Remembering Hurricane Hazel

Virginia Hobbs remembered when Hurricane Hazel came to her farm for Special Memories: A Collection of stories by Chowan County Extension Homemakers

Hazel came storming through Chowan County in September of 1954. School let out early and we came slowly home on the bus.

After having a snack, we four children (three brothers and myself) had to go over to the packhouse (a barn tobacco was kept in) to work until supper. Mommy and Daddy and Grandmommy (Mama’s mom) was also working in the barn.

After a couple hours, grandmommy decided to go to the house. Now the wind was really blowing. She told Mommy she was going to the outhouse and then to the house to lie down.

About the time she would have gotten to the outhouse, we saw something flying through the air. Lo and behold, it was the outhouse. Mama screamed. Daddy laughed and we kids stood around shaking all over. Mama was sure her mommy was upside down in the outhouse. She and Daddy went running. But Grandmommy was safe. She had decided to go on to the house.

I still laugh thinking of the look on Mama’s face.