WINDSOR LOCKS, CT — Do you remember where you were on Oct. 3, 1979?
On that date — 45 years ago today — a devastating tornado touched down in the Poquonock section of Windsor and quickly traveled northward, cutting a swath of destruction that remains among the costliest in Connecticut history.
Damage from the sudden twister was estimated at $200 million ($853 million in 2024 dollars). Three people were killed and more than 400 injured.
Shortly before 3 p.m., the tornado struck in northern Windsor, causing considerable damage to the Poquonock Elementary School and tearing the roof off the historic Poquonock Community Church.
Following a northbound path along Route 75 into Windsor Locks, the twister ripped the roof off the Koala Inn (now the Days Inn) and destroyed more than 20 vintage aircraft at the New England Air Museum at Bradley International Airport.
The storm traveled through Suffield into Feeding Hills, Mass., where it dissipated about five miles over the state line.
Retired schoolteacher Peggy Carney, a Suffield resident, wrote, “I remember sitting at my desk, in Enfield, correcting papers. It got so dark out, that the parking lot lights came on. By the time I left school, the sun was out. When we were driving down our street, there were trees down. Neighbors had come out and cut them, so we were able to get to our house. The electric lines had been torn off the house, but the house was okay. However , part of our barn had been picked up off of its foundation. Had to be torn down. We were without electricity for multiple days.”
Erin O’Brien, who was eight years old at the time, recalled, “I remember this well. We were stuck in the bus and our father came in his Vega and rescued us. It ripped off the top of our evergreen tree in the front yard.”
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