Great 1913 Flood, Dayton, Ohio (1913)

8/14/2019 Great 1913 Flood, Dayton, Ohio (1913)

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Jlijotograpijic Contemplation of 0m of JJature'SCataclysms

With Respect To An Inland City, The Deluge at Dayton,March 25, 19U, Was The Greatest Since The Days of Noah.

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N March 'J.-,, Dayton, strong and buoyanl in its more than a century's growth; hope-ful and planning in the bright sunshine of past achievements and industrial pos-sibilities; righteous and profane in accordance with the temperament of itscosmopolitan population, was unmade. Flood and fire, undreamed of and appall-ing, bore its beauty to the mire, dashed present hopes to the depths of stunningloss, and made its population objects of the same kind of pity and abundant chari-ty which had touched the quick of its human soul so many times when itsbusiness, church, fraternal and commercial kin in other places suffered. In oneshort week Dayton was unmade and born again. Her rippling Miami, unhar-nessed and rebellious, wrought the destruction and now the placid, yet stillmurky stream, sighs a mellow and eternal requiem over the havoc shechimes entrance to Paradise of the hundred souls site claimed. Forty-

seven years ago the stream went on a similar rampage, and fifteen years ago water flowed through thestreets of Dayton; but not since L789 to 1792, when the troublesome Miami Indians gave cunning,daring and relentless warfare to early settlers, has then' been such desolation and despair upon herclassic banks. Major Benjamin Stiles, Major John Stiles dans and Judge William Goforth negoti-ated for the strip of territory lying between the Miami and Mad rivers on June 13, 1789, and theycalled the site Venice. Yet only once during half a century has the community ever taken on the


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appearance of ;i Venice, with boats and rafts and barges floating in her streets. Major stilus oncewrote: "What can give its currenl such velocity in the midst of so level a country is a matter ofastonishment to all who behold it," Writers of to-day voice the same sentiment nor do they at-tempt to explain the phenomenon of the deluge. The rain appeared to be only normal, yet the floodwas abnormal. Hut there remained in the embattered hulk of the Gem City that spark of virginstrength, determination and plan which will undoubtedly make it a real gem in the diadem of itscountry's municipalities. Although Dayton was well-nigh mortally wounded, yet she girded hertattered garments about her shivering and bleeding form and pitched into the battle of reconstruc-tion ami rehabilitation. The Gem City had to do itthere was no other course open, if she was tolive. To-daj she has practically recovered from her wounds, and gains strength steadily. Throughthe kindly offices and gentle ministrations of sister cities and communities, she litis thrived on thecharity nursing and stands erect and without a totter. The city has buried her toll of dead;through large forces she w'iped away the last vestige of her unpleasant battle with the elements;properly aided by State and National authorities, ami her own inherent desire, she safeguarded herhealth -until she stands a pillar of strength on the ashes of her past. It is probable that no citjon earth ever took such rapid snides as did Dayton, once her flood waters receded. The majestyof her enterprises lias asserted itself, and her citizenship has taken hold with a firm determinationin retrieve the losses. Memories alone will retain the horrors of the occasion, and events of thefuture have been dated from March 25, 1913. What a short lime ago was a washed path of destruc-tion is to-day a hive of industry, just as before the fatal day. Wrecked businesses and sunderedhomes have been transformed into real commercial centers and havens of abode for a contentedami happy people. In the presenci of a great disaster the human mind is appalled, the humantongue is silent save in supplication for aid. and the human pen is often paralyzed. However, theMood of l ;i l :; directly affected 93,000 persons, 20,000 homes and entailed a property loss of approxi-mately $200,1 ,000; Hie stretch of water was two miles wide, with a depth varying according to ele-vation and depression of land from I to 26 feet; while the lives of thousands were in jeopardy, andmany answered the inexorable fiat of Nature. Emblazoned across the heavens tire the names ofInnumerable ones whose deeds of heroism mark them as men and women of real character, whomeet the full measure of (bid's own plan. So. to the memorj of the souls who passed through Deathinto Life Eternal amid the Hood, and to the service of their surviving kin and sorrowing neighbors,who cherish their memory while mourning their departure, in humble submission to the will of anAll-Wise ami Inscrutable Providence, this booklet is dedicated. clarence ii. Greene.


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. NORTh YTON A


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y LEHMAN ST.lWERDALE


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SHOWING'HOW'TRAVEL SWEETS WERE TORNAFTER WATER HAD RECEDED


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HAYES- ST RIVERDALE


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WA'SHOUfofTRAOjtfat UNION'DEPOT


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GERMANTOWN' STREET EASTfrom BROADWAY


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MAINST WVERDALE- _ ^^ PHOTO. 3YMAYFJELL


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VIEW OF FIRE ZONELOOKING WEST FROM ST CLAIR


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DEBRIS at MORTOJV $ BROWN


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VIEW ON THIRDST


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VIEW OH EASTMONUMENT AV

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SOUTH SUMMIT ST


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LOOKING EAST OH THIRDj^csm cTEEFERSOfrf


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FERTILIZIMQ PLANT


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y^Vvimil^BVREAR OF COOPER MEDICINE CO CANAUSXDm a-

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VIEW INEDGEMONT OR GBEENCASTLE


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3rd STEAST FROM MIAMI CITY


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CATHERINE ST. NORTHfioin FAIN GROUND

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MAIN J3T. LOOKING SOUTH

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BRQAHV&_ &. ojT GERMAN-TOWN


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BR(J/mSTNORTHJ?omMORTONAW.


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BUINS ofFIRE onST CLAIR ST.


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3 re/ T. LOOKING EASTfrom. BOULEVARD


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PALMER ST FROM MIAMI BLVD

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RUINS qTFIREfrom.rd > eJEFFERSOlY


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SCENE AT WHITE CITY


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VIEW NORTH DAYTON FROM WESTEND HERMAN STBRTDGE

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-^r TROY ST LOOKING EAST

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MAIN ST. NORTHftcm EMMETT1


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LIBRARY OF CO


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Great 1913 Flood, Dayton, Ohio (1913)

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