Above: The remains of the M. E. Church, which had just undergone an extensive and painstaking renovation. This is approximately from Broadway west of 3rd street looking east; o the left, out of frame, would be the Washington House.
Above: The view of the main intersection in Leoti looking North. The rubble everyone is looking at used to be the two-story brick Leoti Mercantile Company building (sometimes known as the Koontz and Jones store). In its place would eventually be built the cast-concrete structure that now houses The Native Sun.
Above: Another look at the flattened Mercantile building, this time from on 4th Street. If you've ever wondered why Leoti doesn't have 2-story buildings, the 1923 tornado is your answer.
Above: This photograph, believed to be from Clyde Blackburn's personal collection, is simply marked as 'West of Main Street after the cyclone has passed.'
Above: This photograph, looking South on 4th street, is very difficult to make out. We believe the building at the far end to be the Leoti State Bank (current C.A.R.E. Center), with the City Market closest on the right.
Above: A look across 4th Street to what's left of the City Market and its flattened neighbors. No word on the what the surviving tall structure was. The Washington House can be spied mostly undamaged in the background.
with
The Leoti Standard Thursday, August 9, 1923
Tornado Destroys Property in and around Leoti
Several Persons Severely Injured but Are Reported Recovering.
Some of the Property Not Covered by Insurance.
A tornado swept through the business section of Leoti Saturday afternoon [August 4] about 5:30 o'clock and left in its wake sever...
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