On Monday, January 25, 1937, as the lower parts of Parkersburg lay underwater during one of the area’s worst floods, The Parkersburg Sentinel covered news as it happened. The stories are presented here as they appeared, with only minor typographical errors fixed.

450,000 Are Homeless on Great Flood Front

By United Press

Relief forces, operating on a wartime basis, were mobilized along an 1,800 mile front today to combat illness and terror among 450,000 refugees in the flood-ravaged Ohio and Trans-Mississippi river valleys.

Waters rose to their highest crests in history.

Thirty-seven were known dead. Hundreds were missing.

Property damage mounted into uncounted millions.

President Roosevelt placed all resources of the government at the disposal of 11 states ravaged by swollen streams.

Typhoid, diphtheria, dysentery, influenza and pneumonia added to the terror of homeless men, women and children.

From Memphis, Tenn, to Cincinnati, O, there was desolation.

Frantic appeals were broadcast for boats, men and dollars to fight disease, aid refugees and rescue those whose homes are in the path of the onrushing waters.

Warn City of Flood That May Surpass That of 1913

Forecaster Powell Refuses to Predict Farther Than Noon Today, Says Stage Will be 54 Feet

50,000 Gallons Gasoline on Water Provides Real Menace Says Fire Department Head

Warned of a flood that may surpass that of 1913 when the city stood under 22 feet of water with the river stage at 58.2 feet, Parkersburg merchants below Sixth street spent the most of Sunday night moving stock to a safe place.

Another 500 persons were expected to be homeless before nightfall, swelling the number to 1,500 who are housed in make-shift quarters until such a time as the waters recede.

Providing a second menace—in addition to the rising flood waters—was the 50,000 gallons of gasoline which it was reported had broken loose in huge drums at the Pure Oil company in Marietta, and burst.

Fire Chief Lloyd Layman warned all power boats to stay off the river, and that no matches or cigarettes should be lighted in the flooded section. At midnight the flood stage was 52.1 feet and rising at the rate of two inches an hour.

Continued rainfall was indicated general for Monday in the Ohio Valley, where an inch of rainfall fell Sunday. An inch and a half recorded at the headquarters of the Little Kanawha, and another inch and a half in the Muskingum watershed, was swelling the Ohio rapidly.

Refusing to predict further than noon Monday, United States Weather Forecaster R. P. Powell said the river would reach a stage of 54 feet.

Parkersburg was told it faced a water shortage if the water rose to 55 feet, as that would put the old filter system installed more than two dozen years ago, out of order. This system has been working since Saturday at which time the last of the city’s 18 artesian wells was declared unsafe.

Two city reservoirs—one of them in South Parkersburg—having a 7-milllion-gallon capacity—can supply water on a curtailed schedule for a seven to a ten-day period, to 8,000 subscribers, it was estimated by Superintendent Golden Underwood, of waterworks.

All over the inundated section, gas had been cut off and at midnight last night city hospital officials sent out a call for electric stove to keep warm 69 patients, eight of them infants, one of whom was born late Sunday.

City Councilman Fred Cochran said 57 feet would put water in the hospital’s first floor.

Early today, Mayor H. R. DeBussey asked all beer dispensers to entirely cease sale of the beverage because the city was without jail facilities for drunks. No communication with the county jail was possible, other than by boat, as the telephone service was cut off Saturday. The rapidly rising waters had reached well into the second floor by evening Sunday, and at 2 o’clock this morning Sheriff Hays was attempting to make some arrangements whereby the 46 prisoners which included one woman could be moved to other quarters. He said this would necessitate their being placed under heavy guard.

Parkersburg flooded district proved a mecca for sightseers all day Sunday with several hundred of them taking to boats. Many of them visited an amphibian plane which landed shortly after noon at the flooded point, more than 50 feet under water. The plane took off 20 minutes later with a cargo of 22 pairs of rubber boots ordered by a Gallipolis merchant.

Early today the one wholesale house in the city handling boots reported a sale of 40 dozens pairs with but two dozen pairs left in stock.

Worst Flood in Pkbg’s History

The worst flood in Parkersburg’s history was sweeping down on this city today from the upper Ohio valley. The U.S. weather bureau here advised the city to prepare for a crest of 59 to 60 feet by Wednesday night.

