thehurricain

First noted as forming on October 20, 1921, the Hurricane of 1921 was the third hurricane, second major hurricane, and final storm of an inactive 1921 Atlantic hurricane season. This major storm took the path of a typical Atlantic Hurricane, brushing past Cuba before making land fall near Tampa, Florida, becoming the first major hurricane to hit the area since the hurricane of 1848. The hurricane was also the most destructive storm of the season, causing around $10 million worth of damage (by 1921 standards). The citrus groves were ravaged as fruit and leaves were stripped from the trees that hadn’t been altogether uprooted. This was devestating to the economy of the area as citrus was the major industry and life-blood of many of the communities within Pasco County.

The Dade City Banner reported on May 19, 1922 that “The October hurricane certainly had it in for the churches of Pasco. The Baptist church was lifted off its foundations and now stands with a zigzig look as if it had just woke up ‘the moraine after the night before.’ It is still in usable condition though and the regular services are being held as usual. The Methodists’ place of worship was completely destroyed. It was an unusually fine building for so small a community and its loss is a distinct calamity. Plans are on foot for re-building before the year is out.”

New Port Richey also had reports of damage to citrus as well as reports of boats that had been moored along the river were seen floating past houses and businesses that had been stripped of their roofs. Schools in Elfers had windows blown out, buildings in Port Richey were lifted from their foundations. The Sunny Brook Tobacco Company suffered severe damage as nine of the large barns and 110 acres were completely destroyed to the tune of over $100,000. Quite a few of the buildings that were destroyed were never rebuilt. In total, the hurricane left 10 people dead and 7 unaccounted for.

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