April 3rd A Memorable date

Today is the 35th anniversary of one of the largest tornado outbreaks in the history of the United States. Our little town of Xenia, Ohio was hit with the largest F5 tornado recorded to that date. Today is a very dark, blustery, rainy day that brings back memories of those days. Most of the time I don’t think about it. But the date does catch me each year. It’s like a birthday of a relative long gone but you still remember. It’s just the fact that the wind is blowing pretty hard today and it is so dark that I am reminded more so today than normal. After experiencing 3 more tornado's in our town (2 of which came with in 1/2 a mile of our home) over the last 35 years I have gotten less afraid. I really am not one to dwell on past tragedies. I prefer to move on but there has been a lot of attention this year about the tornado and I suppose that is why I am more sensitive today than normal.
I am posting a couple of web address' if anyone is interested in some of the stories from people here in Xenia and what happened to them. http://www.facebook.com/home.php#/pages/XeniaOH/XeniaTornado/32402574342?v=photos&viewas=1075197503
http://www.xeniatornado.com/

I have no old images of that day but I am posting some images of my cute little town for you to enjoy as it looks today!Even though I was not directly effected in any of the tornado's, life is disrupted and the aftermath is traumatic. So much is lost and services are interrupted. There is also the sounds that bring back memories. Helicopters, sirens. Then there is the darkness and quiet because of no power. I was in the 8th grade when the ‘74 tornado struck and I didn’t attend a full day of school again until my senior year when the new school was finally built. I was at home for the next two tornado's and could hear the high pitched scream like sound they make. The last one, I drove into town just after, not realizing how devastating this one had been. It is ironic that this last one would be the one to finally take the fear away. Many people were caught in this one but survived so I realized that not all tornado's are as bad as the ‘74 one and that you can survive. Maybe it is my age but I am also not worried about my stuff anymore so I don’t freak out about loosing my home. I do still take my photo albums to the basement when they announce really bad storms! I am attached to my photographs :). So here are a few of my town I hope you enjoy. Court House ~ Greene County is the county seat

A train used to run down the middle of Xenia. We have a lot of history with the railroads.

Shawnee Park

Galloway cabin

The reproduction of the old train depot. It is the hub of the bicycle trails that run throughout Ohio on the old railroad tracks.

Old Library built with money donated by Carnegie.

The home of the Greene County Historical Society.

Downtown S. Detroit St.

Downtown E. Main St.