SHERMAN, Tex. -- A powerful tornado ripped through Sherman 112 years ago Thursday, leaving devastation and over 70 people dead. The memories of May 15, 1896, are still alive. Daniel Gotera reports.

Those who survived it say it was a disaster that will remain unparalleled in history. Sherman, Texas, was almost completely wiped off the face of the map by an F5 tornado, the most powerful tornado known to man.

Scientists say the Sherman tornado was the start of what some call one of the busiest tornado seasons on record. Around 5 p.m. on May 15, 1896, a tornado about two blocks wide and clocking in with winds at 260 miles per hour ripped through most of the western portion of Sherman.

After its 28 mile trail of destruction, 73 people were dead and hundreds more injured. In fact, the storm was so strong that it picked up an iron bridge near Houston Street, twisted it, and slammed it back to the ground.

The pictures in the video show the extent of the devastation, and while even now, 112 years later, some of the images are incredible to see. They are vital to capturing the city's history.

"You don’t think of things happening like that in your hometown, but they do, and having it in black and white brings it home to us that it can happen to any of us and it can happen any day," Fern Watson at the Sherman Public Library says.

The damage could have been more severe, but the tornado's intensity died down as it approached the downtown area.

If you would like to read up on the storm and how Sherman recovered, all the information you need is at the Sherman Public Library.