Williamston, Michigan (WILX) – Williamston residents and business owners, such as the Hitchcocks, will tell you that community comes first.
“We’ve had things like this happen in Williamston recently, and we’ve seen how strong this community is throughout the years. And everyone goes out to individuals in need, which is just fantastic,” said Sam Hitchcock, son and business partner at Hitchcock Brothers.
His property near Williamston was devastated by strong tornado gusts, causing damage to the land, buildings, and resources. When owner Mark Hitchcock saw the consequences of the weather, he couldn’t believe it.
“I couldn’t explain how I felt. “It was terrible…gut-wrenching,” he admitted.
As sad as it is, Sam stated that living in Williamston, he had become accustomed to tornadoes dating back to high school.
“We had a wonderful new football stadium, but the storm destroyed it everything, forcing us to play our final game at a neutral venue. So, we definitely know what tornadoes are like. But you go through it, rebuild, and keep moving forward,” he explained.
However, Mark, Sam, and the rest of the Hitchcock Brothers crew still need to prepare for the spring.
“Spring work around the corner here and that’s our livelihood and it’s set us behind,” Mark told me.
However, in Williamston, the community has already pledged to assist the local farmer.
“We were offered the Williamston…baseball club. The football squad wants to help. Now, what type of community is that?” Mark stated. “I really appreciate everyone who has come out to aid us. The workmen, the electricians, and the cleanup people have all done an excellent job.”
