Lodge No. 810 Aids Tornado-Stricken Community

Residents of the tiny borough of Clark (population 633) and South Pymatuning Township (population 2,857) in Mercer County along the Ohio border were not prepared at 7:54 p.m., Sunday, Nov. 10, when a fierce tornado with winds estimated up to 155 mph ravaged their community. Although a severe thunderstorm warning had been posted for the county an hour earlier, a tornado warning was not posted until just seconds before it struck. The funnel, measuring 500 feet across, traveled seven miles from where it touched down just east of Sharpsville, PA. In its wake, there were: one death, Charles Templeton, the uncle of Timothy P. Templeton, D.D.G.M., 53rd Masonic District; 19 injuries; 15 homes destroyed; 13 others with major damage; and 29 with minor damage. Some of the severe damage along East Lake Rd. (foreground) and Main St. (at right) in Clark is evident in the aerial photo courtesy of The Herald, Sharon, PA.

The day before, Bro. Douglas Bradley, the Mayor of Clark, had gone on vacation to Virginia, so he headed home immediately. Bro. Bradley later reported that the clean-up was completed in six days thanks to volunteers and assistance that included 19 municipalities, 14 fire departments, and 8 police departments.

But financial help was needed for the disaster relief effort and Shenango Valley Lodge No. 810 responded. At its November Stated Meeting, it voted to donate $1,000. Pictured are D.D.G.M. Templeton (right) and Ronald E. Greenawalt, W.M. (left), presenting the contribution to Bro. and Mayor Bradley on Jan. 29.