The previous worst flood of record here was 58.9 feet in March 1913. With practically half of the business district already under water, and business paralyzed, the stage stood at 54 feet at 10 a.m. today and rising one tenth of a foot an hour, the weather bureau said. This morning’s stage equaled the flood of 1884.

The Allegheny, Ohio and Muskingum rivers are rising everywhere, the weather bureau said. Only on the upper Monongahela was the stage either stationary or falling. One to two inches of rain fell overnight on the Ohio river watershed. The rain in Parkersburg amounted to 1.08 inches.

At a stage of 59 to 60, the waters will extend up Market street, the main artery, as far as Dils department store. Juliana street will be inundated to Seventh street. Ann street up to Eighth already is inundated and so is most of Murdoch avenue. Murdoch will be completely covered with the flood waters sweeping some of the city’s finer residences.

A bird’s eye view of this city shows a scene of utter desolation. Some of the dwellings in the Riverside and Beechwood sections moved off their foundations and a few overturned. They city is completely isolated.

Merchants, office staffs and theater operators worked all day Sunday and through the night hastily rushing valuable stock and fixtures out of the water’s path. Many of the city’s finest stores are inundated. Three theaters and fashionable Trinity church are stricken. The Commercial Banking & Trust Co. and Wood County bank were forced to vacate. They set up temporary headquarters further up town.

All buildings housing the federal, county and local governments are affected. The county courthouse is standing in many feet of water. The postoffice, federal courthouse and city building are surrounded. Postal officials waged a desperate but losing fight to keep water out of the new postoffice building.

Prior to the heavy rains of Sunday and last night, the river was falling at Pittsburgh and Wheeling, and was to have reached a crest of around 51 feet here by Sunday 4 p.m., but the excessive precipitation came down in torrents, and the river never stopped rising here. It was stationary as far south as St. Marys Sunday morning, but by nightfall it was on the rise again all along its 1,000 mile course.

Hungry Water Lapping at Ann Street Doorsteps

Moving Vans at a Premium as Families Make Frantic Efforts to Get Household Goods Moved

City Police Without Sleep for 48 Hours, Face Another 24 [Hour] Period of Continued Work

A slow, menacing tide of muddy water, icy-cold, crept up Ann street early today, lapping hungrily at doorsteps some of them nearly a century old as the flood-swollen Ohio invaded one of the city’s oldest residential districts.

Families which had expected to be out of the high-water, made hasty preparations to move everything out of their first floors. Below Seventh and a Half street, the water was too high for trucks to get in, but above there, moving vans were busy.

Residents who had not believed the Ohio which twice has threatened flood only to fail, would rise a third time, were making frantic efforts to get heavy home-furnishings out of the hungry water’s path.

Moving vans were at a premium, while WPA workers were reinforced by every man available to aid in the work.

Getting very far in any direction practically was impossible. At the Parkersburg end, the Parkersburg-Belpre bridge was more than waist-high under-water, and river traffic was being maintained from Market to Ann on Fifth streets—boats carrying household goods passing at intervals.

The city was cut off from Vienna by water on Murdoch avenue and numerous places on the river road. Water was over all routes outside the city and several near the city. The Northwestern turnpike was underwater at the city limits, while U.S. No. 21, going north, was under water at the East Street viaduct.

Early this morning, at the city hospital, it was said the gas had not yet been turned off, but emergency arrangements had been made to heat the hospital with electric stoves, as it momentarily was expected.

At the City building, gas was shut off before midnight. Fire trucks and other equipment from the central station had been moved before dark as the water then covering the Juliana street intersection showed every evidence of continuing its two inch an hour rise.

Fire chief Lloyd Layman stood ready with his men for any emergency with a fire truck having pumping equipment aboard, superimposed on a large barge.

He issued a warning for all power boats to stay out of inland water which was heavy with the odor of gasoline, following a report that drums with several thousand gallons of gasoline in them had broken loose near Marietta and burst.

In the meantime city police without sleep for 48 hours, worked without pause, evacuating homes in the path of the rising floodwater. Indications were with the continuance of the river’s rapid rise, that it would be at least another 24 hour period before it would be possible for any of them to get any rest.

