Randolph Township in Rising Sun in Ohio County, Indiana — The American Midwest (Great Lakes)

Rising Sun Tornado

Photographed by Duane and Tracy Marsteller, April 29, 2023

1. Rising Sun Tornado Marker

Inscription. A tornado struck Rising Sun in 1948 and did significant damage. It destroyed the third floor of the high school and the school bell fell from the bell tower into a second floor classroom. Fortunately, there were no injuries.

Erected by Dearborn County Hospital (sponsor).

Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Disasters. A significant historical year for this entry is 1948.

Location. 38° 56.767′ N, 84° 51.143′ W. Marker is in Rising Sun, Indiana, in Ohio County. It is in Randolph Township. It can be reached from South Front Street south of 2nd Street, on the left when traveling south. Marker is on the sidewalk along the riverfront. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 210 S Front St, Rising Sun IN 47040, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in Southern Indiana.

It is also in the American Midwest,

in the Ohio River Valley,

and in the Corn Belt.

Globally, it is in North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once the territory of the Mississippian Culture

and also the Northwest Territory.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Rising Sun Airport (a few steps from this marker); Cass-Union Consolidated School (a few steps from this marker); Rising Sun Ohio County Consolidated High School (a few steps from this marker); Rising Sun Sesquicentennial (within shouting distance of this marker); Pilotless Plane (within shouting distance of this marker); 1937 Ohio River Flood (within shouting distance of this

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marker); Rising Sun Regatta (within shouting distance of this marker); Ohio County Elementary Middle School (within shouting distance of this marker). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Rising Sun.

Regarding Rising Sun Tornado. The tornado struck after lunch on March 18, 1945, Gerald Lamkin wrote in a letter published in the Ohio County News/Rising Sun Recorder in 2014. Lamkin, a 6th-grader at the time, said an intercom announcement ordered teachers and students to evacuate to the high school building. But as his class neared the gymnasium, the windows in the hallway began shattering. Students then were told to run across the school playground to neighboring houses for shelter, he said. “Instead of following anyone anywhere, I took off running for the safety of my home!” he wrote. “We later learned that the bell from the tower had crashed through the three stories of the building and was resting on the basement floor!” Classes were suspended for several weeks while repairs were made, but the demolished third floor was never rebuilt. The school closed in 1974 and the building later demolished for a fire/ambulance station.

Historical Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Craig Baker

2. Historical Marker

The markers lay flat in the sidewalk.

Credits. This page was last revised on March 4, 2024. It was originally submitted on May 8, 2023, by Duane and Tracy Marsteller of Murfreesboro, Tennessee. This page has been viewed 467 times since then and 32 times this year. Photos: 1. submitted on May 8, 2023, by Duane and Tracy Marsteller of Murfreesboro, Tennessee. 2. submitted on June 30, 2024, by Craig Baker of Sylmar, California.