On September 9th, 1821, one of the most significant tornadic events in New England history would affect Vermont, Massachusetts, and New Hemisphere.
#1 - Berlin VT:
Very little is known about this tornado besides that it only hit fields and forests near the town of Berlin and crossed a river.
#2 - Haverhill NH:
This tornado moved ESE from south of Haverhill to south of East Haverhill. 100 acres of forest were destroyed with the path apparently being visible for many years after. One barn was destroyed.
#3 - Pittsford VT:
This significant tornado struck the villages of Pittsford and Hubbardston. 10-12 inch thick apple trees were reportedly carried over 100 yards, many acres of forest were destroyed, books were reportedly carried 5-6 miles, and many buildings were destroyed. Besides that, not much is known about this event.
#4 - New London NH:
This was the most destructive, deadliest, and longest tracked tornado of the entire outbreak and ranks as the deadliest tornado in NH history. This "giant elephant trunk" shaped funnel first touched down in either Vermont or northern Cornish NH, and moved ESE. It passed near Corydon, destroying a barn and a house, before striking a farm on the western shore of Lake Sunapee. All buildings on this farm including the brick house were "thrown to the ground" with heavy debris being wind-rowed 3/10 of a mile. Sadly here the tornado claimed its first victim, an 11-month old child who was thrown nearly a half-mile to his death. A large swath of forest was leveled in this area. The storm then crossed the lake before devastating the small settlement of New London. One example of the homes destroyed here was the John Davis house which was leveled with "not a piece of timber or a board being left on the ground where the house stood, nor a brick being left where the chimney stood." A 700-800 lb hearthstone was overturned and all the furniture was swept away and destroyed. There were no fatalities or serious injuries in this settlement.
The tornado continued to the ESE, continuing to intensify as it climbed the NW slope of Mt Kearsarge (~1200-1600 ft above sea level) before descending into a cluster of homes known as Kearsarge Grove. In this place, the tornado was likely at maximum intensity. One of the first farms to be destroyed was owned by Daniel Savory. All the buildings were not only leveled but "the materials and contents were dashed into ten thousand pieces and scattered in every direction." The brick house was leveled and swept away with "only part of the floor and some bricks remain to mark the site." 2 people died at this farm. 3 to 4 other homes were severely damaged or destroyed in this area including the Flanders farm which was "completely borne away." Another two people including an infant were killed at the Flanders farm. It then crossed into the corner of Salisbury and struck the farm of Joseph True. "Of the house, which was new, not a timber remained upon the foundation. It was blown into fragments and scattered to the winds." The cellar stairs were carried away and an 8-inch square brick hearth was removed. Bricks were strewn from the hearth and reportedly covered Mrs. True in a foot of bricks. One person later died from his injuries. All outbuildings on the farm were swept away with a loom reportedly being carried 200 yards. After destroying one more home the event dissipated in the woods near Boscawen.
The New London-Kearsage tornado was truly unprecedented in NH history. It left a scar in the forest that was still visible in 1890, it reportedly debarked some trees, "swept clean" potato and cornfields, and "it appeared as if a raging torrent had poured down the mountain for many days, the earth being torn up, the grass being withered, and nothing fresh and living to be seen in the path of desolation." Overall 5-6 people were killed and 30 were injured.
#5 - Warwick MA Tornado:
The second killer tornado from this outbreak touched down in Northfield and moved ESE through Warwick & Orange before dissipating 2 miles NW of Athol. 4 homes were destroyed in Northfield with one being "torn from its foundation." In NW Orange, a tavern-house was swept away and 5 homes were damaged or destroyed. Buildings were destroyed in southern Warwick as well. 2 people were killed and 17 injured. "The stoutest of trees were uprooted" and "even the surface of the earth itself was broken up as if with a plowshare of destruction." Shingles were carried 30 miles and a half-inch thick & 70-inch square book was found 45 miles away.
en.wikipedia.org
