From the Darkroom: Barry County tornado devastates small town of Butterfield

Springfield-Greene County Library District
·1 min read
Standing in her former kitchen, Melissa Wogoman assesses the damage caused by a tornado in Butterfield, Missouri on November 15, 1988.
Standing in her former kitchen, Melissa Wogoman assesses the damage caused by a tornado in Butterfield, Missouri on November 15, 1988.

Standing in her former kitchen, Melissa Wogoman assesses the damage caused by a tornado in Butterfield, Missouri on November 15, 1988.

A specialist with the American Red Cross estimated that the tornado destroyed over a third of the small town located in Barry County. At least a dozen individuals were injured and one fatality, Edna Henson, was recorded. Jeanette Hodge received extensive stitches after being hit in the head by a flying board while she was cooking dinner for her sons.

Of the 70 homes damaged, 38 were considered unlivable. Found hanging on a kitchen cabinet in the aftermath was a plaque reading, “Houses are made of brick and stone. Homes are made of love alone.”

This image is presented in partnership between the Springfield-Greene County Library District and the Springfield News-Leader. For more historical images of Ozarks visit: thelibrary.org/fromthedarkroom.

This article originally appeared on Springfield News-Leader: From the Darkroom: Barry County tornado devastates community