Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1923-05-02
Break in New Storage Dam Added Climax to Freshet
Damage; Loss Will Approximate $400,000; Main
Street Bridge, Foundry, Machine Shop, Boat
Sheds and Dirigo Theatre Building Swept Away;
Freshet Had Begun to Subside When New Alarm
Came

Ellsworth stricken today by disaster history
disaster such occasionally read about but dream
of possible community The property loss approx
$400OO0 1t spells for and will be felt directly or
indirectly by every man, and child in Ellsworth
After destruction by rehet of unprecedented height during
Monday and Tuesday, resulting damage estimated $lOOOOO
climax last night with breach the dam
the Bar arbor and Union River Power Co., Bmmes bridge
letting down Ellsworth flood of waters from the I'M
lake created by that dam.
Within few reached Ellsworth property
valued $4,000 away only of which be
salvaged which there The bridge
Union River Main The machine shop
sheds of the Ellsworth Foundry and Machine Works
spared by the eshet clean and with them went
100000 worth boats yachts stored the boat houses
The frame buildings back of the State business
Guiding the Dirgo picture theatre also went
Thousands of people-nhabitants of Ellsworth who forgot
Sleep hundreds from surrounding watched fascinated
the destruction witnessing the irresistible of the
raging sight they will foget-bu heartrend
ing sight Fire be fought but against food practically
helpless
The disaster struck with stunning force because came
day of hopeness when breahed freely
the thought that the worst
Then, late Wednesday afternoon the alarm that the
four miles above Ellsworth breaking and warning
everyone of Post Office Square Something approaching
followed Occupants of he State requstoned
trucks and automobiles and began moving their stocks and the
rushed about with reckless speed but without accident Excite
swept the wholebusness section.
More reassung reports from the dam followed but
"A
DAM suceay and gates about IFS feet long, had given
away lake be enptied before the flood be
stayed.
flow of the already freshe PITCH
began felt Ellsworth before o'clock By 10 o'clock the
reached the middle of PostoAe But the
property had before Shortly before
Farmers Union storehoue dfted down
under the Main bridge where hung for fifteen min
ue adding the tremendous the gradually
working under and exeing lifting Then, just at 10
o'clock gently mother lifts child from its cradle lifted the
bridge from its abutents and bore finally de-
posting rghtsde and its structure apparently
jued the eddy formed above the Giles point The
abutment of the bridge also swept
The wreck of the picture theatre quickly followed Others of
adding the of the
The whole building swung down several feet
cumbing sidewalk alongside of it. few later the
building crashed and swng through the
gap left by the bridge.
The Office building and machine shop of the Ellsworth Foundry
and Machine Works lifted from its founda
borne down upon the boat sheds With hardly pause
swept away sheds and they offered and the
whole down the machine ship submerged almost
floating rghde up, driving before like fright
flock of sheep grinding of yachts and boats
resentng than of million dollars The machine
few of the boats lodged points but of
down the Many of them already been
savaged.
The eckage of logs piled upon the schooners Nellie
Wesley Abbott beahed the point and they cond
erably damaged.
The garage the Ellsworth Foundry