2013 is the centennial of the great
1913 Easter storm system, which brought what one book titled 'Our National
Calamity'—the nation's most widespread natural disaster. Here is a brief chronology
of some centennial exhibits and events around Indiana and Ohio planned through March.
Events
commemorating the Great Easter 1913 natural disaster are already under way! They
include a theatrical musical, museum exhibits, walking tours and hikes, reenactments,
lectures. Please contact the sources listed for more information (unless you
have questions specifically about the talks I will be giving). As some events
have not yet been announced, and others are being planned in April or later, I
will post periodic updates. If you wish your event to be listed, please send
information about it to me at t.e.bell@ieee.org . Announcements received by January
31 will be included in the first update scheduled for February 3. All the events
look fascinating—let me know what especially inspires you about one you attend!
INDIANA
In progress now. Noblesville. Exhibit of eight original photographs commemorating the 1913 flood in Noblesville, which is on the White River, from three different collections in the HamiltonEast Public Library (One Library Plaza, Noblesville, 46060).
In progress now. Noblesville. Exhibit of eight original photographs commemorating the 1913 flood in Noblesville, which is on the White River, from three different collections in the HamiltonEast Public Library (One Library Plaza, Noblesville, 46060).
 |
| Loaded freight train was not massive enough to hold a bridge in place against the torrential floodwaters of the White River in Noblesville, Indiana, on March 26, 1913. Photo (courtesy of the Joe Roberts Collection) is one of eight on display now through April at the Hamilton East Public Library in Noblesville. |
March 26 (Tuesday). Indianapolis. Opening of the Indiana Historical Society's ninth You Are There
experience, a special exhibit "1913: A City Under Water"
commemorating the Great Flood of 1913, and addressing the environmental effects
of local urban flooding. Exhibit is a collaboration of the Indiana Historical
Society with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and other
organizations. More information appears at "Thinking About OurRelationship with Water" on the IHS blog. Hours, admission, and other
information is at http://www.indianahistory.org/plan-your-visit/hours-and-admission .
OHIO
In progress now. Hamilton. Exhibit
"The Destruction of Industrial
Hamilton During the 1913 Flood," Heritage Hall Museum, 20 High Street.
Running through April. Hours and other information appears on the website for
the Heritage Hall Museum. See also "Photos telldramatic story of 1913 flood" and "Work continues on 1913Flood commemoration."
January 8 (Tuesday). Hamilton: At
2:00 PM. Jim Blount, Hamilton Historian, presents a talk "Flood Warning! Was Hamilton Prepared for the 1913 Disaster?"
Hamilton Lane Library, 300 North Third Street. Part
of the Great Miami River Flood of 1913 Centennial events.
January 12, 19, 26
(Saturdays). Columbus. At 1:00 PM and 3:00 PM. “All is Gone and Swept Away! The 1913
Flood.” Harriet Merriman of Westerville portrays a woman who survived the
flood. 30-minute presentation. Echoes In Time Theatre. Ohio History Center, 800
E. 17th Ave. Columbus, OH 43211; (614) 297-2300 or 800.686.6124. Free with Ohio History Center museumadmission.
January 24–February 10. Dayton. Wright
State University Department of Theatre performs a three-week run of the play 1913
The Great Dayton Flood in the newly renovated Robert & Elaine Stein
auditorium of the Creative Arts Center (3640 Colonel Glen Highway, Dayton,
45435). The play, by W. Stuart McDowell and Timothy Nevits, was inspired by the
book A Time of Terror: The Great Dayton Flood by
Allan W. Eckert. It adds an all-new musical score composed by Michael and Sandy
Bashaw, with recorded narration by Martin Sheen, Ossie Davis and Ruby Dee. For
performance times, ticket prices, and other
information, contact the Wright State Theatre box office at 937-775-2500 or
Cynthia Reis at cynthia.reis@wright.edu . See also “Award-winning flood drama to return.”
February 25 (Monday). Columbus. At
9:00 A.M., science journalist and historian Trudy E. Bell, M.A., is guest
speaker on an aspect of the 1913 flood
in Ohio in relation to soil and water conservation [exact title still to be
determined] at the 70th Annual meeting of the of the Ohio Federation of Soil
and Water Conservation Districts (OFSWCD). The whole meeting, which runs
Feb. 24-26, has the theme “70 Years of Conservation:
Events that Shaped Our Future” and requires advance registration.
March 1, 8, 15, 22, and
(Fridays). Dayton. At 7:00 PM every Friday in March,
Leon Bey of Gem City Walking Tours conducts “The Great Dayton Flood Walk.” Reservations
are required; for ticket information, contact Bey or call (937)274-4749. For background about Bey, see "Ghosts in Dayton? tour guide tells where they are." March 1–May 4. Hamilton. A two-month series of events for Great Miami River Flood of 1913 Centennial is cosponsored by the city of Hamilton, the Michael J. Colligan History Project, Miami University Hamilton's Downtown Center, the Butler County Historical Society, Lane Libraries, Heritage Hall, the Fitton Center for the Creative Arts, and other local organizations. For more information, contact Curtis W. Ellison, Michael J. Colligan History Project, at (513) 461-1131 or download the latest schedule of events. Individual events are listed below.
