Description: Photograph showing floodwaters at Scioto Park in Columbus, Ohio, January 21, 1959. During the statewide flood of January 1959, rains of 3 to 6 inches produced the most destructive flooding in Ohio since March 1913. Soil frozen a foot deep was overlain by a snow cover. A band of heavy rain fell across central Ohio on the headwaters of many of the state’s largest rivers, causing the snow to melt, and with the ground frozen, nearly all of the water poured into streams. Streams reached flood stage from January 21 to 24, killing 16 people, forcing 49,000 from their homes, and causing extensive damage to homes, businesses, roads, and bridges. The streets of Mansfield were under four feet of water, and industries were closed by floodwaters in Youngstown and Canton. Columbus was the most severely affected of Ohio’s major cities, with many streets flooded, 100 homes badly damaged, and 3,200 evacuees cared for at Red Cross shelters. One-third of Chillicothe was flooded when the Scioto River broke through a levee of sandbags. High water and ice jams on the Sandusky River flooded Upper Sandusky, Tiffin, and Fremont. Despite its intensity, deaths and damage were not as great in 1959 as in the March 1913 flood. Following the destruction of 1913, flood-control reservoirs were built, and by 1959, there was better communication of warnings, more organized rescue work, and more adequate design of bridges and other structures. View on Ohio Memory.
Image ID: P339_B05F04_002
Subjects: Floods--Ohio; Natural disasters; Climate and Weather; Columbus (Ohio)--History;
Places: Columbus (Ohio); Franklin County (Ohio)
 

Description: Photograph showing flooded streets near McAllister Avenue in the Olde Towne East neighborhood of Columbus, Ohio, January 21, 1959. During the statewide flood of January 1959, rains of 3 to 6 inches produced the most destructive flooding in Ohio since March 1913. Soil frozen a foot deep was overlain by a snow cover. A band of heavy rain fell across central Ohio on the headwaters of many of the state’s largest rivers, causing the snow to melt, and with the ground frozen, nearly all of the water poured into streams. Streams reached flood stage from January 21 to 24, killing 16 people, forcing 49,000 from their homes, and causing extensive damage to homes, businesses, roads, and bridges. The streets of Mansfield were under four feet of water, and industries were closed by floodwaters in Youngstown and Canton. Columbus was the most severely affected of Ohio’s major cities, with many streets flooded, 100 homes badly damaged, and 3,200 evacuees cared for at Red Cross shelters. One-third of Chillicothe was flooded when the Scioto River broke through a levee of sandbags. High water and ice jams on the Sandusky River flooded Upper Sandusky, Tiffin, and Fremont. Despite its intensity, deaths and damage were not as great in 1959 as in the March 1913 flood. Following the destruction of 1913, flood-control reservoirs were built, and by 1959, there was better communication of warnings, more organized rescue work, and more adequate design of bridges and other structures. View on Ohio Memory.
Image ID: P339_B05F04_001
Subjects: Floods--Ohio; Natural disasters; Climate and Weather; Columbus (Ohio)--History;
Places: Columbus (Ohio); Franklin County (Ohio)
 

Description: Photographic postcard showing floodwaters along Cypress Avenue in Columbus, Ohio, during the 1913 Flood. An "X" marks a tree with a note reading, "13 people taken from this tree." A handwritten note on the back reads, "In case the flowers are not here when you go, tell Annie about them. Set in shade." In late March 1913, an unusually heavy rainstorm moved into Ohio. It rained steadily for five days and water levels all over Ohio rose rapidly. By the third day of the downpour, levees were overtopped and many towns, including Columbus, suffered disastrous flooding. The statewide extent of death and destruction in the Flood of 1913 exceeds all other weather events in Ohio history, justifying the title of “Ohio’s greatest weather disaster.” Rainfall over the state totaled 6-11 inches and no section was unaffected. The death toll was 467 and more than 40,000 homes were flooded. Approximately 100 died in Columbus when the Scioto River reached record levels and poured 9 to 17 feet deep through neighborhoods. Many Columbus residents escaped to the safety of rooftops and trees. View on Ohio Memory.
Image ID: P339_B05F02_09_01
Subjects: Floods--Ohio--Columbus; Climate and Weather; Natural disasters; Scioto River (Ohio)
Places: Columbus (Ohio); Franklin County (Ohio)
 

