What is a "Cyclone Cave?"

Cyclone at Ponca City, which was about 60 miles from the Blackman homestead in Logan County.¹

 

by Nancy Gilbride Casey

One of the improvements made by Dewitt and Elizabeth Blackman on their Logan County homestead was terms in their claim was a "cyclone cave." What a great description! Not quite a "tornado shelter" as we know them today, which are usually made of concrete, or pre-fabricated and sunk into the ground.²

According to a 2012 article in The Oklahoman, pioneers would often dig "storm caves" before they would even begin their house builds, as there was likely plenty of room to dig a cave shelter, while awaiting materials for a house. In addition, pioneers were very aware that a tornado or "cyclone" could descend at any time from the skies over Oklahoma.³

It was a smart move that Dewitt and Elizabeth made sure they had a cyclone cave. Between 1892-1903, in the time that their family were proving their claim or living on their land, six tornadoes hit Logan County.⁴ While none traveled directly over their land, in the days long before phones, television and sirens warned of dangerous tornadoes nearby, the Blackman family likely had their eyes glued to any unnaturally-darkening skies, with a notion to quickly get to their shelter. Of course, the danger was not likely new to them, having farmed in Kansas—another stop along Tornado Alley—for years prior to coming to Oklahoma.

 

The Blackman's cyclone cave may have looked something like this. (Photo by Richard Cobb, staff photographer, courtesy of The Oklahoman.)⁵

Fun fact: Cyclone caves were known by many names, including tornado shelters, storm cellars, or the aptly-named, "fraidy hole." 

Until next time, keep your eye to the sky!

NOTES

¹ Unknown photographer, Cyclone at Ponca City, Okla. [Between 1890 and 1920?]; image Library of Congress (www.loc.gov/item/91786006/> : accessed 30 June 2022).

² Homestead Proof - Testimony of Claimant, 14 June 1899, in Dewitt S. Blackman and Elizabeth Blackman (Logan County) homestead file, bearing final certificate No. 3467, Guthrie, Oklahoma, Land Office; Land Entry Papers, 1800-19008; Record Group 49; Records of the Bureau of Land Management; National Archives, Washington.

³ Mary Phillips, "Early-day tornado shelters known as 'storm caves," The Oklahoman, 7 May 2012; digital edition (https://www.oklahoman.com/story/news/nation-world/2012/05/07/early-day-tornado-shelters-known-as-storm-caves/61075262007/ : accessed 30 June 2022).

⁴ "Logan County, OK Tornadoes (1875-present)," National Weather Service (https://www.weather.gov/oun/tornadodata-county-ok-logan : accessed 26 June 2022); citing Storm Prediction Center archive "Storm Data," and National Weather Service, Norman, Oklahoma.

⁵ Richard Cobb, staff photographer, The Oklahoman, "Tornado Cave," 25 February, 1953; digital edition (https://www.oklahoman.com/story/news/nation-world/2012/05/07/early-day-tornado-shelters-known-as-storm-caves/61075262007/ : accessed 30 June 2022). Used with permission.