Wall of Water

    But there was danger waiting just 14 miles up the river. The South Fork Dam had been completed in 1852. The dam held back several streams and creeks to create the Western Reservoir. (A reservoir is a human-made lake used to store water.) 

    The reservoir was built to supply water to canals. These human-made rivers were used to transport goods on boats. But once trains replaced boats, the dam was left to slowly deteriorate. People in Johnstown were constantly worried that it would break.

    Then, in 1879, a group of rich men bought the lake, the dam, and the surrounding land. They turned it into the South Fork Fishing and Hunting Club (SFFHC). It became a private vacation resort for Pennsylvania’s richest families. They renamed the reservoir Lake Conemaugh.

    To create their perfect vacation spot, the owners of the SFFHC made changes to the dam. First, they lowered it by 3 feet. This was to make the top wide enough for two carriages to cross it.

    Next, they added a screen to the spillway. (That’s a spot where water could escape if the lake got too full.) This was to keep fish inside the lake for fishing.

    These would turn out to be deadly mistakes.

    But there was danger waiting just 14 miles up the river. The South Fork Dam had been completed in 1852. The dam held back several streams and creeks to create the Western Reservoir. (A reservoir is a human-made lake used to store water.)

    The reservoir was built to supply water to canals. These human-made rivers were used to transport goods on boats. But once trains replaced boats, the dam was left to deteriorate. People in Johnstown worried that it would break.

    Then, in 1879, a group of rich men bought the lake, the dam, and the surrounding land. They turned it into the South Fork Fishing and Hunting Club (SFFHC). It became a private vacation spot for rich families. They renamed the reservoir Lake Conemaugh.

    To create their vacation spot, the owners of the SFFHC made changes to the dam. First, they lowered it by 3 feet. This was to make the top wide enough for two carriages to cross it.

    Next, they added a screen to the spillway. (That’s a spot where water could escape if the lake got too full.) This was to keep fish inside the lake for fishing.

    These would prove to be deadly mistakes.

    But there was danger waiting just 14 miles up the river. The South Fork Dam, which had been completed in 1852, held back several streams and creeks to create the Western Reservoir. (A reservoir is a human-made lake used to store water.)

    The reservoir was built to supply water to canals—human-made rivers that were used to transport goods on boats. But after trains replaced boats, the dam was neglected and allowed to slowly deteriorate. People in Johnstown were constantly worried that it would break.

    Then, in 1879, a group of wealthy men purchased the lake, the dam, and the surrounding land and turned it into the South Fork Fishing and Hunting Club (SFFHC). It became a private vacation resort for Pennsylvania’s richest families. They renamed the reservoir Lake Conemaugh.

    To create their perfect vacation spot, the owners of the SFFHC made alterations to the dam. First, they lowered it by 3 feet in order to make the top wide enough for two carriages to cross it.

    Next, in order to keep fish inside the lake for fishing, they added a screen to the spillway. (That’s a spot where water could escape if the lake became too full.)

    These changes would later prove to have devastating consequences.

    Fast-forward to May 1889. In the last few days of the month, about 6 to 10 inches of rain fell in the Johnstown area. By the morning of May 31, the rivers were about to overflow.

    All morning, people came in and out of George Heiser’s store. They bought supplies. They wondered: Would this be the day the old dam finally broke?

    Up at SFFHC, Lake Conemaugh was rising about an inch every 10 minutes. Workers tried everything to prevent disaster. They piled more dirt on top of the dam. They tried to unclog the spillway. They even tried to dig a new spillway.

    But by 1:30 p.m., there was nothing more they could do. The water started to pour over the top of the dam. A crowd soon gathered, waiting for disaster. 

    Then, a few minutes after 3 p.m., it happened.

    Swoooooosh!

    The dam burst, sending almost 4 billion gallons of water toward Johnstown. Along the way, the flood picked up houses, trains, and trees. It reached Johnstown about an hour after the dam burst. By that time, the rolling mass of water and debris was 40 feet tall.

    That’s what Victor saw coming toward him as he stood on the roof of the stable.

    Fast-forward to 1889. In the last few days of May, about 6 to 10 inches of rain fell in the Johnstown area. By the morning of May 31, the rivers were about to overflow.

    People came into George Heiser’s store. They bought supplies. They wondered: Would this be the day the dam broke?

    At SFFHC, Lake Conemaugh was rising fast. Workers tried to keep the dam from breaking. They piled more dirt on top of the dam. They tried to unclog the spillway. They even tried to dig a new spillway.

    By 1:30 p.m., they had done all they could. The water started to pour over the top of the dam. A crowd gathered to watch.

    Then, just after 3 p.m., it happened.

    Swoooooosh!

    The dam burst, sending almost 4 billion gallons of water toward Johnstown. Along the way, the flood picked up houses, trains, and trees. It reached Johnstown about an hour after the dam burst. By that time, the mass of water and debris was 40 feet tall.

    That’s what Victor saw coming toward him as he stood on the roof of the stable.

    Fast-forward to May 1889. In the last few days of the month, about 6 to 10 inches of rain fell in the Johnstown area. By the morning of May 31, the rivers were on the verge of overflowing.

    All morning, people were coming into George Heiser’s store to buy supplies. They wondered: Would this be the day the old dam finally broke?

    Up at SFFHC, Lake Conemaugh was rising rapidly: about an inch every 10 minutes. Workers tried everything to prevent disaster. They piled more dirt on top of the dam. They tried to unclog the spillway. They even attempted to dig a new spillway.

    But by 1:30 p.m., it became evident that there was nothing more to be done. The water started to pour over the top of the dam. A crowd soon gathered, anticipating a disaster.

    Then, a few minutes after 3 p.m., it happened.

    Swoooooosh!

