Views of the Flood
Introduction
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Tuesday morning, March 25, 1913, the City of Hamilton and the entire Miami Valley was visited by the most destructive, wide-spread and damaging flood that has yet been recorded for this section of the country. Heavy rains for several days preceding had so increased the volume of the streams flowing into the Miami river, that this body of water by Tuesday, March 25, was overrunning its banks in many places and by ten o'clock Tuesday morning had inundated the entire Third and Fifth wards of Hamilton, besides overflowing the lower section Second ward, and scores of streets in this same ward that occupied higher ground. |
The flood continued with unabated fury for almost twenty-four hours, the river rising constantly during this time. The crest of the flood was reached Wednesday, March 26, about 3 a.m.
The river fell slowly and it was not until late Thursday and early Friday that the majority of people were able to get out on dry land once more. The Fourth ward was flood ridden, also, but no great damage to homes and property was recorded, such as was found in the Second and Third wards.
The Sixth ward (Lindenwald) was untouched, and East Hamilton
also escaped the ravages of the flood. The First ward was hard hit, A Street,
being practically wiped off the map of the city. The water went to a point
between C and D streets in First ward, and much valuable property was damaged,
destroyed, and floated away.
| The total property damage in the city as a result of
the flood is estimated at no less than $15 million. 106 lost their
lives in Hamilton. Over 500 homes were washed away and 10,000 persons were
made homeless.
Four bridges, the High and Main Street, Columbian, Black Street, and C., H., and I. Railroad, were destroyed by the big rush of waters, and a loss of over $300,000 was sustained. Throughout the entire county, Middletown and other points, the flood wrought appalling destruction. |
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(Source: Flood Souvenir: Views of Hamilton, Ohio During and After the Disastrous Flood of March 1913)
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