Owosso, Michigan
Famous Tornado of the Elevens

11:11pm.......11-11-11

One of the worst tornadoes occurred at 11:11 pm on 11-11-11. It entered the southwest side of the City of Owosso, Michigan and moved northeast. A young couple died when the their house on Chipman St. tipped over.

Below is the bed in which Mr. & Mrs. Harry Corwin died when the roof collapsed.

On the back of the above photo is written....."house where the teacher was buried and died this morning "

Several buildings destroyed, church steeples blown off and many trees and wires down. It entered Owosso from at the southwest corner and after killing the Corwins, it destroyed the Estey Furniture plant at Corunna Ave and Washington St.; part of the Woodard Casket Factory at Elm St.; then on to the Steam City Laundry which was located on the northwest of the Main St. Bridge; then proceeded to take down the steeples of the Methodist Church, the Salem Lutheran Church and the Christ Episcopal Church. Thousands of dollars in damage, two deaths and several other injuries makes this the counties worst toranado.

Salem Lutheran Church (German Lutheran Church) after the tornado. The steeple was rebuilt.

Below are more scenes of destruction.

WOODARD FURNITURE FACTORY

Estey Furniture Factory

Estey Furniture Factory B, also known as the White Elephant, was built in 1897 in approximately 57 hours. It was a three story frame structure with a basement. Unfortunately, tragedy was to strike the company when the Tornado of the Elevens destroyed the building The company carried no insurance against tornados.

321 W. Williams Street on left

"Effect of Cyclone, Owosso" photo by E.R. Tree.

From the back: "...the very destructive tornado that swept over the city......strip of town 1/2 mi. wide and 1 1/2 mi long .... 8 people sleeping in this house only 2 hurt - Queen Robinson, a teacher, from Portland, was hurt the worst ......."

Below is Brown's Store

Shiawassee County Tornado History

Shiawassee County, Michigan History