1936 Flood scene in Rochester
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All Beaver County has its sleeves rolled up, caring for its 3,500 flood victims and beginning restoration of its million dollars of damage.
The Red Cross has been a jump ahead of the flood needs, county WPA Chairman D.W. Carver said.
A general survey by Red Cross workers, headed by Chairman Carver, Secretary Viola Coene and National Red Cross representative R. Benson, sent here from Washington, showed the number in distress as follows:
Bridgewater, 1,800; Freedom, 3,000; Smith's Ferry, 300; Ambridge, 200; Rochester, 200; New Brighton, 200; Industry, 200; Conway, 150; Baden, 100, and Fallston, 50. Bridgewater, under 12 feet of water, was the worst sufferer.
Saturday was the first day of Spring. Residents of Beaver County are hopeful - after months of suffering, that the calendar means something and that real spring will soon arrive. The combination of the worst winter in generations, with frequent sub-zero temperatures, the days of anxiety as a result of the gigantic ice gorge in the Ohio River at Vanport and then the climax of the worst flood in the history with millions of dollars in damage will live long in the memory of the inhabitants of the entire district.
Many Beaver Valley residents recalled the terrible night of June 28, 1924, when Beaver and vicinity was struck by a cyclone with loss of life and great property damage. This tragedy, the ice gorge and the great flood will all go down in history.
After three days of high water, causing the worst flood in the history of Beaver County, the water receded rapidly Thursday and Friday, leaving in its wake filth, debris and wreckage that is tragic.
Starting with a gradual drop of three inches an hour early Thursday, the rate of fall increased during the day and night unti Friday the waters were clear of all highways in the valley and practically everyone flooded was able to get into his home to start cleaning up.
At Montgomery Island dam the stage was 690 feet above sea level. The peak of the flood read 706.5.
It appeared the worst flood in the history of Western Pennsylvania had run its course.
Many in Bridgewater and Rochester lost everything they owned. They got to places of safety with only the clothes on their backs.
One woman was rowed to the Rochester bridge carrying a bucket with a few dishes in it. She was crying. The bucket contained all that she saved for her home which the flood moved from its foundation.
In Bridgewater many refused to leave their homes until the water reached the second floor where they had taken refuge. Then as they were rowed away in boats there was no room to take any possessions with them.
Police Chief Dan M. Baker said on Friday:
"A lot of people in town lost all they had. Some of them are hungry and have no dry clothing. The Red Cross is helping all it can but are in bad shape. It will take until summer to get straightened out again."
One hundred CCC workers were brought in from the Raccoon Park barracks to assist in Bridgewater and Rochester with the cleaning up work.
Volunteers assisted lowlands' residents to start shoveling the mud and debris from their homes. But it was a huge task.
