On the afternoon of May 25, 1896 a cyclone ripped through northern Oakland County, starting near the west line of Groveland Township and the north edge of Holly Township and moving across Brandon, Oxford and Dryden townships to the east line in Lapeer County, a total of about 25 miles. The F-5 cyclone with winds up to 300 mph missed Ortonville, but gutted the villages of Oakwood and Thomas near the Brandon- Oxford townships border. A committee, reporting back to then Michigan Gov. John T. Rich, visited the tornado area and interviewed about 190 individuals, beginning on June 5, 1896. The report filed two weeks later on June 19, 1896, tallied losses of about $162,560, which included 61 homes, and 18,047 fruit trees. Deaths were reported at 38, with 61 injured. There was no report of the foundry or elevator.Easy find at this little chapel on the hill.