    The dam burst, sending almost 4 billion gallons of water barreling toward Johnstown. Along the way, the flood picked up houses, trains, and trees. By the time it reached Johnstown, about an hour after the dam burst, the rolling mass of water and debris was 40 feet tall.

    That’s what Victor saw coming toward him as he stood on the roof of the stable.

    Soon the stable Victor stood on was ripped out of the ground. Somehow, he was able to stay on top as it was swept away. Victor saw his neighbors in danger all around him. “There was nothing I could do for anybody,” Victor later remembered.

    Finally, the flood seemed to slow. Victor spotted a building that was still standing. He jumped onto its roof. A small group of people had done the same. Maybe I won’t die after all, he thought.

    He took out his watch again. It was not yet 4:30 p.m. Ten minutes was all it took to destroy his town.

    The cold rain kept falling. As night fell, Victor and the others on the roof climbed into the building’s attic. There they spent a long, sleepless night. 

    They could hear the whooshing sound of buildings falling one by one into the water.

    All they could hope for was that their building wasn’t next.

    Soon the stable Victor stood on was ripped out of the ground. Somehow, he stayed on top as it was swept away. He saw neighbors all around him. They were in danger. “There was nothing I could do for anybody,” he later remembered.

    The flood seemed to slow. Victor saw a building that was still standing. He jumped onto its roof. A few others had done the same. Maybe I won’t die after all, he thought.

    He took out his watch again. It was not yet 4:30 p.m. Ten minutes was all it took to destroy his town.

    The rain kept falling. Victor climbed into the building’s attic. The others on the roof did too. They spent the night there.

    They could hear buildings falling one by one into the water.

    They hoped their building wasn’t next.

    Soon the stable Victor stood on was ripped out of the ground. Somehow, he managed to remain on top as it was swept away. Victor saw his neighbors in peril all around him. “There was nothing I could do for anybody,” Victor later recalled.

    Finally, the flood seemed to slow. Victor spotted a building that was still standing, and he jumped onto its roof. A small group of other people had done the same. Maybe I won’t die after all, he thought.

    He took out his watch again and saw that it was not yet 4:30 p.m. Ten minutes was all it had taken to destroy his town.

    The cold rain kept coming down. As night fell, Victor and the others on the roof climbed into the building’s attic. There they spent a long, sleepless night.

    They could hear the whooshing sound of buildings falling one by one into the water.

    All they could hope for was that their building wouldn’t be next.

    By the time the sun came up, the rain had stopped. The water level had gone down a bit. Victor was able to leave the building. He walked on debris until he reached solid ground. 

    But the nightmare wasn’t over. 

    Crushed houses, train cars, and other debris had gotten caught against Johnstown’s Stone Bridge. Then the whole mess caught on fire—and burned for three days. In all, the fire and flood killed 2,209 people. 

    The story of the flood spread across the country. Newspapers reported on the disaster for weeks. Donations rolled in from around the world. People didn’t just send money. They sent food, clothes, furniture, soap, and more. 

    By sunrise, the rain had stopped. The water level had gone down a bit. Victor was able to leave the building. But the nightmare wasn’t over.

    Crushed houses, train cars, and other debris had gotten caught against Johnstown’s Stone Bridge. The whole mess caught on fire. It burned for three days.

    In all, the fire and flood killed 2,209 people.

    The story of the flood spread. People  around the world heard about it. They wanted to help. They sent money. They sent food, clothes, and soap too.

    By sunrise, the rain had stopped. The water level had gone down somewhat, and Victor was able to leave the building. He walked on debris until he reached solid ground.

    But the nightmare wasn’t over.

    Crushed houses, train cars, and other debris had gotten trapped against Johnstown’s Stone Bridge. Then the whole mess caught on fire—and burned for three days. In all, the fire and flood killed 2,209 people.

    The story of the flood spread across the United States. Newspapers reported on the disaster for weeks, and donations rolled in from around the world. In addition to donating money, people sent food, clothing, furniture, soap, and more.

    After the flood, anger started to brew in Johnstown. Why? Many people blamed the men of the SFFHC for the flood. These rich men had made the dam weaker—just so they could enjoy summers of fishing and boating. 

    Experts later came to look at the dam. They found that the changes the club made to the dam had caused it to break. So people who lost loved ones in the flood took the club to court. 

    But the men of the SFFHC were some of the richest, most powerful men in the world. In the end, nobody who took the SFFHC to court won. All the people of Johnstown could do was rebuild and try to move on. 

    And rebuild they did. Most flood survivors stayed in the valley. By 1910, more than 50,000 people lived in the Johnstown area.

    After the flood, anger brewed in Johnstown. Why? Many people blamed the men of the SFFHC for the flood. These men had made the dam weaker, just so they could have fun fishing and boating.

    Experts looked at the dam. They found that the changes the club made had caused the dam to break. So people who lost loved ones in the flood took the club to court.

    But the club owners were rich and powerful. No one who took the club to court won. All the people of Johnstown could do was rebuild and try to move on.

    And so they did. Most flood survivors stayed in the valley. By 1910, more than 50,000 people lived in the Johnstown area.

    After the flood, anger started to brew in Johnstown. Why? Many people blamed the owners of the SFFHC for the disaster. These wealthy men had made the dam weaker—just so they could enjoy summers of fishing and boating.

    Experts later inspected the dam and determined that the changes made by the club had indeed caused it to break. So people who had lost loved ones in the flood took the club to court.

    But the men of the SFFHC were among the richest, most influential men in the world. Ultimately, none of the lawsuits against the SFFHC was successful. All the people of Johnstown could do was rebuild and try to move on.

    And rebuild they did. Most of the flood survivors decided to remain in the valley. By 1910, more than 50,000 people were living in the Johnstown area.