Looking back: September 2010
This month we look back to Thursday, November 17, 1977, the day a freak gale descended on campus and “all hail broke loose.”
Thursday, November 17, 1977, started out like the typical fall day, but late in the afternoon “all hail broke loose” (to quote a Signal article from the time) when a powerful storm with heavy rains, golf-ball-sized hail, and winds that reached 80 MPH swept through campus. The “freak gale” tore sections of roof off of Packer and Bray Halls, knocked out windows in the Student Center, destroyed the tennis courts, and ripped up trees and fences across campus, causing nearly $250,000 in damages along the way. Although it was over within minutes, the storm left its mark on campus, as evidenced by this photo from the 1978 Seal. The storm also left indelible marks on those who witnessed it, for as the The Signal reported, less than one hour after the storm had passed students were gathering to swap stories about where they were “When the Hailstorm Came.” If you were here at the time, we’d love to hear your story. Write us at magazine@tcnj.edu.
Posted on August 19, 2010