Capt. Harry Judy Killed in Rescue.

Flood Rescuer Killed By Spark

Captain Harry Judy of Louisville, Ky., was electrocuted shortly after noon today on his boat, Prince of the American Barge Line, near Bowling Green stop below Belpre while returning to this city after rescuing several persons in a flooded house near Rockland.

The steel rudder of the boat came in contact with a high tension power line and the power was carried through to the wheel of the craft, which the captain was holding in the pilot house. He was electrocuted and evidently died instantly, physicians who were summoned said.

Captain Judy had been tied up near Belpre with the boat for several days due to flood waters and he had been aiding in rescue work in the local district with his vessel.

Only last night Captain Judy had notified his wife and family in Louisville that he was safe in Parkersburg. He was en route to Pittsburgh with his tow when he was forced to stop over here because of the flood waters.

The body was still on the boat early this afternoon but it was expected to be removed to the Spencer funeral home in Belpre.

Child Rescued Out 2nd Story Window Is Taken to Nursery

Children of Flood Refugees Temporarily Housed in Garfield Nursery

Miss McMillin Says Youngster are Given Valuable Training at School

By Orpha Cross

Donald McDonald, who was rescued from flood waters, is one of several children of flood refugees being housed temporarily in the Garfield nursery. The nursery school is in the old St. Joseph’s nurses home at Fifth and Avery streets.

Donald is typical of many of the youngsters who attend the nursery. His parents live on lower Juliana street. Once they had more money and a better home, but now they are forced by circumstances to live in a second-floor apartment in that section.

He was a regular pupil at the nursery school where, under the supervision of Miss Louise McMillin, he received general training in tidiness of personal appearance and in his home. Miss McMillin says the children at the nursery are taught to wash their faces, brush their teeth and comb their hair and to have a proper place for all those things needed for their personal appearance and also for play and work.

Teacher Was Worried

As the water continued to creep higher Miss McMillin admitted she became worried and a bit frightened concerning Donald and other nursery school pupils who live in the flood area of the lower end of the city. With Mrs. Marguerite Tompkins, who is acting supervisor of the emergency education program in the county under the WPA set-up, Miss McMillin started on a search for several of her pupils.

They found Donald’s home completely surrounded by flood waters and a man was dispatched in a small boat to rescue the child. With his clothes and a smile he greeted the two women who came to his aid. That day six other children were taken to the nursery for safety from flood waters.

The children are given “three square meals” at the nursery. They sleep on tiny cots, are given medicine to relieve colds and other illness in addition to their cod-liver oil in tomato juice every morning. They also have quiet play and other activity, then their afternoon naps.

Open Air Play

On the second floor of the nursery is a great room where wheeled toys, swings and equipment are arranged for play. The windows are opened and the children don playsuits to have the advantages of an outdoor playground with the added improvement of no mud and no water.

Three teachers, Miss McMillin, Miss Jessie McFarland and Mrs. Alvin Henderson, serve in shifts at the nursery so that one instructor is at the building with the children at all times. Three NYA girls, Miss Virginia Provance, Mrs. Carrie Fore and Miss Louise Fox serve in shifts with the instructors.

Seven children were brought to the nursery for a temporary home on Friday. Others were brought Saturday and still others on Sunday. The parents visit the youngsters who apparently are perfectly contented and do not cry for “mother,” when they are gone.

Other children of flood refugees are being housed in the Nash nursery school on Murdoch avenue.

Public Halls Without Heat

Courthouse, City Hall and Government Square Buildings Are Affected

All government buildings in Parkersburg have been made heatless by flood waters of the Ohio river.

The heat was turned off in the Wood county courthouse in Court Square Saturday, and a few hours later it was necessary to turn off the heat in City hall. Later the postoffice and U.S. courthouse in Government Square at Fourth and Juliana streets also was affected.

All offices continued to operate in City hall without heat, with a large part of the relief emergency program being maintained from headquarters in the buildings. It was necessary to turn off all traffic lights in the downtown district early Saturday when water invaded the main [word missing] in the basement of City hall.

