On May 23, 1933 at 5:27 p.m., a tornado struck Liberal killing four and injuring about 141 citizens. The estimated property loss was about $900,000. As Ray Millman of the Liberal News said, "The tornado destroyed in a few seconds what has taken years to build." From about ten o'clock Monday morning there had been a gale blowing dust and sand. All the afternoon the clouds of dust grew heavier. While the city was choking with swirling dust, the tornado descended. Its only warming was a rumbling which the uninitiated took for thunder. By lantern light the town groped among the wreckage that evening and night, while the town was without lights and regular telephone and telegraph service. The dead were M.D. Grossman, salesman; George Rosendale, furniture man; Neal Hergert, glass merchant; and Mrs Lottie Voght, window.

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