Description: Photograph showing a flooded home basement or garage in Columbus, Ohio, after heavy flooding in January 1959. During the statewide flood of January 1959, rains of 3 to 6 inches produced the most destructive flooding in Ohio since March 1913. Soil frozen a foot deep was overlain by a snow cover. A band of heavy rain fell across central Ohio on the headwaters of many of the state’s largest rivers, causing the snow to melt, and with the ground frozen, nearly all of the water poured into streams. Streams reached flood stage from January 21 to 24, killing 16 people, forcing 49,000 from their homes, and causing extensive damage to homes, businesses, roads, and bridges. The streets of Mansfield were under four feet of water, and industries were closed by floodwaters in Youngstown and Canton. Columbus was the most severely affected of Ohio’s major cities, with many streets flooded, 100 homes badly damaged, and 3,200 evacuees cared for at Red Cross shelters. One-third of Chillicothe was flooded when the Scioto River broke through a levee of sandbags. High water and ice jams on the Sandusky River flooded Upper Sandusky, Tiffin, and Fremont. Despite the flood's intensity, deaths and damage were not as great in 1959 as in the March 1913 flood. Following the destruction of 1913, flood-control reservoirs were built, and by 1959, there was better communication of warnings, more organized rescue work, and more adequate design of bridges and other structures. View on Ohio Memory.
Image ID: P339_B17F01_11_01
Subjects: Floods--Ohio--Columbus; Climate and Weather; Natural disasters;
Places: Columbus (Ohio); Franklin County (Ohio)
 

Description: Photograph showing high floodwaters in Columbus, Ohio, after heavy flooding in January 1959. During the statewide flood of January 1959, rains of 3 to 6 inches produced the most destructive flooding in Ohio since March 1913. Soil frozen a foot deep was overlain by a snow cover. A band of heavy rain fell across central Ohio on the headwaters of many of the state’s largest rivers, causing the snow to melt, and with the ground frozen, nearly all of the water poured into streams. Streams reached flood stage from January 21 to 24, killing 16 people, forcing 49,000 from their homes, and causing extensive damage to homes, businesses, roads, and bridges. The streets of Mansfield were under four feet of water, and industries were closed by floodwaters in Youngstown and Canton. Columbus was the most severely affected of Ohio’s major cities, with many streets flooded, 100 homes badly damaged, and 3,200 evacuees cared for at Red Cross shelters. One-third of Chillicothe was flooded when the Scioto River broke through a levee of sandbags. High water and ice jams on the Sandusky River flooded Upper Sandusky, Tiffin, and Fremont. Despite the flood's intensity, deaths and damage were not as great in 1959 as in the March 1913 flood. Following the destruction of 1913, flood-control reservoirs were built, and by 1959, there was better communication of warnings, more organized rescue work, and more adequate design of bridges and other structures. View on Ohio Memory.
Image ID: P339_B17F01_07_01
Subjects: Floods--Ohio--Columbus; Climate and Weather; Natural disasters;
Places: Columbus (Ohio); Franklin County (Ohio)
 

Description: Photograph showing West State Street in Columbus, Ohio, during the 1913 Flood. Some buildings are still standing, while the floodwaters are filled with debris. In late March 1913, an unusually heavy rainstorm moved into Ohio. It rained steadily for five days and water levels all over Ohio rose rapidly. By the third day of the downpour, levees were overtopped and many towns, including Columbus, suffered disastrous flooding. The statewide extent of death and destruction in the Flood of 1913 exceeds all other weather events in Ohio history, justifying the title of “Ohio’s greatest weather disaster.” Rainfall over the state totaled 6-11 inches and no section was unaffected. The death toll was 467 and more than 40,000 homes were flooded. Approximately 100 died in Columbus when the Scioto River reached record levels and poured 9 to 17 feet deep through neighborhoods. Many Columbus residents escaped to the safety of rooftops and trees. View on Ohio Memory.
Image ID: P339_B05F02_04_01
Subjects: Floods--Ohio--Columbus; Climate and Weather; Natural disasters; Scioto River (Ohio)
Places: Columbus (Ohio); Franklin County (Ohio)
 

Description: Photograph showing high floodwaters in Columbus, Ohio, after heavy flooding in January 1959. During the statewide flood of January 1959, rains of 3 to 6 inches produced the most destructive flooding in Ohio since March 1913. Soil frozen a foot deep was overlain by a snow cover. A band of heavy rain fell across central Ohio on the headwaters of many of the state’s largest rivers, causing the snow to melt, and with the ground frozen, nearly all of the water poured into streams. Streams reached flood stage from January 21 to 24, killing 16 people, forcing 49,000 from their homes, and causing extensive damage to homes, businesses, roads, and bridges. The streets of Mansfield were under four feet of water, and industries were closed by floodwaters in Youngstown and Canton. Columbus was the most severely affected of Ohio’s major cities, with many streets flooded, 100 homes badly damaged, and 3,200 evacuees cared for at Red Cross shelters. One-third of Chillicothe was flooded when the Scioto River broke through a levee of sandbags. High water and ice jams on the Sandusky River flooded Upper Sandusky, Tiffin, and Fremont. Despite the flood's intensity, deaths and damage were not as great in 1959 as in the March 1913 flood. Following the destruction of 1913, flood-control reservoirs were built, and by 1959, there was better communication of warnings, more organized rescue work, and more adequate design of bridges and other structures. View on Ohio Memory.
Image ID: P339_B17F01_06_01
Subjects: Floods--Ohio--Columbus; Climate and Weather; Natural disasters;
Places: Columbus (Ohio); Franklin County (Ohio)
 

