Description: Four photographs taken in January 1937 depict the town of Point Pleasant, Ohio, particularly the area surrounding the birthplace of Ulysses S. Grant (1822-1885), Civil War general and the eighteenth president of the United States. The first image shows the cabin marking Grant's birthplace nearly submerged by flood waters on January 26, 1937. The next three photographs were taken two days later on January 28, 1937. They depict the house and surrounding area. The final image shows the Grant Memorial Bridge, almost fully covered by water. The photographs measure 5" by 7" (12.7 by 17.8 cm). Along the Ohio River, from Gallipolis to the Ohio-Indiana border, January 1937 was a terrible month. New high-water marks were set at every town. Portsmouth and Cincinnati were particularly affected. In the Queen City, waters rose to nearly 80 feet, a new record. Flooding extended beyond Ohio too, impacting the lives of more than a million people and causing hundreds of millions of dollars in damage. Dayton and the Miami Valley were spared, however, as flood control efforts in the region protected it from harm. View on Ohio Memory.
Image ID: Om3222_3832033_001
Subjects: Presidents and Politics; Transportation; Climate and Weather; Architecture; Grant, Ulysses S. (Ulysses Simpson), 1822-1885; Presidents; Floods; Houses; Bridges
Places: Point Pleasant (Ohio); Clermont County (Ohio)
 

Description: Photograph of an unidentified man shoveling snow on a street in Ohio. There is a huge snow drift behind and a car driving down the road in the distance. View on Ohio Memory.
Image ID: SA1039AV_B15F05_031_001
Subjects: Winter; Snow; Climate and weather; Ohio--History--Pictorial works; Federal Writers' Project
Places: Ohio
 

Description: John H. Patterson directing flood relief in March 1913. With the water up to his ankles John H. Patterson surveys the scene of the aftermath. Following the Dayton flood of 1913, the National Cash Register Company, a company John formed, provided approximately one million dollars to assist people in recovering from the disaster. View on Ohio Memory.
Image ID: SA1039AV_B05F09_013_1
Subjects: Geography and Natural Resources; Climate and Weather; Floods; Flood control; Disasters; National Cash Register Company
Places: Dayton (Ohio); Montgomery County (Ohio)
 

Description: Picture postcard showing the First Methodist Episcopal Church in Lorain, Ohio, following the devastating tornado of June 28, 1924. Large sections of the walls and roof of the church are crumbled and missing. The deadliest tornado in Ohio history struck Lorain and Sandusky on Saturday, June 28, 1924. This was not the largest or strongest tornado to occur in Ohio, but the violent storm struck an urban center where thousands of people were put at risk. There were 85 fatalities, 72 of which occurred in Lorain. The Lorain Tornado formed over Sandusky Bay and passed eastward, striking the northern edge of Sandusky at 4:35 PM. One hundred homes and 25 businesses were destroyed in the town, and there were eight deaths. The tornado continued over Lake Erie before coming ashore at the Lorain Municipal Bath House in Lakeview Park. Buildings were damaged for 35 blocks along Broadway and at least 200 automobiles were buried in bricks and other debris. More than 1,000 homes were damaged and 500 destroyed in Lorain. All downtown businesses sustained some damage. The death toll of 15 in the State Theater is the most ever killed by a tornado in one building in Ohio. Dozens of doctors and hundreds of nurses arrived in Lorain Saturday night from Cleveland to attend to the injured. View on Ohio Memory.
Image ID: SC169_004
Subjects: Tornadoes--Ohio; Tornado damage; Natural disasters; Climate and Weather;
Places: Lorain (Ohio); Lorain County (Ohio)
 

Description: Picture postcard looking north on Broadway from 4th Street in Lorain, Ohio, following the devastating tornado of June 28, 1924. Businesses can be seen lining the street as residents work to clear rubble. The deadliest tornado in Ohio history struck Lorain and Sandusky on Saturday, June 28, 1924. This was not the largest or strongest tornado to occur in Ohio, but the violent storm struck an urban center where thousands of people were put at risk. There were 85 fatalities, 72 of which occurred in Lorain. The Lorain Tornado formed over Sandusky Bay and passed eastward, striking the northern edge of Sandusky at 4:35 PM. One hundred homes and 25 businesses were destroyed in the town, and there were eight deaths. The tornado continued over Lake Erie before coming ashore at the Lorain Municipal Bath House in Lakeview Park. Buildings were damaged for 35 blocks along Broadway and at least 200 automobiles were buried in bricks and other debris. More than 1,000 homes were damaged and 500 destroyed in Lorain. All downtown businesses sustained some damage. The death toll of 15 in the State Theater is the most ever killed by a tornado in one building in Ohio. Dozens of doctors and hundreds of nurses arrived in Lorain Saturday night from Cleveland to attend to the injured. View on Ohio Memory.
Image ID: SC169_010
Subjects: Tornadoes--Ohio; Tornado damage; Natural disasters; Climate and Weather;
Places: Lorain (Ohio); Lorain County (Ohio)
 

