Today, February 6, is the 52nd anniversary of the "big flood" and in the memory of many of the so-called "old timers" of Beaver county events of that day are still as fresh in their memory as though they happened yesterday.
The flood of 1884 was the worst in the county's history. The waters did not r1se quite so high as during a flood which occurred in 1832, but the property damage was many times higher' because this district had developed so much in the intervening years. In 1913 there was another terrible flood, but even it did not compare with that of '84.
The greatest damage was caused when the swirling waters undermined the Fallston bridge, swept it down the Beaver river against the Rochester - West Bridgewater bridge. Both were then carried against the Cleveland & Pittsburgh Railway bridge and the three structures crashed Into the big iron span of the Pittsburgh & Lake Brie Railway span, partially. demolishing it.
Hundreds of People never went to bed that night. Those who lived near the banks of the Beaver and Ohio rivers hastily packed their belongings and many moved to higher ground. They carried furniture to slopes where the surging waters would not reach.
At Baden, the Ohio river crept across the tracks of the Pennsylvania Railroad company and west bound trains were forced to stop. A party of three local men was particularly anxious to get home. The group comprised E.P. Stewart of New Brighton, Ed Wittish, Beaver and J. D. Parrott, Beaver Falls, and in addition there was a John B. Arthurs of Chicago who intended to Visit Mr. Stewart.
The men hired George H. Cross and Samuel Calhoon, two Baden youths, to take them to Freedom by skiff. At Freedom they had hopes of being able to continue, to the upper valley.
It was only 6 O'clock at night when the little party set out in the small craft from the Baden shore. But the night was pitch black and before the skiff had progressed a half dozen feet from the bank, it was caught in the swift 'moving current and swept downstream, lightning fast.
A low fog hung over the river, bewildering the young pilots. Huge chunks of ice bumped against the craft.Driftwood, portions of demolished barns and debris drifted past.
It was impossible for the youths to land the skiff at Freedom. The current carried them crosswise in the river. They heard a mighty roar but did not learn until several hours later that the thunder-like sound had been caused when the bridges were swept away.
It was 7 O'clock when the group landed at Phillipsburg (now Monaca) . There, an effort was made by the men to cross the river to Rochester, but on such a night the operator of theferry refused to attempt the crossing.
There was nothing to do but put up at the Point Breeze hotel, then one of the town's most popular hostelries.
The next morning the two boys took the men to Rochester. The river crossing was difficuly but by the light of day the hazards of the trip were reduced. Even so, an odd sight met the eyes of those in the skiff as they neared the Rochester shore. Familiar landmarks were covered by water. The Ohio river completely enveloped Water street and the Pennsylvania railroad tracks.
The youths rowed their boat right to the very door of the Rochester hotel on New York avenue and the men stepped from the skiff into the entrance way of the hostelry.
The finding of a leaf from
the old registry book of the Point Breeze hotel was what recalled
the incident to Mr. Cross, now of Rochester, who several days
ago described the horror of that night. On the margin beside the
names of the hotel guests that February 9th, Mr. Wittish had written:
"This party of six crossed today in a skiff after night;
leaving Baden at 6 o'clock P. M., landing at Phillipsburg at 7
o'clock in the fog. Heavy ice and driftwood. Carried on the surface
of the highest flood known. Motive to get home."