David Evander Shapard (Chapter 10) 1897-1898 The Shapard Family Returns to Fort Smith, Arkansas

Chapter 10

THE SHAPARD FAMILY RETURNS TO

FORT SMITH, ARKANSAS

1897-1898

 

Once again, a wearied and broken-down family returned to their home at 411 Lexington Avenue. Mrs. Shapard, Sumner, Benetta, Edwin Jr., and David moved their belongings back to their respective rooms and unpacked. It was late September of 1897, and David’s mother quickly sought to enrolled him at Belle Point school in the third grade. David had spent the first years of his schooling at South McAlester public school, yet, was pulled out, just as school was starting, forcing him to leave all his friends. Before admittance, Belle Point school required David to pass an examination ensuring he was capable of promotion to the third grade, which he satisfied. David’s 17 year old brother Edwin Jr., decided he had sufficient schooling and commenced working full time for W. J. Echols & Co., wholesale grocer of Fort Smith, as a bookkeeper. Benetta was about 5 months pregnant and assisted Mrs. Shapard around the house, while Sumner was working the books at the Berry & Echols Dry Goods Company.

‘When sorrows come, they come not single spies, but in battalions.’ Before the Shapard family could even settle at Fort Smith, a series of tragedies occurred. David’s mother received word that, after a brief illness, her 52 year old brother Joseph A. Hall had passed away at Neely Farm near Madison Station, Tennessee. He was buried at Spring Hill Cemetery on November 8, 1897.

One month later, on December 8, 1897, David’s beloved maternal grandfather Samuel Sumner Hall died at Neely Farm near Madison Station, Tennessee. He became quite ill in late November, and due to being in his 83^rd year of life, was unable to recover. He was buried the following day with Masonic honors at Spring Hill Cemetery. He was much loved and the funeral was largely attended.

During these tragic times, the Shapard family found healing within the walls of the Central Methodist church of Fort Smith. The wood framed church had been erected in 1887, on North Thirteenth and B Street, with Rev. J. L. Massey as the first pastor. The church held a degree of sentimentality for the Shapard family, as it was the church favored by Rev. E. R. Shapard before he died in 1889, and had continued to play a significant role for the family after his death. As a matter of precedence, as soon as the Shapard family returned from South McAlester, Indian Territory, they reestablished their presence in the congregation of Central Methodist church. At that time, Rev. Phillip C. Fletcher (1871 – 1931) was pastor, and was known as the ‘Radiant Phillip C. Fletcher.” He was universally adored, having a sweet and kind nature. He and Mrs. J. H. Shapard had a mutual admiration for one another. So much so, that in 1929, Rev. Fletcher wrote a book entitled ‘The Story of My Heart,’ and paid tribute to Central Methodist church’s most faithful; “…indeed memory carries me back to those scenes of my early ministry, and I find my heart throbbing with sacred emotion, as I see the faces of such ‘elect of God’ as Mrs. Gertrude Miller, Mrs. Mary Slaughter, Mrs. E. H. Stevenson…Mrs. Jennie Shapard…”

The evening of January 11, 1898, was unseasonably warm for winter. As darkness approached, off in the distance in Indian Territory, many noticed the silent flash of lightning voluminously illuminating the heavens from a large thunderhead that had been building throughout the day. Just after 11 o’clock p. m., as the city of Fort Smith slept, the storm arrived, bringing with it a burst of cold wind, rain and hail. Yet, unbeknownst to all, lurking within the torrent of rain, emerged a monstrous tornado, the likes of which Fort Smith had never encountered.

Within 4 minutes, a 200 yard wide swath of the city, a mile and a half long, was disintegrated by the violent gales. Foreshadowing the death it would bring, the cyclone first hit the National Cemetery uprooting trees, leveling walls, and toppling the headstones and monuments of so many heroes. It then traveled through the heart of the downtown, along Garrison Avenue, turning many businesses and hotels into rubble piles, trapping its occupants underneath. From there, the Central Methodist church took a direct hit from the storm, leaving nothing but foundation. The Baptish church suffered a similar fate. The winds were so strong as to remove the roof, windows and chimney towers from the brand new Fort Smith high school, that had just received students a few months before. Thereafter, the tornado carved its way through the residential portion of the city, destroying over 500 houses. In all over 50 people lost their lives, 100s suffered injury, and a large portion of the city lay in utter ruin. By the grace of God, the deadly tornado had missed the Shapard house at 411 Lexington Avenue by only 500 yards to the north.

The days following the storm, Fort Smith was in confusion. Initially roads were so encumbered with debris as to make them impassable. Business was all but suspended, phone lines and power lines were down, and gas had been turned off to quell the fires that sparked among the ruins. City officials opened the morgue to public viewing to help identify the dead. As word spread of the disaster, trains arrived at Fort Smith brimming with out-of-town gawkers on excursion to see the wreckage for themselves. However, the citizens of Fort Smith came together and began the arduous task of cleaning up the debris. There was also a great outpouring of donations by individuals and companies that aided in the effort to restore the city. For about two years Fort Smith bore the scar of this storm, the blemish of which gradually faded through new construction, repairs and replanting of trees.

In 1898, the Central Methodist church, pastored by Rev. Phillip C. Fletcher, had a membership of over 330 communicants. The building was completely decimated by the tornado, however, the congregation united and formed a building committee to help rebuild on the same location. $15,000 was raised for a new brick church that was larger and sturdier than the original wood framed structure. While construction was underway, services were held at the Jewish Synagogue at the corner of North 11^th and E street. Despite using the Temple for six months, Jewish leaders graciously refused to accept any rent. The new church was designed with a turret, steeple, high pitched roof, large windows and arched entryway. It was constructed of red brick with a white stone foundation, the cornerstone of which was laid on April 26, 1898. Although the interior of the church was unfinished, services commenced on July 31, 1898. After finishing the interior, the new Central Methodist church had a formal opening, on December 11, 1898.

In the aftermath of the tornado there was a serious concern for the hundreds of people who became instantly homeless. Not only had over 500 homes been destroyed, but many hotels and boarding houses had also been damaged or ruined, making sheltering the homeless all the more difficult. Homes were at a premium as demand was high. One of the men affected by the storm was Frank J. Brun (1868-1937), who owned a confectionary shop, named ‘Brun Brothers,’ on Garrison Avenue, selling candy, cakes, ice cream, soda, cigars and tobacco. Mr. Brun was an immigrant from Switzerland and attended the German Catholic Church of Fort Smith. In 1897, he married Miss Teresa Mauracher (1877-1946). Their house may have been a casualty of the tornado, for on February 1, 1898, less than three weeks after the storm, Mrs. J. H. Shapard sold to Mr. Brun her rent house on Lexington Avenue on lot 6 of Block P in the Fitzgerald Addition for the impressive sum of $850. Mrs. Shapard used a large portion of the money to pay down the mortgages on her other properties. She was also able to completely pay off the lien on lot 5, dating from 1895, on February 25, 1898.