We had a close call on Friday afternoon in the blacksmith shop.

It happens that Matt Toms, his lovely wife, Trisha, and there three beautiful kids came to the Museum for a visit. It was nice for the most part while they were here. We forged and visited, had lunch and got to know one another. They were about to head back home. Trisha had walked the kids back to the car. I suspected they got wet because it started raining pretty hard not long after they left the shop and they had to walk a couple blocks.

Not long after the rain started Matt and I are standing by the forge and a wind like a small tornado came though the front door and started turning the benches over. I have never been in wind that strong. The first thing I thought of was the big oak trees lined along the sidewalk and the wind was blowing them toward our way. Sure enough I heard the sound of a tree crashing just beside the shop. I could tell which one it was by the sound. The shop shutters were flopping and slamming open and closed till I thought they would break. Matt and I hurried to the door and I kept my eye on the tree just in front of the shop. If it was to start leaning we could run over to the one that had fallen and get beside it. Strange as it may sound, we had time to plan this. But that tree held thankfully.

It was over then and the damage was done. Other than the loss of the trees one tree did do some damage to the historic log home. Lots of limbs broke and the trolley was closed due to their electric lines messed up.

   

The tree next to the last one also fell but missed the house.
   

   

The tree in the far background was deposited from who knows where right in the OFF ramp. It certainly did not grow there and just fall over. That is a mystery. It must have been carried there. It still has it's root ball.
   

It stopped raining so hard and people started coming out. Matt had to leave and head home and I was surveying the damage along with everyone else. A news girl came wading through the brush and had me hold her camera for her. The blacksmith shop is the white building behind her and the tree that I was most concerned with but didn't fall is near the tree service truck.
   

Matt, thanks for the visit and I hope you come back. Maybe there wont be a storm next time.

Scary deal!! Glad it turned out as good as it did. Mother nature has a way of making man feel pretty insignificant at times, rightfully so.

Thanks for sharing,

Todd

Lin,
Glad to hear that it was only a close call and that no one including the blacksmith shop was hurt.

If you ever start losing respect for the wonder and power of nature, that's all it takes to restore humility and a feeling of mortality.

Shame to lose those trees, but I'm glad the damage wasn't worse and nobody was hurt.

^^^^ Yup, was thinking the same thing. Glad no one was hurt, Lin. Hopefully the damage to the museum can be easily repaired.


Jeremy

Glad you and your property are ok. If that tree was uprooted in the woods, it would make a heck of a blind.
Hap

I hope to get back up there eventually.  I would like to come up for the Ar blade show next Feb.  If I get to, I might come up a day or two early and spend a day at the museum and maybe checking out a little more of the downtown area.

Glad to hear everyone came out unharmed. Structures can be replaced, people can't.

Glad all are fine

WOW.......mother nature is a tough old broad!

Yikes! Glad it turned out OK.
On the upside, it looks like there may be a few bow staves in that tree    
Darcy

Wow! Glad every one's okay.

Dang Buddy, that was a close call and a real shame to lose those big old oaks. Tickled to see y'all are ok.

Wow........glad everyone's ok!

Jay