Daily Kennebec journal., 1922-07-18
MILLION DOLLAR
PROPERTY LOSS
W|LLIMANSETT
Dam Breaks Releasing
Great Wall Water
No Loss of Life
Houses Swept from Founda-
tions-B. & NJ. Tracks Under
mined-Water Z Feet Deep in
Streets - Investigation Or
0ered : ~. r%-~E

Chicopee, Mass, July 17.-Fairly
definite assurance had been obtained
at o'clock this morning that no loss
of life had resulted from the burst
ing of two dams on Willimansett
brook at 80 o'clock this morning that
sent 2O,00o,O0O gallons of water rush
ing down the valley of the brook, a
considerable section of Willimansett,
including large residential and manu-
featuring districts on the easterly
bank of the Connecticut which con-
stitutes an outlying section of Chico
pee, being inundated.
Property loss will be heavy as a
score or more of dwelling houses
were swept from their founda tions
end many were carried a considera BILE
distance while others were tilted on
their foundations. Dozens of smaller
buildings, many of them containing
livestock, were swept away and de-
molished an dtheir occupants drown
ed.
Estimates of the damage to proper
ty vary from 100000 to s1,O00,0O0.
The disaster was caused by the CIV
ing away Of a cement dam at Lang
wald's Pond. situated between two and
three miles from the center populated
district of Willmansett. The crest
of the dam remained in place, but
lever section was pushed otu and the
released water rushed down the val
ley for half mile, entering Roberts
Pond.
The water tore out of the wooden
dam at the lower end of this pond and
a high wave swept down the valley,
spreading out into a residential dis
trict and in places reaching a depth
of seven feet.
Both ponds were formed for ice
cutting purposes by the building of
dams. The dam at Langwald's Pond
was about 800 feet long while the
wooden structure at Roberts Pond
was smaller.
The residents OF the locality were
panic stricken. Many rushed out in
an effort to escape but were forced to
turn back and then began removing
elderly persons and effects to
upper stories, out of reach of the wa
ter.
Contrary to early reports, sum-
mer camp of the Holyoke Y. w. c. A.,
on the bank of Langwald's pond was
not swept away. The camp is some
% feet acove the edge of the water
and the 25 girls occupying it slept
until s O'Clock, awakening to find
their boats stranded on what had
been the Link of the pond.
The tracks of the Connecticut
river division Of the Bostol & Main.
railroad SHrv@d as barrier - / to
large extent diverted ihe spreading
water away Fl ON the larger part of
the village which lies between these
tracks and the Connac' cut river.
Near tee WilllElansett railroad
station at tie north .'!y end of the
village, the water pou, d through an
underpasS and swept southwark,
flooding Tho main n1rt.i and south
street from Chicopec t. Hclyoke and
oPi CoOliS tN' IHtO SiuG Success 10 4
depth of several feer but quickly
drained ray
Deep deposits of mud we're left in
the streets for nearly half a mile
south of the railroad station and
both trolley and automobile traffic
was virtually suspended.
The tracks of the Boston & Maine
were heavily damaged. The water
cut into the embarkment and for
time both tracks were out of COM
mission. The southbound White
Mountain Express from Montreal to
New York was dctoured at North
ampton and sent over the branch to
New Haven, Conn, and thence to
New York. Other trains were held
up temporarily. Shortly after day
light one line of the railroad was
in operation.
Had the food occurred in the day.
light hours. when many would have
hecn on the streets, the casualties
could not but have been heavy. The
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