Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1920-12-16
Storms Damage
in Lewiston and
West Part of State

/ The POrtland-Lewiston Interurban
Co, was perhaps hardest hit. Cars
were forced to suspend running at
$40 p. NJ Tuesday for the second
time in the history of the line. trou-
BILE from washouts being the cause.
Wednesday morning cars were run
ming from. Lewiston as far as
Gloucester Lower Corner and from
Portland as far as Morrison Hill.
while two large crews were working
feverishly to repair two 1OO-foot
washouts-one at Lower Gloucester
and the other at tho Outlet in Gray.
Gray Meadow was reported flooded.
but the water had not yet reached
the level of the tracks.
Three lines of the A. & X. were
stopped by small washouts during
tn night. but headquarters reported
all cars running on schedule time
Wednesday morning at 8 o'clock.
Property damage amounting to
several hundred dollars from flooded
cellars and wash-out lawns and ter
races was done in both cities.
ReaIIy Began Monday
The storm really began late Mon
day evening with several half heart
ed attempts. to snow, but early Tues
day rain began to fall and steadily
increased. From noon until neraly
midnight the storm continued with
out abatement--a real, old-fashioned
gale. with all the trimmings.
Wind, which at times howled down
the streets and around the corners
of houses like a genuine nor easter,
accompanied the rain, making the
streets almost impossible.
This wind was the cause of the
smashing of a large display window
at the Economy Clothing Co., Lisbon
street. lewiston when hanging
sign was torn loose, and blown
through the heavy glass. The crash
could be heard all over Lisbon street,
and fsuits and wearing apparel on
display were thoroughly soaked
The damage was estimated at $3.50.
Water worked its way into the base
Inent OF the Wise & Cooper Shoe Co.
Tuesday afternoon. Little damage was
done, however, according to reports.
Many cellars in both cities were food
ed, causing, much Inconvenience and
damage Sidewalks were veritable
sideways. and the strength Of the
storm itself kept all indoors not act
ually forced to go out. The frozen
ground kept the water on the surface
and the running streams were swelled
by the melting of the snow; but at the
same time this frozen ground pre-
vented many washouts which would
have certainly resulted in the summer
time from storm of equal fierceness
and intensity. In Lewiston many
catch basins were flooded and soon
overlooked.
The A. &: K. street railway had its
difficulties, although the damage done
to its lines was not great as that to
the Decentralization Jnterurban
tracks. The last car from Bath pulled
in at $50 P. NJ. Tuesday. half an hour
fate. and no further runs On this line
were attempted except for the con.
struction train, which carried a crew
| down the line to fight an expected
washout at Clayton Corner in South
| Lewiston and at Dill hill. Two feet OF
! Water was reported running over the
tracks at Gaylon Corner and wash.
out was momentarily expected. The
same vas true at Dill hill.
A crew was unable to keep the track
| clear OF sand and ice near the Maine
Central station in Lisbon Falls and 9
short stretch of track was washed
out at Little River bridge. just below
! the Falls.
The Mechanic Falls line was blocked
by washout of 25 feet of it's track
near Pulsifers. halfway between Has
| kell's and Minot Corner. This was re.
| paired during the night and cars were
| running on schedule time Wednesda,
morning.
| A bank on Laurel hill also was
| washed down across the New Auburn
car tracks on Main street and stopped
the service on this line Tuesday eve
ming.
| The Androscoggin Electric Co., the
Postal and the Western Union report.
ed some wire trouble, although Their,
was no serious damage. The tele
phone company reported more than tn,
average number Of lines out of com
mission, but it was said at headquar
| tiers that they couldn't tell just how
many. #
| There are three working on tn,
switchboard now" said the Journal.
informant
Water was tumbling over the fall
this morning--an impressive sight
and the river was rising as rapid,
as If it were the spring flood insteat
Of December rain. The water coult
be seen to gain in height hourly AM
was hungrily Tipping up and reach
fling toward the little stretch of lawl
Ion the river side of the First Auburn
Trust company. That effort to beau
tify our river front seems to stant
as a challenge to the river, and tn,
muddy waters try to destroy il q
every opportunity. What little ice hat
formed in the lea of the island wa.
washed away early int he mornin,
by the rushing flood.
| Automobiles, at least, were CRATE
full for the rain. for it carried off Z
great deal of the snow and many
Of the streets were washed clean II
the pavement by the driving force O
the downpour.. Companies usin,
trucks for hauling purposes were alst
benefited. .,s .eas1
| $1,000 DAMAGE at Bid8aford