By Katie Marra, Orange County Regional History Center Archivist
On March 17, 1928, a tornado swept through Sorrento, Florida, a small community in Lake County just east of Mount Dora. The results were damaged homes and property, downed trees, multiple injuries, and one fatality. Throughout the remainder of March 1928, the Orlando Sentinel and Orlando Evening Star ran several stories related to the incident. Initial reports told the story of a freak weather event that occurred on an otherwise clear day around midday. Those who experienced the event described the phenomenon as a “twister,” “a freak cyclonic storm,” and a “windstorm.”
Inquisitive and generous onlookers
Shortly after the storm, many locals headed to Sorrento to witness the extent of the damage themselves. One newspaper article even estimated that approximately 8,000 cars drove through Sorrento the day after the storm. As a result, the roadways into the community were jammed for miles.
Members of the local Boy Scout troop, churches, and the sheriff’s office took to the roads to help direct traffic and mitigate the congestion. While volunteers directed traffic and crowds, many also collected donations for the families and individuals affected by the tornado. According to one newspaper article, over $900 and clothes were donated to the storm victims.
Homes damaged, “fowls injured”
According to a March 18, 1928, article in the Orlando Evening Star, before the tornado hit Sorrento, it went through nearby Tangerine and damaged the homes of George Dwelley and Charles Chapman.
The two-story Dwelley house suffered broken windows, a damaged front porch, and splintered trees. The Chapman family experienced similar damage with a downed chimney, boards leaning against the house, and split trees throughout their property.
Among the details in a close-up of the Chapman house that can easily be missed are the chickens in the background. According to local newspaper articles, many storm victims suffered injuries and losses to their flocks. An Orlando Evening Star article proclaimed, “Fowls Injured.” Many chickens lost feathers and suffered scratches and broken legs. In response, Edward F. Hall from Orange Hatchery in Apopka gave day-old chicks to tornado victims in need. For the eight families who were displaced by the storm, the community’s response was integral in getting them back on their feet.
Photographic evidence
Recently, a collection of photo albums created by the Farrington family was donated to the Orange County Regional History Center. The albums capture moments from everyday life in the 1920s and ’30s, Many of the photographs were taken in Tangerine, Florida, another small community near Sorrento and Mount Dora, in neighboring Orange County. Mixed in with the family photographs are ten images from the days in 1928 just after the Sorrento tornado, or “hurricane” as the family called it. The photographs with this post are all from the Farrington family albums. They provide visual context to the stories and accounts told in local newspapers during those early days after the storm.