Monticello, after April 3, 1974

[Tom Kepshire]

Wednesday, April 3, 1974. I was a student at Indiana State University in Terre Haute, Indiana. That afternoon a fellow floor resident in the dorm asked to borrow my vehicle to go home and return the next day. I was not sure of the exact reason, but I told Jim that I would be happy to drive him home, since my classes were all finished. He invited me to stay the evening at his parents home, in downtown Monticello. We drove through severe thunderstorms as we neared town. Jim noticed the tornado before us. Then, all hell broke loose and we watched as dust and debris flew every which way. It was as if someone had dropped a bomb on the town. His parents house had some minor damage, the neighborhood was not as lucky.

L&N Passing what was left of the former depot and scenes of the destruction.

[Sharon Eberhard]

Another view of the same building.  Also have shot of court house --what was left of it.

Sharon

[Tom Kepshire]

Pictured is the TP&W (PRR) railroad bridge at Monticello that took a direct hit by the April 3, 1974 tornado. Spans were knocked out like children's toys. Over a million dollars damage to the bridge. I recall seeing TV footage of this bridge the next day back at ISU.

[Ron Marquardt]

That wasn't the first time the PRR had problems with that bridge either.  / Ron

[Gene Remaly]

I had my motor home at the waste water plant, between the US 24 bridge and the TP&W
for three nights after the storm guarding the boats of the volunteers looking for victims who were in the van that was blown off the bridge. Several from our fire dept worked security for a couple of weeks.
The following days were cold and snowy.

As I recall, the RR put the old spans back up with very little repair and had service restored in less than a week.