The Tennessean from Nashville, Tennessee • Page 5

FORMS AFTERMATH: CLARKSV1LLE Vvister hammers historic bu 071 TJ Ufll WiSS it ft v- r. t.Ai' il a Lkli (J i5 frrrj Tr? fe- J.UjI The Gothic Revival-style Madison Street United Methodist Church, also pictured below right, had just undergone LARRY McCORMACK STAFF a $1.6 million renovation. Neighborhood, churches were being revitalized Ry F1 F7ARFTH RTTTQ and CATHERINE DARNELL StaffWritm Clarksville, The Queen City of the Cumberland, lost some of its jewels yesterday when a tornado ravaged many of its historic downtown treasures. Two of the city's three districts in the National Register of Historic Places the Clarksville Architectural District in downtown Clarksville and the Dog Hill neighborhood sustained heavy damage. The storm devastated two historic churches, as well as many other landmarks, including the Montgomery County Courthouse, built in 1878.

"I've always considered Clarksville to be one of the most interesting urban landscapes in Tennessee," said Van West, professor of historic preservation at Middle Tennessee State University and editor of Tennessee Historical Quarteriy. "It's sort of a jewel that no one except (those) in Clarksville really realized." It is ironic that a city that had been actively involved with renovation and historic preservation projects got hit hard in precisely the locations it had invested so many resources. But it had happened once before. An 1878 fire damaged numerous downtown buildings. Those buildings were rebuilt within a few years, standing until yesterday as "good examples of commercial Victorian architecture," West said.

The path of destruction, which Clarksville architect Rufus Johnson estimated to be approximately 250 yards wide, cut through several areas of the city that had been the focus of preservationists in recent years. Johnson said the storm blew straight through the Dog Hill Architectural District, a residential area near downtown that is on the National Register, a designation for places of architectural or historical significance. Dog Hill developed between 1879 and 1900 to serve the housing needs of the city's emerging professional classes, West said. In recent years, young families have moved into the area and stimulated a lot of work on the handsome older homes. "It really had suffered a lot of ne- gleet late in the 20th century, but people were once again taking pride in preserving the past," West said.

The Madison Street United Methodist Church took a direct hit, said Johnson, a second-generation architect in Clarksville and a ber of the church. The church had just completed a $1.6 million renovation. "My dad and I have been working on that church for 50 years," Johnson said. The stately Gothic Revival stone-and-brick church lost both its spires and much of the main part of the building. "The front wall of the sanctuary is the only thing that remains," Johnson said.

The Lurton House and the Petri Cigar Co. were two historic structures within downtown Clarksville in the process of being listed on the National Register, said Claudette Stager at the Tennessee Historical Commission. The Clarksville-Mont-gomery County Historical Museum, dating from the 1890s, also suffered extensive damage after completing a major addition two years ago that increased its exhibit space by 32,000 square feet Don Sharpe, president of the Montgomery County Historical Society and a home improvement contractor, took a walking tour early yesterday morning to survey the damage. "It's surrealistic," he said. He spoke of parts of downtown streets being wiped out and pinpointed dam- I.

1 i it 1 1 mi as Waiting out the 2 weather looked Ae a spaceship, but really a shelter. IT Tracy Clark drove a flatbed truck around Clarksville yesterday with a sphere-like contraption on die baefc4 that, he said, could help people whetf bad weather strikes. o. "There's nothing wrong with a mobile home except there's no place to go," said the mobile home and the owner of Safe-T-Shelter. The shelter that seats up to nine people is built to be placed undeiv ground beside a home.

