The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1921-07-20
TORRENTIAL RAIN
FLOODED BARRE
Main Street Was a Rushing River,
Hill Streets Were Badly
Torn.

l0In.
Main street in Barre yesterday after
noon was literally small river wit
water foot deep in several places, fill
ing the roadway and flooding onto tn
sidewalks before the heaviest rain
storm in years abated. For the mos
part the sewerage system was larg'
enough to carry off the large volume,
that rushed down the curbings. but
only where the system was working
to perfection was the street kept de
void of standing pool of water
At the junction of Washington and
South Main streets the pavement was
covered with rushing water, and at the
curbings small brooklets, dsshing for
escape, flooded the sidewalk or threat
ened TO run into the basement stores
and shops in the old French block,
wherein are Lafayette & Blakeley Is
barber shop, the Baltimore lunchroom,
| Stroutsos brothers shoe shining par
lor and Hollis barber shop. Further
down the street, just below Pearl
street and extending all over the road
way to the driveway of Jones & Nye's
| livery stable, water set back onto the
| walks and only by stationing members
Of the fire and police department TO
prevent automobiles from sending
waves onto the walk were the cellar
stores of A. NJ. Flanders and Frank
Nichols kept from being flooded As it
was, the water had reached the en-
trance and was beginning to flow down
the steps when the storm abated.
The failure of two sewers at this
district was the cause of much appre-
hension to these storekeepers and
while members of the street depart
ment worked diligently 10 open all es.
eapes for the water the chief of police
and fire chief turned traffic to the side
etreets.
From ]. j. Hastings store to Black
well street similar scene prevailed
until adequate drainage could be made
Wherever the water flooded the side
walks, it left large deposits Of mud,
another factor with which the street
department had TO cope. Tons of gravel
roadway were removed, especially from
the hill streets-Washingto street in
particular.
Street Superintendent A. A. Freeman
estimated that | 500 loads of gravel |
would be necessary TO fill the gaps in |
the roads and gravel sidewalks made |
by the storm, at all parts of the ci4v.
A number of loads could be found on |
the pavement near the Washington
Main street junction. As a matter of |
fact the work of good portion Of the
street department of the past week
was all undone in a short time, for
damages made by a similar storm a
week ago Sunday had not quite been
when the second and worse
storm started in dead earnest about
o'clock and continued until nearly $50
The sweep of the storm included
helds and crops in the surrounding
country and not a little damage re-
suited from the torrential downpour.
Brooks and streams showed increa sed
7oiume within short time after the
itorm.
well.known South Main street
nan was not TO be daunted by a lit
lie element like water and though he
ook all precaution against the rain ,
ghen he left his home with rubbers !
ver his shoes, raincoat and a good :
Umbrella he soon found himse/rstrand. }
d from home in the heart of the bust =
ess district, unable TO make his way a..
ack without getting wet feet Nj. \.
sckson. as always. was ready for an
mergency and, after removing his rub.
ers, shoes and stockings. rolled up his
and. like the barefoot boy, a
iade his way gayly to his residence.
Indifferent 10 any public opinion.
A hole large enough to drop Ford o
'r into was made on Prospect street G
18th the washing out OF the culvert a
EAR brook, just above the Williams.
'wn track. Spaulding street was Sc.
srely quilted at the rear of the CITY ;,
Dspltali Elm street. near the corner NJ
fremont street. suffered likewise. =;
nd q hole of good dimensions at the
'Tner of Sheridan and Beacon STREETS
rs re-opened for the third time this ~
ason. The old tar and macadam side u
ak on fremont street, near the j. p. o,
'rskie home, was undermined and a
rip six feet or more in length the en- v
re width of the walk dropped in. ne SO
ssitating the placing of planks across ds
e hole for passage. al