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Flood of 1913
The 1913 Flood was the largest natural disaster
in Ohio history. Rainfall over the state totaled 6-11 inches. Four
hundred and sixty seven people died, and more than 40,000 homes were
flooded.
Akron, because of its location,
may have seemed safe from a really disastrous flood. But it can happen. It
did that March of 1913.
In Summit County 9.55 inches of rain fell
in a few days time on ground that was still frozen. The Little
Cuyahoga River raged over its banks, submerging the lower floors of
Goodyear, putting out fires in the power plant, drowning a man
attempting to cross Case Avenue and carrying away homes as it rushed
down the valley.
But that was not the only threat.
A dike of the East Reservoir gave way. Water flooded into South
Akron along the canal, rising eight feet in the warehouses and store
basements on the low ground west of Main Street. One end of the
Alexander Block collapsed at Market and Canal Streets, and the
electric light plant was flooded. The canal itself was a casualty.
To relieve the pressure of the water several of the locks had to be
destroyed. No more boats were to travel that way again.
Adapted From: OLD PORTAGE TRAIL REVIEW
Vol. 37, No. 7 July, 1984
Photos courtesy of Cuyahoga Falls Library
Courtesy of Summit Memory
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