Saturday, March 3, 2012

Destruction In Our Town

As you probably know by now a series of tornados went through our area (and our town) yesterday.  We watched the closest one (from a safe place) pass within 1/4  to 1/2 mile from our house.  God spared us any damage but many here were not so fortunate.  We appreciate all your prayers and would ask that you please pray for our neighbors who lost family and friends as a result of the storm.

Here are some pictures we took in town this morning.

This used to be a lumber mill:


The trees were snapped like toothpicks:

This used to be someone's home:

Near the cemetery:







As we neared the cemetery where the Tashes are buried, we saw this and knew the scene would be grim

I guess I wasn't prepared....

The marker for the man that built our house, Christian Tash, Sr. and his wife Matilda:

The markers for Willie and Ruth Tash, next to their son Everett M. Tash, the last Tash to live in the house:

This used to be a little one room church at the cemetery:

The tornado clearly went up and over the hill in this very spot. Very frightening to stand there, look at the devastation and try to comprehend the power of that storm.

We are counting our blessings as we are safe, and everyone we know personally here is safe ... in the end, that's all that really matters.

~Kevin & Ann

5 comments:

  1. So very glad that you are all fine.

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  2. So glad everyone there is safe and sound. Have so enjoyed seeing the pictures and what you have done to cousin Everett's old farmhouse. Can't wait to show my father as I know he will get a kick out of it as it was close to a second home to him growing up. Surprised you got ride of the turquoise kitchen - lol. It looks great and will enjoy checking this out again. And thanks for letting me see Everett's plot marker. My prayers are with all of you in Pekin and the area at this time.

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  3. Please feel free to contact us privately or stop by the house anytime! We'd love to meet you and hear about family stories!

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    1. I live in CT and my dad lives in northern VA, so I don't think stopping by anytime soon. Most of the family that lived there is long gone, but I know my dad will love to take a look at all these pictures. Everett was a great and funny guy, but as you can probably tell, not much on up keep of the house. The big joke was when we went over there him having to move newspapers and Christmas wrapping paper off the couch so we could sit (it was July). My grandmother on my fathers side was a Tash.

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  4. This is just horrible. I'm so sorry for the losses in your area.

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