Mail: PO Box 368 Niles, Ohio 44446

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The following video links originate from a Trumbull County Historical Society Video Contest entry by Kristen Davis and Jason Viers. They were students in Niles McKinley High School Visual Communications class taught by Ralph Tolbert. Kristen and Jason's video won first place.

Video 1: Russ Samuel interview.

Video 2: Dick Richards interview.

Video 3: Linda Bennett interview.

Video 4: Zoa Lykins interview.

Video 5: Nancy Stauffer interview.

Video 6: Fire Chief Semple interview

On May 31, 1985, the City of Niles was struck by an F5 tornado that had its origins just West of Newton Falls, where it destroyed much of that town. It then moved through Lordstown and Warren, before wreaking havoc on Niles, where it toppled a skating rink and shopping mall, leveled dozens of houses, ripped through the Union Cemetery, injured many people, and took several lives. The tornado continued on, never leaving the ground until it reached Pennsylvania.

In just the Niles area alone, 9 were killed, and 250 were injured. Nearly 70 homes were leveled and another 65 to 70 severely damaged. In the Mahoning and Shenango Valleys a total of 25 died and 500 people were injured, and there was $140 million in property damage. Coincidentally, the tornado of 1985 took a similar path(see maps below) through Niles as another tornado that hit in 1947. Text: http://www.thecityofniles.com

The images below show the destruction of property the tornado inflicted on various parts of Niles: Woodglen Avenue off North Road, Nancy Street, Niles Union Cemetary, Shadowridge, Route 422. Click on image to view larger size.

Path of 1985 tornado.

Path of 1947 tornado

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