were demolished there, that five persons were injured and two missing. The entire business district at Willisville was wrecked.
Please contact me if you have any information about these photographs or know of a tornado or severe storm that hit Willisville around 1910..........Joel S. Russell
All photos from the Arlen & Cindy Behnken collection.
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