The Press., 1904-03-24
AN EvENTNG WITH HISTORY OF
STAFFORD. =
The Flood of 1877.
BY MRS. F. Il. sPrLLMAN.

PoApse1ASo AZ Shaping OnO uASOOIy VI
Stafford. that with many of MS it has
become the standard from which all
events are reckoned; everything that
did not take place then, occurred a
certain length Of time either before or
after the food.
On Monday, March, 26 the rain fell
in torrents throughout the entire day
and evening. In the afternoon it was
reported that the reservoir dam at
Staffordville, which was a new one
built late in the previous fall, showed
indications of weakness, and grave
fears were entertained that if. the rain
continued the structure would be un-
able to Withstand the mighty pressure
brought to bear upon it, for the heavy
rain had caused the breaking up of
the ice and the reservoir was rapidly
filling with water.
As this reservoir was the source from
whence the nine different mill ponds
and streams through the center of the
town drew their supply. the strength
or weakness of the dam was of vital
| Importance to property. owners, for
| then, as now, there were many build
ings on the banks of the stream. Es-
pecially was this true of the Springs.
At that time, close by the bridge
where the Brown clothing store now
stands, was an old-fashioned country
store, the building owned by the
Granite Mill Co., and occupied by L.
w. Crane, who had done business at
that place for ~ years. Back of this
store was row Of tenement houses,
also owned by the Granite Mill Co.,
consisting of two blockas containing
four families each, and another Of only
two families.
The land now occupied by the Ma
tional Bank building is the site of the
old bank building. Where the Baker
Eblock now stands was row of stores
Eowned by Heald & Baker, and occupied
by F. J. Chandler's news room, WV.
Burwell, jeweler, and Heald s. Small,
druggists and clothing store. The
freight depot was where we now have
the passenger station.
No serious apprehensi6ns were en-
tertained of any special peril to any
beyond those families living in the
tenement houses. They swould prob
ably get more water than would be
quite comfortable, but a the reservoir
was about five miles away it was only
reasonable to- think that the body Of
watee would ..be srread oyer the
meadows along it's. course, and the
current would have lost it's greatest
force before it reached the Springs.
Before daylight ON the morning of
Tuesday residents along the line were
awakened by the hoofs of a galloping
horse bearing q modern Paul Revere
(E. @. Pinney), who was coming to
give warning of the mastering of
forces and the approach of: an enemy
that it were useless to face The only
defense consisted in securing what
valuables one could andkgetting be-
yond its reach.
What never-to- be- e-forgotten morn
ing that was!
Before seven O'Clock it was known
that the masonry of the dam had
crumbled, and an immense body of
water was on its way. Very soon,
although still damp and very cloudy,
the entire village was out on the
hills. ..
What q picture was spread before
us as we stood on the hill behind the
little house by the church!
In the valley men were hhsy re-
moving goods where they would be-
kept dry. Horses attached to bust !,
ness wagons were rapidly driven to-
and from the hills, while small
articles of value from WV. Burwell's
jewelry store were sbeing carefully
carried into the : Congregational
church. This was considered such
place Of safety that no one raised a
question as to the wisdom of the pro-
ceeding. i; -: H.. ~.
On the opposite hill were gathered
interested and anxious spectators, who
stood quiet with suspense, when at
length p harse came dashing down the
valley, with the rider shouting to the
busy men to fly, for the water was
here. .-s--#..= .... ..>
Looking up the stream a. moment
later was a sight SO appalling that it
almost froze our blood, and transfixed
us to the spot, 'petrified with horror.
Rushing swiftly down behind the
Warren Woolen Co.'S buildings was an
enormous wave, estimated to be
twenty feet in height the accumula-
kions Of all the ponds and dams along
its course. It was Of dark, dingy
byowp color,s looking more like q bare
mountain than amy -lwater, ever seen
before. When ,it. reached the damEthe.
structure seemed to dissolve, NO one
could see it. fall, and the. tenement
houses and store were crushed as easily.
as egg shells. Large trees were pick,
ed up by the roots and carried along,
with great boulders that.were only as
pebbles in the grasp Of the monster.
The accumulation Of debris at the
bridge turned the current to the west,
took off an ell Of the Granite mill,
where were the engine room and ma
chine shop, lifted q little Home insur-
ance building from it's foundations,
which sailed lightly down the current
until it was dashed in pieces by con-
tact with distractions. +. z~l,-.. !.
!. The Heald & Baker block, with its
row of stores. the freight depot, flock
shop and warehouse'o VIM. Smith &
Co., warehouse of George cleveland,
the church, and lastly the bank.
Freight cars loaded with wool, be-
p...-:~n l.. AE. n9.-.-.p cs..-..... ~.