On April 12, 1945, at 5:30 pm, a tornado first touched down southwest of town near the Hall community. At 5:45 pm, it struck the city of Antlers as one of the most devastating tornadoes in the state's history, with a swath nearly one-half mile wide. Entering at the southwest part of the city and moving through to the northeast, it destroyed, with few exceptions, every physical object in its path. A total of 86 people eventually died from injuries received in the storm, 343 people were injured, 379 homes were destroyed, 254 buildings were destroyed, and 200 more homes and buildings were damaged, leaving 1500 people homeless. After leaving Antlers, the tornado continued northeast until it struck the One Creek area, then the Nashoba area, and eventually near Wister and on into Arkansas.

Photo: Brian Anderson