On March 25, 1913, the greatest flood ever to hit the Miami Valley struck Middletown with a force that should never be forgotten, and led to the establishment of the first conservancy district in the United States.
That month of March was marked by unusual atmospheric conditions. On the 13th of the month, a storm center formed over the Rocky Mountains, growing worse as it traveled eastward. Southern states experienced tornadoes and flooded rivers. Another storm from the southwest headed towards Ohio. On Sunday night, March 23, the rain continued uninterrupted over the Ohio country, but the intensity was not great. This rain, however, was to continue for 72 hours. Because the weather had been freezing, the hillsides along the river were frozen. There was still some snow on the ground. The pelting rain melted the remaining snow, which added to the runoff.
The newspapers told the story. At 6 a.m. on Monday, March 24, the stage of the river was 7 feet 2 inches, by 11 a.m. it had reached 11 feet 2 inches, and by 2:30, it was 12 feet 8 inches still rising. Middletonians were scared — they lined the banks of the river. A question was being asked; would the levies hold? They had been raised since 1898 and were above the Main Street level. As they watched, they could see the river rising.
At midnight while Middletonians slept the river stood at 15 feet. The morning of Tuesday, March 25, brought sobering news. Piqua was under water, the electric plant was out, along with their bridges. Troy was flooded. A levy broke at Dayton. Here in Middletown the sewers were no longer draining water. There were streams of incoming water. Manholes blew their tops! By 10 a.m., the low-lying portions of the city were covered with water.
Downtown merchants were pressing every man they could find into service carrying their goods to second-floor storage rooms. Some did not work fast enough as the water poured in. Men became worried about their families and rushed home to help them.
The whole flood plain was inundated. The river waters started to slowly climb the first terrace, which is marked on town plats as the east side of Clark and Curtis Streets. Between this terrace and the steep hills of West Middletown was a great lake. The river had claimed its ancient channel. Floating in this lake, which had a strong undercurrent, were barns and houses lifted from their foundations. Cattle, horses, hogs, and sheep were drowned in the swift waters. As the buildings along the streets formed levies, the waters became a torrent.
The saving of human life became the most important concern of all Middletonians. Over 1,000 families had to leave their homes to find higher ground and safety. All types of transportation were used, until finally only boats could get through.
One man looking over the wreckage wrote: “No human being in sight, no sign of life — silent as a grave. Below piles and piles of wreckage, a fine was piano lying in the yard. At the front and side of our house is a raging torrent… Inside the house the water went over the mantels.”
Fortunately Middletonians worked together as a team. Not a single life was lost in the city. However, south of town three people died after a barn collapsed and was washed away. Food and clothing had to be found for the flood victims. South School became a flood relief center with the second floor used to houses refugees. Many mothers with babies faced the problem of finding milk. This was solved when some cows came swimming into the South School grounds to find safety on a knoll.
Next week will continue the story of the Great Flood of 1913 with emphasis on the people who recalled the event in later years.
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