Levy County History

53 years ago

The following is an account of the hurricaine and storm which invaded Levy County on September 5th as written by N.F. Ishie, Journal Staff writer and published in the Levy County Journal on Thursday, September 7th:

CEDAR KEY GREATEST SUFFERER IN TUESDAYS BIG STORM
YANKEETOWN AND GULF HAMMOCK HARD HIT

By Journal Staff Writer
N.F. Ishie

Cedar Key, on Tuesday, Sept. 5th, went through the severest and most damaging storms since the famous gale and tidal wave of 1896. In its wake it left from 400 to 600 homeless, and thousands of dollars of damages with at least 95 per cent of the homes and businesses were destroyed or badly damaged.

The industrial backbone of the Island City was almost completely destroyed in a few short hours.

The fibre factory owned and operated by Dr. D.A. Andrews which employed 40 to 50 persons was knocked out. It had just underwent extensive repairs and resumed operation after being shut down since the days of World War II.

Warehouses and a large broom making plant also owned by Dr. Andrews was completely destroyed.

Every fish house, but one, was destroyed. Nearly all the boats were sunk, but can probably be repaired. Most all the fishermen`s nets are a total loss.

Both the Island Hotel and Cedar Key Hotel and every boarding house was badly wrecked.

When the roof blew off the Bank building, a section of the two story brick wall fell on the one story Drug Store known as the "Question Mark" caving the roof and destroyed fixtures and merchandise.

Several grocery stores lost roofs and plate glass doors and windows and the loss in merchandise was heavy.

One hardware store was completely demolished.

The Episcopal Church was smashed to the ground and the rectory badly battered.

Every other church there was unroofed or cracked up.

Although this writer was raised in Cedar Key, there is no way for him to describe the devastation to the homes, there. Nearly every house was destroyed or rendered virtually useless.

Continued next week...

From the Archives & History Center
Levy County Clerk`s Office
Danny J. Shipp, Clerk of Court