It sells forA people laughed at as he hawked the shelter yesterday. "Unfortunately, it's just a time' when it's fresh on people's minds," he said of his merchandising. He said he had sold two yesterday Soaked but determined, their eyes. on the puddles ahead, dozens of peo-, pie made a dash to collect the final pieces of their storm emergency kits last night "We've got everything we need said James Melby, who left the front counter at Blockbuster Video on" Madison Street in Clarksville with a fistful of movies. Twelve hours after a twister devas-.

tated the city's downtown, those who still had electricity wanted to curl up -safely at home and wait out the rain and tornado watches, store clerks' said. By 5:30 p.m., most of the new releases had been snatched from shelvesPatrons paid for three and four movies at a time. "We're running out of everything," said clerk Bran-: don Kettle, searching through a computer archive. "We have a lot of disaster a worker suggested. There were few takers.

A used copy of Tuister sat un-' touched on the sale table. Customers had mentioned the movie but no one' checked it out or bought it, Kettle saidAVaiting for her ride under the awning outside, Patty Brown said she'd selected Anriageddon as one of her two movies to watch for the week-, end. "I've seen previews," she said. The. film depicted an asteroid hurtling tor ward Earth.

If the end of the world comes with tornadoes, too, Brown said, she plans to fast-forward through it Women, men and small children slowly trickled into the Barksdale Elementary School gymnasium yester-, day in the wake of the early morning tornado in Clarksville. Children ran happily in circles. Seniors watched The Little Mermaid movie. Parents sat in frustration. They could not return to their undamaged homes.

"I'm embarrassed," said Teresa Schanda, mother of three children, the youngest with a slight fever. "I mean, it's not like I don't have a home. We have a home. The police just won't let us get to it." i She and her husband nursed their 9-month-old's fever as the rain drummed on the gym's roof and glass doors. "We were looking for Tylenol and couldn't find it" she said, nervously running her fingers through her red hair.

Red Cross volunteers solved part I of her problem, furnishing medicine, diapers and baby food. Although poke kept a tight rein on access to the damaged downtown, two sisters were determined to re- turn to their storm-damaged apart- ment Officers stopped them, but Benita" Krueger, 20, and Anita Krueger, 27 insisted they be allowed to get clean clothes. The officers relented-and let the two in for a few minutes;" long enough to stuff some bags full of necessities. They hoped their area would return to normal soon, be- cause they had many friends among their neighbors. j'r" After the storm passed, "we got out and checked on each other," Benita Krueger said.

He had the gist of the disaster, right and whatever he could do, 3-year-old Tyler Clinard was willing to help. "The church is gone and the places where people live," said Tyler, perched on a bench at the American. Red Cross emergency shelter in gymnasium of Clarksville's Barks-dale Elementary School. "The tornado tore it up." ru He said were many reasons for people to be sad. "You see that baby crying over there?" Tyler asked "That baby can't play ball." Staff writers Morique Fields, Jay Ham-.

burg and Monica Whitaker contrbuted to this report 1 rii -111 5 lb 4 lifi LARRY McCORMACK STAFF Only the central section of Trinity Episcopal Church, consecrated in 1881, can be seen left standing. TENNESSEAN FILE Madison Street United Methodist, shown in an old photograph, lost both its spires and all but the front wall of the church in yesterday's tornado. The church was consecrated in 1882. Inventory of historic structures a grim toll of storm's wrath -(irtf. JJJi'w-i of the downtown Architectural District have historic zoning design guidelines that deal with additions, alterations, new construction and demolition.

Nancy Jane Baker with the Tennessee Historical Commission said rebuilding in those protected zones must be compatible with the historic nature of the area. "And it is a rebuilding," Sharpe said. "It's a bulldozer operation, going back to square one." Clarksville Witt will arrive at 9:15 a.m. at Fort Campbell to tour Clarksville and then travel to see storm damage in Arkansas. Meanwhile, Tennessee's congressional delegation sent its sympathies and its stafT to Clarksville to assess the damage.

"We are all saying prayers for the people of Clarksville," said Sen. Bill Frist, adding he would contact the Sundquist administration to expedite aid. "My staff is working closely with TEMA (Tennessee Emergency Management Agency) resources in an effort to prevent further losses, rebuild communities, and help restore normal life to these areas," Sea Fred Thompson said. U.S. Rep.

