May 20, 1957. The most destructive tornado to hit our area. The Ruskin Heights tornado, 65 years later, still the most deadly and damaging storm to hit the KC Metro area and it all started in Franklin County. About 6:15 that evening, the tornado first touched down two miles southwest of Williamsburg brushing Homewood with multiple funnels, it hit the Antioch Cemetery, flinging headstones for miles. It then headed toward Ottawa, fortunately sparing the city to the south, but causing extensive damage to Bob’s Truck Stop on the hill, south of town and it claimed its first two victims when it slammed into a home of an elderly couple just sitting down for dinner.
The storm headed toward Kansas City, crossing the state line and hitting Martin City, virtually destroying every home and building including the popular Jess and Jim’s Steakhouse. In a time where there were no tornado sirens, watches or warnings from the National Weather Service and extensive television coverage, many families in the storm’s path had less than a minute to hunker down. Plus, many Kansas City homes did not have basements. It headed toward Hickman Mills and Ruskin Heights and literally wiped them out, in some places the ground was swept clean and cars tossed around like toys.
It finally lifted north of Knobtown. It had been on the ground continuously for 71 miles, an hour and 38 minutes, was 700 yards wide at times, 44 people lost their lives and another 531 were injured… and it all started right here in Franklin County.
