The Tupelo Tornado - ?

[Vissie]

From what I'm reading, "The Tupelo Tornado" (4th deadliest domestic tornado) hit Tupelo the night of April 5, 1936.

When you look at photos of the Presley homestead, one has to wonder.. how on earth did it withstand the onslaught of such a terrible force?

Does anyone know if the structure sustained any damage?

[riley]

Vissie,

The birthhouse we see nowadays is not the real one, it is a replica.

I wonder if the real one still exists

[Vissie]

Vissie,

The birthhouse we see nowadays is not the real one, it is a replica.

I wonder if the real one still exists

It is?

[ksimms2]

I've heard different stories of this - some say it's not the original home and others say it is - just moved over some....?

[Vissie]

Where is Getlo? He can usually give us something to go on

[0349054]

Apparently the doorframe is original.

[Vissie]

Apparently the doorframe is original.

That's it? What happened to the original house then?

[0349054]

The preservation of Elvis's birthplace was not paramount in the minds of Tupelo locals for a long time.

It deteorated over time.

[Vissie]

The preservation of Elvis's birthplace was not paramount in the minds of Tupelo locals for a long time.

It deteorated over time.

I can understand them not being able to forsee the future (in terms of it becoming a place of importance).

But, did someone take down the actual building? Bulldozed it so to speak?

Or was it condemned?

Was it lost in a storm?

[Gerianne]

I was in Tupelo and I questioned this. They told me that the house is the original one but the roof and floor have been replaced. I said that I heard the house wasn't in the original location but they said it had been moved up a bit, but that it was definetly the original house. I know some dispute this so I don't know for sure what is the truth anymore, but this is what I've been told anyway.

[EDOEP]

silly question ....

why is the front part 'sitting' on blocks of stone and the back part is not!?

is the floor inside plain? (LOL, or does one slowly slide down?)

hugs, ellie

[Vissie]

I was in Tupelo and I questioned this. They told me that the house is the original one but the roof and floor have been replaced. I said that I heard the house wasn't in the original location but they said it had been moved up a bit, but that it was definetly the original house. I know some dispute this so I don't know for sure what is the truth anymore, but this is what I've been told anyway.

Thanks so much for sharing this Gerianne :-) I can understand parts of it being repaired due to age alone ~

[Vissie]

silly question ....

why is the front part 'sitting' on blocks of stone and the back part is not!?

is the floor inside plain? (LOL, or does one slowly slide down?)

hugs, ellie

An inefficient way to make the house level ~

[ksimms2]

this is really strange you guys.....another mystery for 007 to solve!

[Gerianne]

As they say in The X Files - The Truth Is Out There (lol)

[EDOEP]

As they say in The X Files - The Truth Is Out There (lol)

OK, the next user who is going to visit tupelo please should bring along her / his childhood marbels or a pingpong ball and do a test

[ruggishboo]

From what I'm reading, "The Tupelo Tornado" (4th deadliest domestic tornado) hit Tupelo the night of April 5, 1936.

When you look at photos of the Presley homestead, one has to wonder.. how on earth did it withstand the onslaught of such a terrible force?

Does anyone know if the structure sustained any damage?

I believe the F-5 tornado that struck Tupelo missed the Elvis's house by just a few short miles, but I'm sure the Presley's could hear it. Funny how you don't hear a whole lot about this in Elvis documentaries or books. I'm sure it is in Last Train to Memphis; I'll have to go check

[Vissie]

I believe the F-5 tornado that struck Tupelo missed the Elvis's house by just a few short miles, but I'm sure the Presley's could hear it. Funny how you don't hear a whole lot about this in Elvis documentaries or books. I'm sure it is in Last Train to Memphis; I'll have to go check

Rugg, I double-checked LTTM but I didn't find anything(?) I actually stumbled across the history of this tornado by looking for information on hurricanes If you find out something more about it, please let me know, ok? Thanks!

[gracelandgirl]

I read that a church close to the house was completely flattened but the house itself was almost untouched. Elvis and his parents apparently went to a relative's home when they heard the tornado was approaching, the whole family (Presley's and Smith's) were pretty much unscathed by the storm. I read about it in one of the biographies, can't remember which ... might have been 'Elvis and Gladys'

[Vissie]

I read that a church close to the house was completely flattened but the house itself was almost untouched. Elvis and his parents apparently went to a relative's home when they heard the tornado was approaching, the whole family (Presley's and Smith's) were pretty much unscathed by the storm. I read about it in one of the biographies, can't remember which ... might have been 'Elvis and Gladys'

Ahh, interesting. Thanks for sharing that with me gracelandgirl. That sure would've been a lot safer for the family