The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1938-07-28
FLOODS DAMAGE TREMENDOUS STOCK
STORES ON GREEN AND
SECOND STREETS CAUGHT
Water Reaches Over Four Feet
In Second Street Store-TableS
OF Valuable Stock Overturned
STREAM RISES SUDDENLY

STREAM RISES SUDDENLY
Last Saturday morning at ten
o'clock, the worst flood in Oak
lands history struck without any
warning. The waters, overflow
ing Wilson Creek, swirled down
Third Street, pouring into Green
/ Street in a maddening rush. The
Half-Price Stores on both Green
and Second Streets, along with
other stores on the street level,
caught the full brunt of the flood.
1t seemed at first that the sewers
on Second Street were merely clogged
and nothing serious would result, but
that was only for a moment. Water
then began to overflow into the main
store through the side door.
With a minimum of hysteria the
store sales force-both men and wom-
en-donned boots and began to trans
! fer merchandise from Under tables and
shelves to the tops of tables and other
higher places. Eight or ten members
/ of the Oakland Volunteer Fire De-
partment arrived at this time, prac-
tically doubling the help and render
ing service that saved much merchan-
disc from absolute ruin.
Three Feet in Fifteen Minutes
In fifteen minutes there was three
feet of water covering the store, and
it was impossible to do more there.
Operations were then shifted to the
warehouse which is considerably high
er than the main floor. Water was al
ready up to the side and rear loading
doors and in another five minutes
overlooked. Again the sales force and
fremen shifted stock from the floor
level to higher places. A considerable
quantity of merchandise was also
reached here by several inches of wat
er before it could be shifted.
1t seemed at this time that the build
l ing might collapse because of the ter
rifle current of the flood. A cracking
was heard in the office which houses
the heavy store safe. Under the dir
ection of the fremen all the women
employees were hurried up to the sec
ond floor and out on the roof. From
here they crossed over to the adjoining
building and were carried on the backs
of the firemen through several feet of
water to higher ground.
Marooned in Store
In the Green Street Half-Price
Store Esther Serene, in charge, was
marooned by the suddenness in which
the flood struck. She stood in the
show windows there while large rats
driven in by the water swan about
below her. Finally, she was rescued,
being carried through waist high
water in the swift moving current.
A look into the main store at that
time was practically sickening. The
water had reached its highest level
i 81 feet in there, and feet l inch on
the front windows. Tables were float
ing around in the muddy swirl and
many which had been piled high with
stock had overturned, dumping their
costly burden into the water. The
main shoe shelf was tilted at a pre-
carious angle being pushed up with
the floor by the terrific pressure Of
the water under the building.
Several cars parked along Green
Street were carried like matchboxes
by the terrific current. One, owned
by Mr.. F. H. Field, was carried across
Second Street, coming to rest below
Miller's corner. A pickle lodged on
| the cowl ventilator and remained there
throughout the f1ood-furnishing at
least one amusing note to the catas-
trophe.
And now that it is all over but the
repair to the damage, Oakland's
greatest flood can be looked back upon
with memories and the thought that
it could have been a lot worse. For
The Half-Price Stores, at least, the
damage could have been much more
than it is were it not for the splendid
cooperation, loyalty and service of the
sales force and especially the Oak
land Volunteer Fire Department. To
them go our undying thanks, not on
ly for the help they gave, but more
important for their direction and
supervision in preventing injuries or
loss of life.