All Roads Out of City Closed

Flood Waters Inundate All Highways and City Is Isolated

All roads out of Parkersburg were inundated by flood waters by late Saturday, culminating in the closing of U.S. Route No. 21 to Charleston when back water spread over the highway in the vicinity of Big Tygart creek near Mineral Wells.

The highway was inundated when the flood state in this city began to exceed 48 feet.

Previously all other through highways out of Parkersburg were made impassable by the flood waters, including U.S. Route No. 21 north to Williamstown, U.S. Route No. 50 east to Clarksburg, State Route No. 14 to Elizabeth and various Ohio routes out of Belpre.

B & O railroad service also was completely suspended by Saturday night when the last train came in from the east. Service is being restored as rapidly as possible while the flood water recedes, terminal officials said today.

East Street Bridge Closed Today

The East Street bridge was closed to all motor and street car traffic this afternoon when flood waters began to inundate the end on the South side of the Little Kanawha river. Sound Side now can be reached only by ferry service.

All Schools Are Closed

Supt. Davis Advises Parents Keep Children at Home

All public schools throughout Wood county remained closed today and there will be no school until further notice, County Superintendent John A. Davis, Jr. announced

He said only about 30 of the county’s 87 schools would be able to hold classes if school was resumed this morning. None but a few local buses would be able to make their runs.

Supt. Davis advised parents to keep their children at home and not let them go into the flooded area as a safety measure.

Thrills and Chills of Going Through East End in a Boat

Sentinel Reporter Goes to Country and Rides Boats on the Highway

Oarsmen Are Earning Good Wages By Hauling Motorists and Food

By Orpha Cross

The little matter of eating must be continued in spite of floods, so oarsmen at the eastern end of the city are earning neat little salaries. Transporting motorists, who have abandoned their automobiles, is one way of doing it. Hauling food out of the road by boat is another way of earning more money for those fortunate to have a boat.

Many people who reside in rural vicinities of Parkersburg are now traveling the highways by water to reach their homes or employment. Cold wind and damp air make boating uncomfortable. Floating debris and the danger of striking obstacles under the water make boating unsafe.

A Sentinel reporter traveled in a small boat over the high water on Route 50 during the week-end and found many others doing the same thing. A dozen or more boats were busy hauling passengers.

For Man and Beast

In addition to the many people being hauled across the flooded section, food and groceries comprised loads for many boats. Great sacks of feed, middlings, bran and dairy-feed were being hauled across the muddy water to be fed calves, cows, chickens, horses and ducks, in their country homes.

Groceries, sugar, cereals and other necessities found their way into those boats to be rowed across. One man found nothing else to do but have his load of hay taken across by boat so that his cattle and horses might have something to eat.

Before the water completely covered the bridge over Worthington creek, a boatman with a load of hay became stranded on the bridge railing and had to be pulled off by a passing oarsman in his own craft.

Prices Vary

Prices vary according to the articles to be hauled in the boats. Oarsmen usually receive five cents per can for milk hauled across. Dairymen bring their milk to the water’s edge and creameries pay for hauling the milk cans across the prevent a milk shortage in the town with nearly all roads into the city closed by water.

One oarsman charged 50 cents for going to the Wayside farm vicinity and rowing a passenger within the corporate limits of the town. The distance was approximately half a mile. That same man was charged 15 cents for being rowed across the field to his mail box when waters in the lowlands isolated his home even before the state highway was completely closed.

Bakeries are charged 10 cents for each large box of bread rowed across from Parkersburg to the other side, where other trucks are left waiting to deliver bread on out the highway. Regular passengers are charged “two bits.” A boat of average proportions, with a load of 600 pounds, has only about three inches “clearance” and the least rocking [of] the boat will slop muddy water on the inside.

On Seventh Street

At the Farmer’s feed store on East Seventh street the water is too deep for safe travel and many cars “stalled” in the middle of the great lake of backwater from Worthington creek that cover all lowland on the south side of Seventh street. The street in that section was closed Sunday.