Description: Photograph showing damaged homes in Columbus, Ohio, during the 1913 Flood. In late March 1913, an unusually heavy rainstorm moved into Ohio. It rained steadily for five days and water levels all over Ohio rose rapidly. By the third day of the downpour, levees were overtopped and many towns, including Columbus, suffered disastrous flooding. The statewide extent of death and destruction in the Flood of 1913 exceeds all other weather events in Ohio history, justifying the title of “Ohio’s greatest weather disaster.” Rainfall over the state totaled 6-11 inches and no section was unaffected. The death toll was 467 and more than 40,000 homes were flooded. Approximately 100 died in Columbus when the Scioto River reached record levels and poured 9 to 17 feet deep through neighborhoods. Many Columbus residents escaped to the safety of rooftops and trees. View on Ohio Memory.
Image ID: P339_B05F02_06_01
Subjects: Floods--Ohio--Columbus; Climate and Weather; Natural disasters; Scioto River (Ohio)
Places: Columbus (Ohio); Franklin County (Ohio)
 

Description: Photograph showing extensive flood damage to homes around Glenwood Avenue in Columbus, Ohio, during the 1913 Flood. In late March 1913, an unusually heavy rainstorm moved into Ohio. It rained steadily for five days and water levels all over Ohio rose rapidly. By the third day of the downpour, levees were overtopped and many towns, including Columbus, suffered disastrous flooding. The statewide extent of death and destruction in the Flood of 1913 exceeds all other weather events in Ohio history, justifying the title of “Ohio’s greatest weather disaster.” Rainfall over the state totaled 6-11 inches and no section was unaffected. The death toll was 467 and more than 40,000 homes were flooded. Approximately 100 died in Columbus when the Scioto River reached record levels and poured 9 to 17 feet deep through neighborhoods. Many Columbus residents escaped to the safety of rooftops and trees. View on Ohio Memory.
Image ID: P339_B05F02_11_01
Subjects: Floods--Ohio--Columbus; Climate and Weather; Natural disasters; Scioto River (Ohio)
Places: Columbus (Ohio); Franklin County (Ohio)
 

Description: Photograph showing fields and grounds at Columbus Academy, located on the northeast side of Columbus, Ohio, following flooding in March 1964, from the Columbus Citizen-Journal Collection. View on Ohio Memory.
Image ID: P339_B17F01_09_01
Subjects: Floods--Ohio--Columbus; Climate and Weather; Natural disasters; Schools
Places: Columbus (Ohio); Franklin County (Ohio)
 

Description: Photograph showing flood damage on the west side of Columbus, 1913. In late March 1913, an unusually heavy rainstorm moved into Ohio. It rained steadily for five days and water levels all over Ohio rose rapidly. By the third day of the downpour, levees were overtopped and many towns, including Columbus, suffered disastrous flooding. This image was included in a "Memory Book" compiled by Mrs. H. V. Cottrell, historian for the Clinton League (sometimes called the Clinton Welfare League) from 1938-1943. The book shows the development of the Clintonville neighborhood of Columbus, Ohio, and records the history of the League. The Clinton League was a women's group founded in 1912 to promote child welfare and later general welfare in Columbus, but which was based in and primarily focused on the area of Clintonville. View on Ohio Memory.
Image ID: P285_MB1_119
Subjects: Clintonville (Ohio); Clinton League; Women--Charities; Columbus (Ohio)--History; Floods--Ohio--Columbus;
Places: Columbus (Ohio); Franklin County (Ohio)
 

Description: Photograph of the Olentangy River at flood stage, taken at Dodridge Street in Clintonville, March 1913. In late March 1913, an unusually heavy rainstorm moved into Ohio. It rained steadily for five days and water levels all over Ohio rose rapidly. By the third day of the downpour, levees were overtopped and many towns, including Columbus, suffered disastrous flooding. This image was included in a "Memory Book" compiled by Mrs. H. V. Cottrell, historian for the Clinton League (sometimes called the Clinton Welfare League) from 1938-1943. The book shows the development of the Clintonville neighborhood of Columbus, Ohio, and records the history of the League. The Clinton League was a women's group founded in 1912 to promote child welfare and later general welfare in Columbus, but which was based in and primarily focused on the area of Clintonville. View on Ohio Memory.
Image ID: P285_MB1_120
Subjects: Clintonville (Ohio); Clinton League; Women--Charities; Columbus (Ohio)--History; Floods--Ohio--Columbus;
Places: Columbus (Ohio); Franklin County (Ohio)