NEWTON FALLS — An F5 tornado went through Newton Falls on May 31, 1985, and caused destruction and damage to homes and businesses.

While the community was fortunate that no one died in the disaster, a special marker has been placed in the village’s downtown to remember what the community faced that day.

Through the efforts of the Newton Falls Commerce Association, a marker has been placed at the corner of East Broad and Center streets, next to Domino’s Pizza, as a reminder of how the community came together and bounced back.

Katie McClain, president of the commerce association, said the marker arrived early and was placed on its foundation in early May.

“It was exciting that we have the marker ready for the May 31 anniversary,” she said.

McClain said people can lay flowers by the marker.

“When the tornado went through, parts of the downtown were rubble. We want people to appreciate what the community has today,” McClain said.

“The tornado did have a large impact on business and on the town’s economy. We have bounced back well. That is something worth memorializing,” McClain said.

Patti Hanzes, vice president of the commerce association, said her son was 6 and he and many young children do not remember the tornado.

She said she recalls the community coming together with neighbors helping neighbors to rebuild.

“There was damage done to the existing storefronts. We now today have many new stores and businesses. People can stroll through the downtown area,” Hanzes said.

Pamela Priddy, the city manager and previous president of the commerce association, designed the marker and implemented getting it ordered.

“She did a great job spearheading this and getting everything in place,” McClain said.

“We felt a donation of this monument would remind our citizens of how much we can accomplish when we get together,” McClain said.

Other memorials for the ’85 tornado exist in Niles and Wheatland, Pa., where about a dozen people lost their lives between the two communities.

Hanzes said she remembers driving to Akron after having just left Newton Falls and noticed how dark it was when she was on state Route 534 going onto Route 5 past the Ravenna Arsenal.

“It was really dark and hail was coming down. I saw so many huge trees laying over at the arsenal. I thought I was seeing things. I was so dumbfounded of what was going on. I had no idea it was a tornado,” she said.

Hanzes said she later learned the tornado had hit by the arsenal and then went to Charleston Road and Seventh Street.

She remembers the school was hit where the Cadel Company sits today. Hanzes said the school’s gymnasium was damaged and graduation for the Class of 1985 was that weekend.

McClain said the commerce association supports businesses but also gives back to the community

“Money we raise is given back to the community,” she said of the $4,000 marker, which was done by O.T. Beight and Sons of East Palestine.

“I enjoy knowing we have the additional monument to the downtown strip. We are working on the continued growth of the town,” McClain said,

Hanzes said there are people who remember finding bowling balls from the bowling alley in town, which was destroyed, as well as finding mail scattered throughout the town from the post office, which also was destroyed.

“Trees went through houses and cars were on their sides. You saw things you would never expect to see,” she said.

Hanzes said the National Guard was called and people could not get into town unless you had a driver’s license showing you lived there.

McClain said people have spoken of the “huge outpouring of support” helping people with their homes and office buildings. She said many from the Amish community helped people rebuild.

Priddy said two emblems are by the marker honoring safety forces.

“What I would eventually like to see on the back of the monument is to honor Clayton Reakes. He was on top of the city hall building at 19 North Canal, and he was the one to sound the siren minutes before the tornado hit. He helped save a lot of lives. He was on the weather platform on the building where you can see all over and than ran down to sound the siren,” she said.

Reakes was a former safety service director.

Mayor Ken Kline, who was in high school at the time, said the residents really came together.

“I never thought we would ever recover, but we did,” he said.