Although some 100 buildings suffered damage when tornadoes hit downtown and east Nashville April 16, the only library facility seriously threatened was the East Branch of the Public Library of Nashville and Davidson County.
When a tornado approached around 3:30 p.m., some 35 children were visiting the historic Carnegie, many of them playing on the lawn. Security guard Tina Fearn raced to gather the youngsters inside, and when the storm hit, collapsing the front doors and breaking windows, branch manager Kim Foster and Bookmobile Supervisor Houston Jackson shepherded them to the basement to wait out the weather.
"The threat of a gas leak on the property soon forced everyone to evacuate the building," system director Donna Nicely reported. Foster, Jackson, and other staff led the group from building to building to find shelter. After several hours a second tornado diverted them to the East Magnet School, where the youngsters waited for their parents.
Posted April 27, 1998.