1835 Middlesex County tornado

The 1835 Middlesex County tornado, touching down on June 19, 1835, was the deadliest tornado recorded in New Jersey's history. It destroyed all but two of twelve houses in Piscataway and killed five in New Brunswick, where it struck what is now part of downtown along a path through (or near) what is now Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital property, the site of Monument Square, and George Street.

1835 Middlesex County tornado

Formed	June 19, 1835
Max. rating1	Unrated tornado
Fatalities	5
Damage	$300,000 ($9.14 million in 2024 dollars[1][2])
1Most severe tornado damage; see Fujita scale

Reporting

About 5 o'clock yesterday afternoon, a tornado passed over the town of Piscataway, about two miles from New Brunswick, which destroyed every house but two. The current proceeded towards the City of New Brunswick, and made dreadful havoc in that place, destroying and damaging nearly one hundred and fifty houses in Liberty, Richmond and Schureman streets. The most melancholy part of the accident is the death of several persons. There were 5 deaths, and here are 4 of them. A widow lady by the name of Van Arsdale, a man called Henry Boorsem, formerly a midshipman in the Navy, who was killed in the street, and a boy named Bayard.

— New York Evening Star, June 20, 1835^[3][4]

See also

• List of North American tornadoes and tornado outbreaks
• List of New Jersey tornadoes
• 1989 Northeastern United States tornado outbreak (produced three tornadoes in New Jersey)