The following details regarding the ravages of the storm of last Monday night near Beltrami, were received in a letter from a well known resident of that section this morning, and will be of interest to many people here who are well acquainted with the parties who lost heavily. The letter follows:
The storm started about eleven o'clock p.m., and continued about an hour. Very little hail came here but it is believed more was gotten around Russia.
Iver Opdahl's barn, a large structure was demolished into kindling wood. About senenty tons of hay was in the barn. Four horses had to be snaked out of the ruins, and some are in a critical condition. Four cows were killed.
Joe Olson's new barn, which was built this spring, had the roof taken off and the sides badly splintered.
Vick Johnson's buildings are just about all demolished. The granary was hurled about fifteen rods, all smashed; the barn was lifted upward and carried about two rods and entirely smashed. The house was moved off its foundation and is in a bad fix. Stove pipes were blown off and the plastering is falling out.
A. O. Reine had built a new barn this spring, and it was taken off its foundation and badly racked to the east. The well house was moved, pipes broken off, and a few out houses tipped over.
Charlie E. Gullickson had some gigantic trees by his house, most of which were blown down.
All shocks are down in the fields. A few farmers had some grain left to cut, but is is all gone now. Many haystacks were blown over. Fortunately no people were hurt. It was the worst cyclone ever experienced around here. Most people took to their cellars.
Anton A Anden had his barn blown over. Geo. E. Colby was sleeping on the floor when he woke up and found himself in water.
Source: Crookston Times, August 28 1909
Submitter: Brenda G.
Updated 20 APR 2015, K. Kittleson