1835 New Brunswick, New Jersey tornado


The 1835 New Brunswick, New Jersey, tornado of Friday, June 19, 1835, was the deadliest recorded in New Jersey history. It struck what is now part of downtown New Brunswick, along a path that stretched through or near what is now Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital property, rambled towards the site of Monument Square, and went downhill to the river from there, after wreaking havoc on George Street. The twister then destroyed all but two of twelve houses in Piscataway, New Jersey.

Reporting

On June 20, 1835, the New York Evening Star reported: "About 5 o'clock yesterday afternoon, a tornado passed over the town of Piscataway, about two miles from New Brunswick, which destroyed every house but two. The current proceeded towards the City of New Brunswick, and made dreadful havoc in that place, destroying and injuring nearly one hundred and fifty houses in Liberty, Richmond and Schureman streets. The most melancholy part of the accident is the death of several persons.There were 5 deaths, and here are 4 of them. A widow lady by the name of Van Arsdale, a man called Henry Boorsem, formerly a midshipman in the Navy, who was killed in the street, and a boy named Bayard."