Plane Explosion Imploded Chesterfield Windmill

Third of four-part series running this week.

A well-known and long-time landmark of the 22 Mile and Gratiot area was the windmill of the Kaleb Tulip Farm, on the east side of Gratiot, south of 22 Mile Road. The windmill graced Gratiot until the early 60s.

It had a deck that could be climbed for a great view of the area.

Unfortunately, the windmill was damaged in a tragic plane accident that killed the pilot and all four passengers. In 1960 an aircraft tanker could not get proper liftoff from Selfridge Air Base and crashed just south of the windmill.  

The plane had leaked fuel all the way from Selfridge Air Field up to the farm, where the plane exploded, sending pieces of it all over the area. The concussion of the explosion imploded the windmill. It soon collapsed.

The military from the air base plowed the fields for miles and retrieved any artifacts the Kabels found on the farm.

Tornado struck township

Most longtime residents of the area remember the , causing 13 deaths and millions in property damage.  But few know of a tornado that struck the Chesterfield Village area on April 12, 1893, causing major damage, including many roofs blown off buildings and whole buildings disappearing.

A news article said: “Reports from Chesterfield, a small village on the Grand Trunk Railroad line, bring news of great damage there. A cyclone struck a few minutes after 7 o'clock. Two freight cars standing on a side track were blown square across the main track just a few minutes ahead of the Toronto express. The engineer saw the freight cars, but before he could slacken speed.

(This train did not stop at Chesterfield, but passed through at a high rate of speed.)

“He ran his train into them with a great crash," the article stated.

Although the express train was thrown into the ditch and three coaches were piled up on each other, the baggage man was the only one seriously hurt.

Read and in this series and check back with Patch tomorrow for the fourth installment.

For more information about the small towns and villages of Chesterfield Township, check out . The book is available in the local public libraries or can be purchased through Amazon, Barnes and Noble, and other popular online sites. It may also be purchased at the , the , , and Preston Automotive.