High water at Worthington creek extends beyond Twenty-third street below Logan’s slaughter house. The Route 50 bridge, railings and all, are completely inundated and may be traveled over by boat in complete safety. Water is 20 feet deep in some places on the

Garages and other small buildings are completely covered. Scholl bus stops are chained to stakes but are floating to the top of the water. Telephone lines still protrude above the water, but there is not much clearance. Logs, bottles and debris float by. One wonders how far down it would be should the boat upset.

Police Ban on High Boat Fee

Oarsmen Go on Sit-Down Strike at Worthington Creek After Warning

How much rowing is worth a dime and how much should mean an additional charge totaling 25 cents?

The question is the result of warning given oarsmen in that inundated section of Northwestern pike east of the city.

According to boat owners, Trooper M. A. Murphy of the state police visited the highwater’s edge Sunday and warned them that rates being charged passengers were entirely too high.

The dozen or more men were doing a thriving business in rowing passengers across almost a half-mile of flooded area in the Worthington creek section on Route 50. Prices averaged 25 cents, but many oarsmen were receiving more than that.

“Ten cents is the proper fee,” the oarsmen were given to understand, so the oarsmen locked up their boats and went on a sit-down strike.

Soon automobiles lined the banks and men anxious to go across the flooded area to meet cars on the other coaxed in vain for ride.

Finally the problem was solved when the agreement among the oarsmen that all boat owners were to “charge ten cents but the passengers were to agree to pay 25 or not ride.” Some are demanding 35 cents.

Sunday evening a youth states, “We called Charleston and were told it was perfectly legal to charge 25 cents for passengers and 15 cents a hundred for freight.” The strike is over and oarsmen are continuing their business over the flooded highway.

Johnboat “taxis” were doing a rushing business on lower Juliana street Saturday with ten cents as the average price. Last March the ferry price was a nickel. Ferrymen reasoned that since there is ore water to row this time, the fee should be larger.

Warn of Likely Water Shortage

Curtailment of Supply to Follow When River Reaches Stage of 55 Ft.

The last of Parkersburg’s eighteen artesian wells went out of use two days ago, City Councilman Golden Underwood said today, and the old filter system which preceded them has been working since. Before nightfall, he indicated that likely even the filter system would be useless, as a 55 ft. river stage will put the water into the pump station, forcing the suspension of activities.

In the two reservoirs which the Parkersburg and South Parkersburg system has, he estimated a supply of some 7 million gallons could be use sparingly and made to last for a period of between seven and ten days. This would mean that the water would be turned off except for two one-hour periods during the day, the one in the morning and other at night.

This promises to be necessary in order to have sufficient water in the mains in case of the emergency of a fire, Chief Lloyd Layman said.

Viscose Workers in City Sent Home

Employes [sic] of The Viscose company who live in the city were sent home from the plant shortly before noon today. Plant officials said the mills will continue to operate as far as possible with employes who reside in South Side. All city residents who work at the plant will not be recalled to work until after the flood water recede. Bus and shuttle car service is being maintained for the South Side workers.

Plenty Cold a Year Ago

Saturday Was First Anniversary of 16 Below Zero Weather

Due to the flood, the first anniversary of the coldest weather of the twentieth century in Parkersburg passed unnoticed. A year ago on January 23 the temperature skidded down to a minimum of 16 below zero on the weather bureau thermometer.

It was the lowest temperature reading recorded in this city since 1899, weather bureau records showed, and it marked the beginning of a protracted cold wave with plenty of snow that culminated in a springtime flood. Less than a year later Parkersburg is again stricken by high water.

63 Prisoners to Jr. High

Some 63 prisoners at the Wood county jail this morning had their breakfast cooked for them at the Chancellor and then brought to them by boat, Sheriff R. E. Hays said. The gas shut off three days ago, the jail is heated by electric stoves.

Since early this morning the sheriff has been looking for someplace to take his prisoners, which include five women, one of whom is insane. Today he has about decided to transfer them by barge to the Junior high school and place them under heavy guard.

Fire Barge Having Phone

Firemen Remain on Duty At All Times For Flood Patrol Duty

For the third time in the past several years Parkersburg is having a floating fire department.

