Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1924-05-16
LIKE IN THE DAYS OF NOAH
A FLOOD SWEPT The VALLEY

a ILUUU DWEII lflL uALLLI |
The great flood which has swept the |
Shenandoah Valley from Lexington to !
Harpers Ferry brought in train
thousands Of dollars of loss, occasioned
BY damages to crops, fences. build
lngs and low lands.
Shenandoah County is not only in
the heart Of the Valley, but it was in
the center Of the flood region, and
from the Rockingham to the Frederick
County lines the Shenandoah river,
and It's tributaries. Smith Creek, Mill
Creek. Stony Creek, Pughs Run Mar
row Passage, and other streams pour
Cd mighty torrents into the swollen
stream, until the crest of the flood had
reached stage paralleled only in 1870
1877 and 1896,
There is a difference in opinion as
to relative destructiveness Of former
floods with the one which reached its
highest point on Monday morning,
but these differences are harmonized
10 the fact that the present flood is one
OF the worst in the history of the
county.
The greatest damage from a finan-
cial standpoint was suffered by the
Valley Light and Power Company and
DIR. ]. /. Triplett, owners OF hydro
electric plants located on the Shenan-
doah RIVER. Of the two owned by DIR.
Triplett, located near Woodstock, the
one at the Rush Mill was almost totally
swept away and the one at Stonewall
Mill was submerged and badly damag-
ed. It will be some time before these
plants can be replaced and repaired,
and in the meantime the Triplett Gus
toners for current are being supplied
from the auxiliary plant at the Wood
stock Mill.
The Valley Light and Power Com
pany sustained considerable loss when
a section of the wing wall at the big
Taylortown dam was swept away by
the current, and it will require several
weeks before repairs are completed at
that point. The Woodstock, or Chap.
man plant, was under water and the
machinery therein much damaged by
the overflow. The loss incident to not
being able to furnish current for coun-
ty towns, added to the direct damage
OF the flood, makes the Valley Light
and Power Company heavy loser by
the flood.
BY strenuous work the Valley Light
and Power Company had cleaned away
the debris and put machinery in order
to have current on Tuesday, and the
town was furnished lights with but
one night of darkness.
The iron bridge at Red Banks erect
ed by the county several years ago at
cost of about $1,000 was swept away
by the current and carried 100 yards
down stream. The frame work of the
bridge was SO twisted that it cannot be
used as it was, and a new bridge will
be required at this point.
A Buick automobile from Martinburg
was marooned in the waters near
Riverside tea room, compelling the
owner to carry his family to place OF
safety. The automobile was washed
into the middle of the stream, and was
recovered on Tuesday.
All along the river course is the same
story of the destruction of crops and
fences, and it will take some time to
restore things to their normal con-
dition.
On Tuesday night a part of the
Harpers Ferry bridge used by motorists
in coming to the Shenandoah Valley
collapsed, and traffic by this route will
be suspended for some weeks. This
will materially interfere with travel to
this section.
The high waters were general
throughout Virginia, West Virginia
and Maryland. and millions of dollars
of damages have been done.
1924's GREAT VALLEY FLOOD sUsiMAR-
lied IN PARAGRAPHS
Fifty-thousand dollars damage done
Harrisonburg's municipal hydro
electric plant on Shenandoah River.
Race bank destroyed /; corner of power
house washed away, and part of gates
carried off.
Two hundred thousand dollars of
damage done at Charlottesville. Ri
wanna River was Is feet out of banks.
Crest of flood passed Elkton between
II and IL o'clock Monday Water goes
Is feet above normal.
Flood stage at Strasburg was 3S feet
At Riverton flood was 80 feet. Traffic
over Norfolk & Western railroad STOP
ped. Much trackage washed away.
Red Banks Bridge in Shenandoah
County washed away.
Mems Bottom lands south of Mt.
Jackson covered by six feet of water.
Lake formed there, nearly mile
square.
Crest of Flood at Shenandoah City
was Is feet. Hydro-dam withstands
rush Of water. Bridge safe.
Between Shenandoah City and Elk
ton, Shenandoah river was mile wide
at various points. Main current
travelling at 80 miles an hour. Big
logs carried down by torrent like can
oes shooting the chutes.
Flood worst RawIey Springs ever
when Dry River leaves
banks. All cottages along Gum Creek
surrounded by water.
Two floods hit Bridgewater twelve
hours apart. The first from North
River came last Sunday evening and
river went IL feet over banks The
second came from Dry river and main
river went eight feet over banks IF