The South Fork Dam collapses on this day in 1889, causing a flood in Johnstown, Pennsylvania, that kills more than 2,200 people.
Johnstown is 60 miles east of Pittsburgh in a valley near the Allegheny, Little Conemaugh, and Stony Creek Rivers. It is located on a floodplain that has been subject to frequent disasters. Because of the area’s susceptibility to floods, a dam was built in 1840 on the Little Conemaugh River, 14 miles upstream from Johnstown. Nine hundred feet by 72 feet, it was the largest earth dam (made of dirt and rock, rather than steel and concrete) in the United States and it created the largest man-made lake of the time, Lake Conemaugh. The dam was part of an extensive canal system that became obsolete as the railroads replaced the canal as a means of transporting goods. As the canal system fell into disuse, maintenance on the dam was neglected.
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In 1889, Johnstown was home to 30,000 people, many of whom worked in the steel industry. On May 31, the residents were unaware of the danger that steady rain over the course of the previous day had caused. A spillway at the dam became clogged with debris that could not be dislodged. An engineer at the dam saw warning signs of an impending disaster and rode a horse to the village of South Fork to warn the residents. However, the telegraph lines were down and the warning did not reach Johnstown. At 3:10 p.m., the dam collapsed, causing a roar that could be heard for miles. All of the water from Lake Conemaugh rushed forward at 40 miles per hour, sweeping away everything in its path.
People in the path of the rushing flood waters were often crushed as their homes and other structures were swept away. Thirty-three train engines were pulled into the raging waters, creating more hazards. Some people in Johnstown were able to make it to the top floors of the few tall buildings in town. However, whirlpools brought down many of these taller buildings. A bridge downstream from the town caught much of the debris and then proceeded to catch fire. Some people who had survived by floating on top of debris were burned to death in the fire. Reportedly, one baby survived on the floor of a house as it floated 75 miles from Johnstown.
One of the American Red Cross’s first major relief efforts took place in the aftermath of the Johnstown flood. Clara Barton arrived five days later to lead the relief. It took five years to rebuild Johnstown, which again endured deadly floods in 1936 and 1977.
You will need to dig a little deeper to find out the disrepair of the dam was related to the wealthy club that was built on the newly formed lake that attracted the wealthy steel and finance barons from Pittsburgh, who would flock there for weekend getaways. Fascinating museums at the dam and in the city, detail the horrific scene, as attempts were made to warn others of the impending doom.
I’m from PA. Been to Johnstown – the flood didn’t do a good enough job of eradicating that shit hole. Altoona should also go.
Why on earth do people rebuild after something like ths?
Because they don’t have a fucking clue.
If I recall, the reservoir had been stocked with game fish and then screens were installed on the dam spillway to keep the fish in. These screens plugged up with debris causing the water to rise and the dam to breach. That’s the short version anyway.
Those who rebuild in flood plains, tornado zones, coastal flooding zones – frequently have no place else to go. Often, their ancestors settled there, raised families and created farms, businesses, etc. during the interim between disasters. Then the first disaster happens, which is ascribed to chance, and they rebuild. By the time they figure out that every 20 – 50 years something really nasty is gonna happen, they are too far invested – and no one else would buy the place, so they’re also stuck. Sometimes they build on stilts like the Cajuns, or work on toughening the structures like the Okies are now. Sometimes the kids read the writing on the walls and move on, and eventually it becomes wilderness again. YMMV.
Completely off topic – one of the earliest jokes I remember hearing:
The man was a survivor – he lived through the Depression, the Second World War and the Johnstown Flood – but of the three, the one he loved talking about the most was the Johnstown Flood. His grandchildren could recite the story from memory!
But all go to their reward, and so did he. One morning he woke up standing before the gates of Heaven, with St. Peter looking over the book of his life. St. Peter said, “Welcome, my son – you have lived a long and virtuous life. Newcomers to Heaven can ask for a wish – what would you like, my son?”
“St. Peter, I would like to give a talk before an interested audience about my experiences in the Johnstown Flood.”
“So it shall be, my son. In four hours the great hall will be available for you.”
He was standing in the wings about to go on when St. Peter tapped his arm. “My son? I just thought you’d like to know – see the elderly man in the front row, long white beard? That’s Noah.”