1918 Ice Flood, Lock Haven

Large ice chunks piled on East Water Street, Lock Haven Pa

1918 Feb. 21 - 26.8' "2nd Ice Flood" cakes of ice were 12' in depth.

[From the Lock Haven Flood Monument]

East Main Street Lock Haven, Ice Flood February 1918

LOCK HAVEN BURIED BY ICE FROM FLOOD
 Special Train Rushed to Bear Relief to Stricken Town.
 Damage is $500,000. 

Car owned by Clarence Dunn flooded on Bellefonte Avenue and Church Street.

"Lock Haven is suffering from the worst flood in its history, with the streets, homes, and stores filled with ice left by the flood caused by the ice gorge in the Susquehanna river. The loss is believed to be $500,000. 

A telegram received this morning by S.Richie from G. E. McNerney, wholesale lumber dealer at Lock Haven, said "Worst ice flood ever. Business section covered with water to depth of four to five feet. Corner Henderson and Main eight to ten feet. Mountains of ice everywhere. Great distress in town." 

A special train has been sent from Williamsport, with relief for the flood sufferers, while supplies are also being sent from Harrisburg. People whose homes were made untenable by the flood are being cared for at the normal school and in the Lock Havens Hospital. "

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Lycoming Flood Memorial Marker

Dedicated to the people of Lock Haven to secure protection from the ravaging floods of Susquehanna River and to promote economic stability for future growth.

Dedicated
October 14, 1994
Local Cooperation Agreement
March 14, 1991
Ground Breaking
October 3, 1991
Through the years Lock Haven has suffered from floods, eighteen of which were over 25 feet. Those floods have left the people of Lock Haven robbed of their homes, possessions and means of life.

1744 Floods of unrecorded height,
1758 but noted historically for their
1772 destruction.
1784 March 15, 1784 - The 1st "Ice Flood"
1786 Oct. 1786 - The 1st "Pumpkin Flood"
1800
1829 Many local bridges damaged or
1846 destroyed
1847 Oct. 9, 1847 - 34.7' - 4' higher than
any previous flood.
The "2nd Pumpkin Flood"
1851 July 18 & 19 - 48 hrs. of raging
storms caused flood higher than
previous years.
1865 March 17 - 25.67' 2 million in damage.
Bridges from Farrandsville to
Northumberland destroyed.
1889 June 1 - 33.1" rain fell for 49 hours.
3/4 of city was inundated. The Jay St.
Bridge was the only one left between
here and Sunbury. Marked the end of
the West Branch Canal.
1894 May 31 - 26.4' Thunderbolts and fire
accompanied flooding.
1918 Feb. 21 - 26.8' "2nd Ice Flood" cakes
of ice were 12' in depth.
1923 March 4 - 25.1' ("3rd Ice Flood")
city flooded twice in 48 hours
due to ice jams downstream.
1936 March 17 - 32.3' - Episcopal
church burned. CCC men helped
with clean-up. In Nov., Grant St.
Dam built at cost of $184,950.
Congress authorized a LH dike
project.
1946 May 28 - 26.2' - TEAH Hospital
surrounded by water. Fire at
the Roxy Theater.
1950 Nov. 26 - 27.8' - river rose 14' in 12
hours. LH Boat Club rescued
hundreds. 18 churches and halls
flooded. City borrowed $10,000 to
cover clean-up costs.
1964 Mar. 10 - 26.5' - Robb, Penn & St. Agnes
closed by damage. Newly-dedicated
YMCA addition flooded. 6 local
industries affected.
1972 June 24 - 31.3' - Hurricane Agnes.
$3.1 million loss on Main St. alone.
LH water and sewage plants shut down.
Total damages-$88 million (25% of
all recorded damages in all of West
Branch).
1980 June 24 - Lock Haven Flood
Protection Planning Board convenes.

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February 23rd 1918