Ohio Valley Publishing COMMUNITY PRIDE AND PROGRESS Thursday, April 30, 2020 1 Meigs OH-70183697 Gallia John Greer • Agent / Owner Memories Mason 607 Fifth Street Telephone: 304-882-2145 P.O. Box 335 Fax: 304-882-3813 Made New Haven, WV 25265 www.kenbassinsurance.com IN THE OHIO VALLEY 2020 COMMUNITY PRIDE AND PROGRESS EDITION A special supplement to the Gallipolis Daily Tribune, Point Pleasant Register and The Daily Sentinel. THUrsdaY, APRIL 30, 2020 Remembering the 1937 flood By Sarah Hawley and Dean Wright REMEMBER WHEN? OHIO VALLEY — In late The great flood of 1937 January 1937, the Ohio River saw the highest recorded spilled from her banks and river crest in Gallipolis. caused damage that still reso- In Pomeroy and Point nates in the memories of those Pleasant, the 1937 flood who were alive to survive it. provided the second The great flood of 1937 saw highest crests recorded. the highest recorded river crest in Gallipolis at 69.60 feet, Photos courtesy of the Meigs County narrowly beating the 1913 from people who already had Historical Society from the collection of the flood which saw a crest of very little in the great depres- Wise family taken by John P. Scott. 67.90 feet. sion, but they battled back and Photos courtesy of the Meigs County Historical Society from the collection Individuals are seen standing on the In Pomeroy and Point Pleas- rebuilt. of the Wise family taken by John P. Scott. balcony of the Downing House, North ant, the 1937 flood was the As reported in the Daily This photo from Court Street in Pomeroy shows the area that is now People’s Second Avenue in Middleport during second highest crests recorded. Tribune and written by The Bank, Clark’s Jewelry Store and the former Daily Sentinel/Farmer’s Bank building. the 1937 flood. In Pomeroy it was 67.8 feet, Associated Press, January 27, one foot lower than the 1913 1937, “Compulsory evacuation The story further reported flood, while in Point Pleasant of millions — embracing all that it took four days for the it was 62.70 feet, .10 feet lower persons living within 50 miles waters to rise to record height than the 1913 flood. of both sides of the Mississippi in the Ohio River Valley. Local historian Jordan river from Cairo, Ill., to New J.R. Gwinn, then Gallipolis Pickens told the Sentinel of Orleans — has been ordered City Manager, requested the the Frank Titus residence on by the United States Army public use no more water than Lincoln Hill which was used by high command as the mighty what was absolutely necessary. the Ohio State Highway Patrol flood of the gorged Ohio river There were to be no boats and radio operators for com- swept on to threaten new of any kind in the streets for munication. This was the only heights of disaster. Thirty- sight seeing, but only in cases communication in or out, relay- five thousand motor trucks of real necessity. Telephones ing information about weather were immediately mobilized were not to be used unless conditions and when help was to carry out the greatest exo- for emergency and individu- coming as telegraph and phone dus in history. Secretary of als found on the streets late at lines were down and there was War Harry Woodring, acting night “unemployed” would be no rail transportation. In addi- swiftly in America’s greatest subject to the penalties of loi- Photos courtesy of the Meigs County Historical Society tion to Ohio State Highway emergency since the World tering ordinances. Businesses from the collection of the Wise family taken by John P. Scott. Patrol, a network of profes- War, announced headquar- selling intoxicating liquor were The view looking north on Second Street from the roof of the Meigs County sional radio operators and ham ters would be established at closed and police were ordered Courthouse during the flood in 1937. radio operators that assisted Jackson, Mississippi. With to shoot anyone on sight seen with getting the message out. the army of homeless swelled looting. have been cooperating with the the Lafayette Hotel. City and The resilience of the people to 750,000, the toll of known The great flood of 1937 saw Red Cross Disaster Unit dur- county officials, Chamber of is what Pickens said stood out dead by drowning reached the highest recorded river crest ing the flood as reported in the Commerce leaders and perhaps most to him about the flood- 137. Hundreds more are miss- in Gallipolis at 69.60 feet, nar- paper: “Greater coordination others attended. At its conclu- ing in 1937. The flood caused ing, and estimated property rowly beating