Ed Bryant, R-Henderson, expressed sorrow about the storm-related death in Benton County. He also plans to work to expedite aid "to get folks back on their feet and to rebuild the essential infrastructure in the area. "I am thankful that there have been no other reports of fatalities or serious injuries so far." aged or demolished treasures. "Hopefully, some of the Historical Society members can get together in the next couple of days. We need to make sure our agenda will be considered when the rebuilding of this city takes place.

We hope they'll do something in keeping with the character of the city." In some cases, they will have to. Some of that new construction will have to mesh with its historic surroundings, because Dog Hill and part available for vide low-interest loans to businesses and farms damaged by tornadoes. Because so many of Clarksville's downtown buildings are historic, FEMA said it has a task force to advise it on restoring damaged historic public buildings. FEMA calls on assistance from the Library of Congress, the National Archives and the National Park Service on historic restorations. FEMA provides 75 of the cost of restoring public buildings, but the cost of repairs cannot exceed the cost of replacing a building at today's prices, and that goes for historic landmarks as well, said FEMA spokeswoman Mary Margaret Walker.

Meanwhile, FEMA Director James Lee Witt announced he will tour Clarksville today, and Vice President Al Gore sent his condolences. "I am deeply concerned about the families who lost loved ones, whose homes were severely damaged and whose businesses were shut down," Gore said. "We are monitoring this tragic situation, and we continue to stand ready to support the states with any federal assets that may be necessary." Harned Hall, Austin Peay State University The roof, windows and back wall of this former Austin Peay dormitory, the oldest building on campus, suffered extensive damage. A $4.9 million renovation in 1994 transformed it into a technology center. Archwood, Austin Peay State University Formerly used as the president's home at Austin Peay, the late 19th-century Archwood house lost its roof.

The Lurton House The 1870s Italianate Lurton House, which houses law offices, wasn't leveled, but restoration may not be possible because of extensive structural damage, said Don Sharpe, president of the Montgomery County Historical Society. Petri Cigar Co. Details were not known last night, but part of the Petri Cigar Co. appeared to have been damaged by a fire. The factory is significant because of its longtime association with Clarksville's tobacco trade.

A 19th-century portion of the building was said to have been used as a hospital during the Civil War. ELIZABETH BETTS A number of Clarksville's historic buildings sustained damage in yesterday's tornado. Among them: Montgomery County Courthouse First built in 187a the Montgomery County Courthouse "is thoroughly eclectic in its Victorian architecture," said Van West, historic preservation professor at Middle Tennessee State University. The brick courthouse was expanded in 1900. Its cupola and clock tower were torn away during the storm, which also damaged windows and caused extensive damage along the east side of the structure, although the west side was also damaged.

Madison Street United Methodist Church The twin spires that graced this 1882 Gothic Revival church no longer pierce Clarksville's skyline. "It's gone," said Rufus Johnson, a Clarksville architect and member of the church, who helped with its recent $1.6 million renovatioa Trinity Episcopal Church The limestone construction of Trinity Episcopal was no match for the tornado. Johnson said the sides and roof of the church, which was consecrated in 1881, were demolished. Aid already By PENNY BENDER Temessean Viahinlm Bureau WASHINGTON Here is one silver lining for Clarksville: Tornado victims can apply immediately for disaster aid. Because of tornado damage Sunday night, Montgomery County was declared a disaster area on Tuesday.

The Federal Emergency Management Agency already is in town assessing the new damage, FEMA spokeswoman Mary Margaret Walker said. Gov. Don Sundquist must seek a federal disaster declaration from President Clinton for the two other counties Benton and Dyer struck by yesterday's storms before FEMA steps in. That could happen in a few days. FEMA can provide cash to help people who have lost jobs or homes, and grants and low-interest loans to rebuild and pay for temporary housing.

In addition, FEMA can connect storm victims with the Small Business Administration and the Farm Service Agency, which alst can pro More tornado coveragd on G7A.