The ‘new’ Broad Street bridge
Cuyahoga Falls may seem safe from a disastrous flood. But it can happen. And it did. One hundred years ago this coming week.
In March of 1913, 9.55 inches of rain fell within a few days on ground that was frozen hard by winter. It caused Ohio’s worst weather related tragedy in history.
Cuyahoga River hit its peak on Tuesday March 25th and Wednesday March 26th. Although Cuyahoga Falls suffered relatively little damage in comparison to other parts of Ohio the “town was practically tied up, as a result of the heavy rains throughout the district and the flooding of lowlands by high water.”
The hardest hit was about 15 acres in the northern part of Bailey Road, many houses being completely surrounded by water.
The Ruggles family of Third street were taken from their home in a boat when it appeared that their home would be swept away.
“The overflow from the Elmwood Heights allotment”, the 1913 issue of the Cuyahoga Falls Reporter said, “and over Front St. at Roethig’s Run caused much damage, the torrents washing out sidewalks and tearing great holes in driveways and yards and several of the properties were endangered by the rushing waters.”
The lowest lands of Gaylord’s Grove and west of Silver Lake were inundated by several feet of water and continued on as far as Munroe Falls.
By Tuesday morning, March 25, the water reached the girders under the Broad Boulevard Bridge and city officials placed ropes on either end to stop traffic. On the same morning the Walsh Paper Mill was shut down when high waters damaged the wheel house. The Turner, Vaughn and Taylor plant was shut down the next day.
A break in the gas lines west of Akron caused trouble all around. The CF Reporter described it well: Early morning risers were able to get breakfast by the diminishing supply, the gas utterly failing here about 6:45am. In addition to this many homes were without fire, by reason of flooded cellars putting out furnace fires.
“Old oil stoves were pressed into service while many were compelled to fall back on coal to do their cooking.”
The power plant at the gorge was flooded on Monday night, cutting off all the power in the town. Schools were dismissed and mail deliveries were at a standstill.
The water eventually receded but not without leaving a huge mess and a few deaths in Akron.
