Parkersburg

The afternoon of May 25, 2008 many Iowa residents noticed the sky had turned an eerie shade of green. That was the first sign that something bad was potentially imminent. By the time the day was over, a 43-mile path of destruction would be all that was left after a F5 tornado destroyed many communities in central and eastern Iowa.

A group of 15 first-responders, paramedics and medical professionals received a national award for their lifesaving efforts during a ceremony this week.

It's the only large-scale twister ever to hit the state in October.

A 125 year old Victorian-era mansion still stands proud mixed into a normal neighborhood in Parkersburg. History lovers will have to wait until this winter to celebrate this beautiful hidden gem's birthday.