March 10 (Sunday). CVNP, Rockside. At 11:00 A.M., a special
excursion of the Cuyahoga Valley Scenic Railroad departs for the onboard
program “The Great Flood of 1913.” Meet
at Rockside Station, 11:00 A.M. Two-hour round trip is $12.00 per person aged 3
and older. Advance registration required.
March 12 (Tuesday). Hamilton. At 2:00 PM. Jim Blount, Hamilton
Historian, presents a talk "Hamilton
in Crisis: Who Came to the City's rescue after the March 1913 Flood?"
Hamilton Lane Library, 300 North Third Street. Part of the Great Miami River
Flood of 1913 Centennial events.
March 16 (Saturday). CVNP, Boston. At
9:00 A.M., “Flooding Boston,” a 90-minute, two-mile naturalist-guided hike
along road and trail to explore stories of Boston and the devastating 1913
flood. For details and registration, call 330-657-2299.
March 22 (Friday). Columbus. The 17th annual Severe Weather Symposium
of the Meteorology Club at The Ohio State University will be themed around the
Great Easter 1913 Flood. Details will be posted.
March 23 (Saturday). Peninsula. “Soup’s
On, Waters Are Rising!” At 11:00 A.M., come to the Ohio & Erie Canalway, hear costumed re-enactors tell true
tales from Ohio’s greatest natural disaster, then stay for homemade soups and
museum tours. In partnership with Cuyahoga Valley National Park. Program
11:00–11:30 A.M., lunch and tours 11:30 A.M.–2:00 P.M. G.A.R. Hall Museum, 1785
Main Street , Peninsula, 44264; (330) 657-2528. Fee and registration required.
March 23 (Saturday). Dayton. Opening
of a new permanent exhibit on the Great Flood of 1913 on the grounds of
Carillon Historical Park by Dayton History. the exhibit will provide a
permanent home on display for hundreds of artifacts from the 1913 flood and
recovery efforts. See "Plans to commemorate the 100th anniversary of region's greatest catastrophe." Dayton History is Montgomery County's
official historical organization, consisting of the Archive Center, Carillon
Historical Park, Hawthorn Hill, Memorial Hall, Patterson Homestead, Paul
Laurence Dunbar State Memorial, and the Old Court House). Carillon Historical Park is at 1000 Carillon Blvd.,
Dayton Ohio, 45409, (937) 293-2841.
March 23 (Saturday). Canton. Opening 100 years later to the day, the “Flood of 1913” exhibit at Sippo Lake
Park/Exploration Gateway, 10:00 A.M.–2:00 PM. Exhibit tells the story of the
1913 flood through historic imagery, artifacts, and photographs. Free. For
information, visit www.starkparks.com .
March 24 (Sunday). Hamilton. At
2:00 PM and 4:00, there will be a guided interpretive tour of 1913 flood sites
in Hamilton. Tours will start at the Hamilton Visitors Center at High and
Monument Streets. Part of the Great Miami River Flood of 1913 Centennial
events.
March 25 (Monday). Akron. Metro Parks, Serving Summit Couny and
the Summit County Historical Society commemorate the flood that ended the Ohio
& Erie Canal era with this hike along the Ohio & Erie Canalway from
Lock 4 to Lock 1. At 11:30 A.M., there will be a brief stop at the historic
Richard Howe House, Lock 3. Howe was the canal’s resident engineer 1825–1832;
the mansion now serves as a visitor information center. For more information,
call 330-865-8065.
March 25 (Monday). Hamilton. At
12:00 noon, the City of Hamilton will have its Centennial Commemoration of the
1913 Flood at the Butler County Courthouse Gazebo, 315 High Street. City
officials, speakers, Hamilton schools, and guests commemorate the 1913 Flood in
Hamilton on the 100th anniversary of the high-water date.
March 26 (Tuesday). Hamilton. At 7:00 PM. Jim Blount, Hamilton
Historian, will present a talk "The
Dam Lie That Saved Lives: Hamilton Family Stories of the 1913 Flood." Program
also features images from the Rob Wile Collection,
Jack Armstrong Collection, and Eckert Family Collection of 1913 Flood
Postcards, Photographs and Memorabilia. Part of the Great Miami River Flood of
1913 Centennial events.
March 30 (Saturday). Hamilton. At
2:00 PM and 4:00, there will be a guided interpretive tour of 1913 flood sites
in Hamilton. Tours will start at the Hamilton Visitors Center at High and
Monument Streets. Part of the Great Miami River Flood of 1913 Centennial
events.
NATIONWIDE
March 18–22: This year's annual Flood Safety
Awareness Week of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).
Useful statistics and training materials are at http://www.floodsafety.noaa.gov/ .
©2012–2013 Trudy E. Bell. For permission to reprint or use,
contact Trudy E. Bell at t.e.bell@ieee.org
Next time: The 1913 Flood extended throughout the
Mid-Atlantic... Saving Albany’s Water
Trudy,
ReplyDeleteHere is our updated event description for Soup's On, 3/23/13:
Warm up with a tasty selection of over a dozen homemade soups at our second annual "Soup's On!" event at the G.A.R. Hall on Saturday, March 23, 2013 from 11 am - 2 pm. Enjoy a special slideshow about the 100th anniversary of the Flood of 1913 during lunch. Come and be a part of this tradition to beat the winter chill on Peninsula's Cabin Fever Day!
Thanks,
Rebecca
PVHEF
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