Chief Floyd Layman’s protection program for the city during the present flood, the fourth worst in history, includes a steel barge upon which has been placed a 750-gallon pumper truck. The barge is being towed by the “Pearl S.,” a towboat owned and piloted by Pearl Snyder, and a telephone was added to the equipment Saturday night so that the department can be summoned immediately to any district in the flooded areas. The telephone number is 2428.

Firemen are on duty on the barge day and night, and the barge is moored near the foot of Green street. Lieutenant F. C. Ankrom, Lieutenant Dan Hill and Frank Grimm of the fire department relieve each other on regular shifts and J. C. Mehl of the C. and P. Telephone company and W. I. Taylor of the West Penn Public Service company also are serving on relief shifts. The pilot and John McConnell, deckhand, remain on duty on the barge also at all times and prepared for any emergency.

Fire Alarm System Out

Parkersburg’s fire alarm street box system went out of commission at 7:30 a.m. today from flood water.

Chief Lloyd Layman of the municipal fire department issued a warning to all residents that fire alarms must be sent in during the remainder of the flood period by telephone.

Boys Detained on Investigation

Edward Brabham and Shirley Price, Vienna youths, are being held in the Wood county jail for investigation by state and city police regarding an attempted hold-up of the Pure Ice Cream company store at Mary and William streets Friday night.

The youths were arrested near the East street bridge by Troopers M. A. Murphy and F. J. Patton of the state police after the city police department had broadcast an alarm for the two suspects.

Authorities were told that William S. Taylor, a clerk at the store, dashed to the street when he was confronted by one of the would-be bandits, who entered the establishment with a handkerchief over his face and his hand thrust in his pocket as if he was pointing a gun. When the clerk ran to the street the bandit also dashed out and jumped into a waiting automobile in which a companion was at the wheel.

No Break in Gas Service

There will be no interruption of service to the parts of the city above the flood, it was announced at noon at the Hope Natural Gas company office. The gas is automatically cut off in the flooded area when water pours into the lines, but there is no occasion to shut off the gas in sections unaffected by the flood, it was explained. All of the business and residential sections under water are without gas, including the city hospital.

Family Plea Neale Island Youth Results in Rescue

Because they stayed at their home in an attempt to save the livestock on their farm, Gerald Coe, 25, with his brothers, Counts, 14, and Walter, 12, were marooned this morning at Neale Island.

They were rescued this morning shortly before 9 o’clock from the flooded second story of their home. A motorboat had been sent to their assistance.

Mrs. Gerald Coe, wife of one of the marooned brothers, was safe at the home of her parents, Mr. And Mrs. Deems, at Mineral Wells.

Relatives of the youths learned they were stranded in the second story at the Neale island home and sent frantic calls for a motorboat to be sent to save them.

Half of Louisville People Homeless

Louisville, KY., Jan 25.—(UP).—A hundred and fifty thousand men women and children—almost half of this city’s population—were homeless or marooned in flood waters today, and the Ohio River surged higher by the hour.

Rain and melting snow swelled the yellow flood, and sewers backed up into the streets, bringing the threat of typhoid. Emergency typhoid stations were established, all persons were ordered inoculated, water was boiled, and drug stores offered free vaccine to any person who could reach them through the water-filled streets.

The same misery prevailed in dozens of Kentucky towns and villages on the enraged Ohio from the West Virginia line on the east to Paducah on the West. In Kentucky as a whole 200,000 were homeless, but the flood waters mounted steadily through city streets threatening thousands more.

Mayor Neville Miller of Louisville ordered the entire section west of 15th Street evacuated.

Power and lights were off everywhere except on a tiny island in the center of the city.

There was a desperate shortage of boats to rescue marooned persons, and carpenters were put to work constructing crude craft that could navigate the flooded streets and take sufferers to higher ground.

Mayor Miller appealed to President Roosevelt for regular army troops to reinforce national guardsmen, police, members of the reserve officers training corps and Boy Scouts. He also asked the federal government to send medical supplies.

4 Fire Victims at Huntington

The flood death toll at Huntington, W.Va. was raised to four when Mrs Ida Osborn, 62, and her granddaughter, D. Spurlock, six, were burned to death.

They were riding in a boat when someone threw a lighted cigarette on the water, covered with gasoline from an 8,000-gallon tank that had overturned.