Don't think much can happen in eight minutes? Well, think again. The lives of hundreds in Clark, South Pymatuning Township and several other communities in Mercer County were changed forever in only eight minutes last Nov. 10.

At 7:54 p.m. that day, a strong F2 tornado touched down near Trout Island Road just east of Sharpsville, traveled northeast at about 50 mph and then wreaked havoc in the tiny borough of Clark on the eastern shore of Shenango River Lake.

After roaring through Clark, where one person was killed and 19 injured, the funnel crossed the lake and headed toward New Hamburg where it finally dissipated at 8:02 p.m., leaving in its wake a 7-mile-long, 500-yard corridor of destruction caused from maximum estimated winds of 155 mph.

In addition to the death and injuries, property damage was extensive in Clark as 15 homes were destroyed, 13 more suffered major damage and 29 had minor damage. One business was also leveled and another sustained major damage.

South Pymatuning Township also took a big hit from the twister, seeing about 40 properties sustain some damage, including five homes that were destroyed.

A large swath of trees was also either snapped or toppled in a tornado that was classified by the National Weather Service as the strongest to occur in the county since the Wheatland F5 tornado of May 31, 1985.

A year later, it appears residents of the communities will mark the anniversary of the tragic day within the walls of their own homes or churches. No communitywide public events are planned.

Douglas C. Bradley, whose 18-year tenure as mayor of Clark came to an end Oct. 31, remembers the night well, although he wasn't in the borough when the tornado hit.

Bradley was in Virginia visiting family when he got a call about 10 p.m. He left the next morning and arrived back in Clark about 2 p.m.

"The first thing I saw were the trees down at the end of Winner Road, which didn't bother me that much because I expected that," he said.

"I knew we had a lot of wind damage so I expected a lot of trees were going to be blown down. When I approached the top of the hill and saw the intersection of Milton and 258, I just stopped and I broke down. It really hit home what had happened and I really felt sorry for everyone."

Michael Nashtock, a South Pymatuning Township supervisor for 15 years and board chairman for the last 10, was at home that night. Heeding weather warnings that were being issued, Nashtock and his family had gone to the basement.

Nashtock first heard the calls on his police radio saying homes had been destroyed in the area of Thomason Road and Wynnwood Drive and not long after headed with other township officials to that location.

He remembered one woman trying to get into her house to retrieve some valuables, but who couldn't gain entry because she didn't have a key to open the locked front door. With Nashtock's assistance, they got it open and they got a view that Nashtock said he won't soon forget.

"When we opened the door we could see the top of the maple tree in the back yard," Nashtock said. "The roof of the house was gone. And that's when it really hit me how severe the situation was."

While Nashtock said no South Pymatuning residents were injured or killed by the storm, Clark wasn't as fortunate.

Clark resident Charles E. Templeton, 81, of 22 Milton St., was killed when his house was leveled and 19 others suffered injuries.

"I know you're not supposed to ask why, but I often ask myself that question," Bradley said. "And I guess there is no answer, it just happened."

Bradley said the tornado taught everyone that "it doesn't take days for things to change; your whole life can be uprooted in a matter of seconds. ... It's something I will live with for a long time. I just wish there was more I could do to help the folks."

Citing help from local state legislators, several state agencies, former county public safety director Jim Thompson, private contractors and more than a dozen local municipalities, Bradley said the borough was able to clean up the debris in only six days. Other agencies that were instrumental in providing aid to Clark and South Pymatuning, he said, were the American Red Cross, Salvation Army, Sharon Regional Health System and UPMC Horizon.

"Everyone came to our aid and they knew what to do and they did a very, very good job," Bradley said.

Clark eventually received $100,000 and South Pymatuning got $40,000 in state Department of Community and Economic Development grants for damage to governmental property such as roads and sewers. In addition, individuals in both communities benefited from a private Tornado Relief Fund that reached $88,000.

The remainder of Clark's $100,000 grant, about $15,000, has been earmarked by council for a backup generator that will ensure a warning siren will be able to sound at all times. There is no major work left to areas that were damaged by the tornado, Bradley said. The last big expenditure will be the generator.

Nashtock said some minor construction continues in the township, there is still some debris in a few places and a couple of driveway culverts damaged by cleanup vehicles have yet to be repaired. He said some of that work has been delayed because of the severe flooding this year.

"We still haven't gotten to everything we said the township would do and are fortunate the people have been patient with us," he said.

There is some money left from the private relief fund in South Pymatuning for tree replacement, Nashtock said. As for the overall relief fund, Bradley said there's about $4,000 to $5,000 remaining, but that's being held for about a year for any more requests for help. If any still remains after that year, it might be donated to the Red Cross and Salvation Army, he added.

As for the emotional state of their citizens, Bradley and Nashtock agree both communities are well on their way to a full recovery.

"I have to commend all of the people in the borough for the recovery that was made, and for the attitude and the morale that's in the borough right now," Bradley said. "They have recovered from this in a remarkable way. They've held together, and the borough is gradually rebuilding."

"I really think the generosity and outpouring from surrounding communities certainly was a big factor in starting the healing process," Nashtock added. "And based on what I've seen, the couple of families I've had contact with whose homes were totally destroyed have gotten on with their lives very well and adjusted very well."