Valley Girl Views: The 1936 Flood In Milton

Front Street, looking north from Mahoning - 1936 Flood In Milton

================

More 1936 Flood Photos

Lewisburg Milton Montgomery Sunbury Watsontown Williamsport

===========================

In March of 1936, 3 days of floods caused 175 death throughout Pennsylvania, and caused more than half a billion dollars in damage. The 1936 St Patricks Day Floods remain on the list of the worst floods to ever occur in the Susquehanna River Valley.

The 1936 Flood In Milton

Lohman (?) House, South Front Street

The winter of 1935/36 was one of the most severe Pennsylvania had seen in years. Huge quantities of snow fell throughout the state. Prevailing low temperatures meant that each snowfall added to the last, accumulating up to three feet in many areas.

Along the river, the ice was fifteen, or even twenty, inches thick.

Looking Southwest, from the Presbyterian Church

Then in February of 1936, the cold spell ended abruptly, and remarkably warm weather was combined with light rains.The accumulated snow melted quickly. As the ice on the river melted, the ice gorged, or jammed, in areas, creating temporary dams.

The 1936 St Patrick's Day floods were the worst floods the Susquehanna Valley had seen so far.

Luther Hebrig (?) House, South Front Street

Milton was under water from the river to the railroads.

No homes were carried away in Milton in 1936, although some moved on their foundations.

The wharf's of 12 homes were washed away and those structures hung precariously over the river bank. Mud covered the streets and sidewalks, and many stores suffered complete loss of stock. 3,000 books in the Milton Library were damaged.

Bound Ave. looking North from Center St. Millward School on left

One man lost his life in the flood. Charles William Haupt was drowned while attempting to fix a valve that was malfunctioning, because of the flood waters, in the pumping station .

Two other men, David Lee age 60, and Filbert Eschback 62, died of natural causes during the flood. Undertaker Ranck had set up a morgue in a second story room, and an emergency hospital on the hill. Ranck also took sick patients to local hospitals.

Front Street Looking South

The water was 20 inches higher than in the flood of 1889

Bound Avenue Looking North. Legionnaire Theater on right

For many residents, there had been enough warning to get most of their belongings to the second floor.

Campbells Barber Shop, South Front Street

"Milton's flood picture was not as desolate as pictured in first reports from the isolated town, information given by Rev. Eugene S. Keller of Watsontown following a trip through the receding waters Saturday revealed. Heavy losses were Inflicted, however, when a wall of water from six to twelve feet high swept through the entire section of the town between the river and the railroad. All buildings in that area which Includes the business district were flooded." - Mount Carmel Item, March 1936

From Front Street, looking up Broadway

The town was completely clear of water on Sunday, and clean up soon was under way.

The American Legion had coordinated efforts to help residents move belongings to the second floor.

Broadway

On Saturday March 28, 20 hwy patrolmen replaced the National Guardsmen in Milton's flooded areas, and the emergency hospital was closed as the last patient was discharged.

Front Street, Looking North Towards Watsontown (Today Lincoln Park is On Left)
Notice the Stage Coach Sign - this was the stage coach stop

On Cameron Avenue, a "yawning chasm", resulting from the flood, left a 20 foot deep hole. In June, the hole was still there. James Renner, unaware of the hole, which was not protected by barriers, had his car plunged into it. The car caught on gas mains, preventing it from falling into 10 feet of water. Renner, his mother, and his two sisters were all rescued from the car, and the car was removed with "several wrecking devices"

Looking North, On Arch Street

North Front Street

Looking North on Turbot Ave, Center Street Playground would be on the left here

The Building Ahead on the right is Budman's auto today

Between Milton and Watsontown

Looking South from approximately the Fort Boone area

Dinty Moore & Three Points Lot

According to an article in the Mount Carmel Item:

"Above Milton a building at the Dinty Mors service station and another at Harman service station were washed away. Others In the vicinity were intact."