the 1913 flood and efficiency and less friction sion, a spokesman issued the businesses to bankrupt, and damage soared far beyond which saw a crest of 67.90 feet. are expected to result from a took homes and possessions $300,000,000.” Local agencies were said to conference held last night at See flood | 3 The ‘Titanic’ story found in Gallipolis GALLIPOLIS — Though the world outside Gallipolis may seem big, REMEMBER WHEN? that world is actually A cenotaph, which is a Greek phrase meaning smaller than one might “empty tomb,” was placed in Gallipolis’ think. Mound Hill Cemetery for a man who died on Above the city, among the S.S. Titanic. the many stories resting in stone in Mound Hill Cemetery, is a simple Lee Marchi, Stewart was 1886 he is said to have marker connected to a the son of R.L. Stewart, built what many cite as massive tragedy known a lawyer and newspaper- one of the finest houses throughout the world. man who had come to in the city, referred to as The stone simply Gallipolis around the time “Island Side” by some reads, “In Memory Of of the Civil War. Records older residents. The home Albert A. Stewart, Aged indicate Albert had been still stands in the 1000- 64Ys.&28Ds, Lost On born in 1848 in Pennsyl- block of First Avenue. The S.S. Titanic, April 15, vania (where his father There are reports Albert 1912.” was also born), but owned built the home for his par- According to research a home in Gallipolis. ents and reports he built collected by local “Gal- Albert was reportedly it for his sisters, Flavia lipolis Pictures” photogra- in the insurance field, and and Lillian Stewart, the Courtesy photo from Mary Lee Marchi pher and all-things-Gallia- by all accounts, must’ve This home was built by Albert A. Stewart, who was a victim of the sinking of the S.S. Titanic. His sisters lived in the home at the time of his death in 1912. The home still stands along First Avenue. County history buff Mary been quite successful. In See CEMETEry | 6 2 Thursday, April 30, 2020 COMMUNITY PRIDE AND PROGRESS Ohio Valley Publishing 436 St. Rt. 7 N • Gallipolis, Ohio 45631 Hours: Mon - Sat 9am to 5pm, Closed on Sunday 740-446-2240 • riverfronthonda.com OH-70184135 Dec. 15, 1967… The unforgotten day Wilson asked “What Bridge?” A tragedy that changed everything before Thomas said “the Silver Staff Report Bridge” and uttered a quick way home after work that day. swear word. Thomas came to Fowler is from the Mercerville acquire the camera and went OHIO VALLEY — There area in Gallia County, while two to photograph the event before are days that change individual of his passengers lived further Wilson followed. lives, whole families, entire down into Scottown, Ohio “Dick got the camera and towns and even impact a nation in Lawrence County, Ohio. went on up and I went back - Mason and Gallia counties are Fowler’s car, filled with six pas- to the office and got some home to one of sengers, was more folders (to take more those very days. crossing into pictures)…I got up there and On Dec. 15, Ohio when the it was really cold and I took 1967, the Silver “We started bridge collapsed, the back flood escape road Bridge, connect- across it that his being the because I figured there would ing downtown last car on the be a traffic jam,” said Wilson. Point Pleasant day. It went Ohio side when “I got maybe a 100 yards from with Kanagua, to shimmying it collapsed. the area and walked up there…I Ohio, collapsed and shaking, “We started looked up and I just couldn’t into the Ohio and I said ‘this across it that believe it. It was all gone and River during bridge is gonna day,” he said “It just a big pile of twisted vehi- rush hour traffic went to shimmy- cles.” at Christmas, fall’ right about ing and shaking, Wilson said the paper taking the lives the time we hit and I said ‘this received obituaries into April of of 46 souls. ground.” bridge is gonna the following year detailing the In a matter – Buddy Fowler fall’ right about lives of those who had died in of minutes, the the time we hit the bridge disaster. area suffered ground.” Todd Mayes of Henderson, losses and casu- Later, Fowler W.Va. is a retired school teacher alty numbers said: “I went with Gallia Local Schools. similar to those seen in mass around seeing who I could help That fateful day in 1967, he shootings in more recent getting out of the cars. It’s all was headed home from work, memory, and at a time when I could’ve done is try and help leaving the Kyger Creek area communications and emer- somebody.” OVP and headed to Point Pleasant.