(A reprint from the Monticello (Indiana) Daily Herald-Journal dated April 10, 1974 -  First day of publication by the newspaper following April 3 tornado…)

Monticello, born nearly 140 years ago in the fall of 1834, suffered an estimated $100 million blow to her mid-section at 5:17 p.m. last Wednesday, April3rd from a tornado that swept through the area from the southwest to the north-east but she will survive as most of us did.

Reading about tornadoes and the havoc they bring is one thing, to survive one is quite another matter. Monticello area residents now belong to the latter category. They've been to Hell and back.

Mother Nature won't win by a TKO in the first minute of the first round.

To be sure, this is a dark time for most all of us in the Greater Monticello area, but this is not time to panic.

Now, we are back to basics.

First off, only a few of our people died in last Wednesday's tornado. God rest their souls. Nobody is ever ready for death and its physical finality, but, let us count our blessings that 500 or even 1,000 of our numbers did not perish. Quite easily, the number of fatalities could have reached the four-figure mark. How it didn't, nobody will ever know.

The dollar loss is almost unbelievable. Monticello's downtown area looks as if it suffered a World War II bombing with direct hits most everywhere. Several residential areas were hit equally as hard, some harder.

The National Homes housing area in the south-western section of the city was a tremendous loser; so, too, were those who lived in the new Hickory Ridge Road and Wood Haven residential developments to the northeast across Upper lake Freeman from Blue Water Beach.

The volunteer help from governmental units of cities and towns within a 50-mile radius of Monticello began arriving here within an hour after the tornado struck.

The police (state, county and local), the volunteer groups and the National Guardsmen from several area cities moved in to close off the besieged city and speed order from chaos.

In less than three hours after the 5: 17 tornado hour, hospital administrator Bill Saunders at White County Memorial Hospital had to turn away doctors, nurses and blood donors who arrived in great numbers to assist in whatever way they could.        

With the able help from law enforcement officials, Monticello began tightening her tattered old belt early last Thursday morning after most of her citizens spent a cold, sleepless Wednesday night.

Water was not available, there was no electricity nor telephone service. It was out-and-out war against Mother Nature who was behaving at her very worst.

These past seven days and nights have been nightmares but we must not weaken. We must all grow stronger with each passing day.

We shall win this battle, and without panic. We all face an awesome task of rebuilding and with it goes great responsibilities. We will not lose for ours is the strength and the power to overcome.

On Monday, the "red alert" was taken off the main arteries that lead into the city. And when the National Guardsmen and State Troopers pulled out, one felt a protective blanket being yanked from around his shoulders. But so goes this recovery process one must pass through after suffering from the likes of a tornado.

The togetherness of this great cleanup effort is all about us. Early yesterday morning, we happened to be standing outside the Herald-Journal and noticed a long line of pick- ups and cars bearing from 60 to 65 mostly-bearded men. We learned that they were from German Dunkard churches at Flora and Camden, here to lend their very able bodies and hands. That chokes you up, more especially when you come from this same German-Dunkard stock.

This is a dark time for all of us here but this is no time for panic. We all must be strong, yes, and ever so kind to one another. May we suggest prayer, preferably in the sanctity of a church. .. any church, God doesn't mind. There's nothing shameful about a good cry, either, or digging out your Christmas albums. Peace of mind is important now.

This is the time to be thankful, too and gutty, for we are back to where survival goes to the fittest.

With God's help, your great efforts, common sense and good judgment all along this way to recovery, Monticello will win and could emerge more beautiful than she was before "T -day" Wednesday, April 3, 1974.

Robert G. Fisher Managing Editor