Jack Newhouse was a teacher at the Ohio Soldiers' and Sailors' Orphans' Home at the time of the 1974 Xenia tornado. He was on the campus of the Home when the tornado struck Xenia. Although the tornado did not hit the school or the campus, Mr. Newhouse could see it coming and took precautions to avoid damage to the facility or injury to the students and faculty.
Once the tornado had passed, Mr. Newhouse made his way to his home on the south end of town. Once there, he discovered that his house had not been damaged, but because he had the only basement in the neighborhood, his neighbors had broken out a large picture window to seek shelter in his basement.
Jack Newhouse was interviewed by series producer Alan Staiger. For more on the Greene County Public Library's Voices of Greene County series, click here.