Description: Two photographs document President Richard Nixon's visit to Xenia, Ohio, following the devastating tornado of 1974. Nixon toured Greene County and declared it a disaster area. The slides measure 2" x 2" (5.08 x 5.08 cm). On April 4, 1974 an F5 tornado (the most intense tornado, reaching speeds of over 261 miles per hour) hit Xenia. It touched down at 4:30 p.m. nine miles southwest of Xenia and entered town at 4:40 p.m. Of 25,000 residents, 33 were killed and 1600 were injured. More than 1400 buildings were damaged or destroyed and total estimated damages exceeded $400 million. Xenia was declared a national disaster area, and the American Red Cross, as well as several hundred Ohio National Guard troops, moved into Xenia for several weeks to assist with the rescue and clean up. The Xenia tornado was the deadliest and most damaging of storms that comprised the "Super Outbreak" that occurred April 3 and 4, 1974, when 148 storms hit thirteen states. View on Ohio Memory.
Image ID: Om3127_3729330_001
Subjects: Transportation; Climate and Weather; Presidents and Politics; Nixon, Richard M. (Richard Milhous), 1913-1994; Presidents; Tornadoes; Helicopters
Places: Xenia (Ohio); Greene County (Ohio)
 

Description: Picture postcard showing the ruins of the State Theater in Lorain, Ohio, following the devastating tornado of June 28, 1924. The caption reads "100 people killed. 'Sacrifice' was being played on the piano." Despite the figure on the postcard, there were 15 confirmed dead after the theater was crushed by a seven-story building next door which collapsed. The property would later be razed on June 30, 1924. The deadliest tornado in Ohio history struck Lorain and Sandusky on Saturday, June 28, 1924. This was not the largest or strongest tornado to occur in Ohio, but the violent storm struck an urban center where thousands of people were put at risk. There were 85 fatalities, 72 of which occurred in Lorain. The Lorain Tornado formed over Sandusky Bay and passed eastward, striking the northern edge of Sandusky at 4:35 PM. One hundred homes and 25 businesses were destroyed in the town, and there were eight deaths. The tornado continued over Lake Erie before coming ashore at the Lorain Municipal Bath House in Lakeview Park. Buildings were damaged for 35 blocks along Broadway and at least 200 automobiles were buried in bricks and other debris. More than 1,000 homes were damaged and 500 destroyed in Lorain. All downtown businesses sustained some damage. The death toll of 15 in the State Theater is the most ever killed by a tornado in one building in Ohio. Dozens of doctors and hundreds of nurses arrived in Lorain Saturday night from Cleveland to attend to the injured. View on Ohio Memory.
Image ID: SC169_007
Subjects: Tornadoes--Ohio; Tornado damage; Natural disasters; Climate and Weather;
Places: Lorain (Ohio); Lorain County (Ohio)
 

Description: Picture postcard showing a neighborhood at the corner of E Street and Delaware Avenue in Lorain, Ohio, following the devastating tornado of June 28, 1924. Residents move through the rubble of damaged and missing houses. The deadliest tornado in Ohio history struck Lorain and Sandusky on Saturday, June 28, 1924. This was not the largest or strongest tornado to occur in Ohio, but the violent storm struck an urban center where thousands of people were put at risk. There were 85 fatalities, 72 of which occurred in Lorain. The Lorain Tornado formed over Sandusky Bay and passed eastward, striking the northern edge of Sandusky at 4:35 PM. One hundred homes and 25 businesses were destroyed in the town, and there were eight deaths. The tornado continued over Lake Erie before coming ashore at the Lorain Municipal Bath House in Lakeview Park. Buildings were damaged for 35 blocks along Broadway and at least 200 automobiles were buried in bricks and other debris. More than 1,000 homes were damaged and 500 destroyed in Lorain. All downtown businesses sustained some damage. The death toll of 15 in the State Theater is the most ever killed by a tornado in one building in Ohio. Dozens of doctors and hundreds of nurses arrived in Lorain Saturday night from Cleveland to attend to the injured. View on Ohio Memory.
Image ID: SC169_003
Subjects: Tornadoes--Ohio; Tornado damage; Natural disasters; Climate and Weather;
Places: Lorain (Ohio); Lorain County (Ohio)
 

Description: Picture postcard looking north on Broadway from Erie Avenue in Lorain, Ohio, following the devastating tornado of June 28, 1924. A ship can be seen in the harbor, as well as damaged businesses, cars and streetcars. The deadliest tornado in Ohio history struck Lorain and Sandusky on Saturday, June 28, 1924. This was not the largest or strongest tornado to occur in Ohio, but the violent storm struck an urban center where thousands of people were put at risk. There were 85 fatalities, 72 of which occurred in Lorain. The Lorain Tornado formed over Sandusky Bay and passed eastward, striking the northern edge of Sandusky at 4:35 PM. One hundred homes and 25 businesses were destroyed in the town, and there were eight deaths. The tornado continued over Lake Erie before coming ashore at the Lorain Municipal Bath House in Lakeview Park. Buildings were damaged for 35 blocks along Broadway and at least 200 automobiles were buried in bricks and other debris. More than 1,000 homes were damaged and 500 destroyed in Lorain. All downtown businesses sustained some damage. The death toll of 15 in the State Theater is the most ever killed by a tornado in one building in Ohio. Dozens of doctors and hundreds of nurses arrived in Lorain Saturday night from Cleveland to attend to the injured. View on Ohio Memory.
Image ID: SC169_006
Subjects: Tornadoes--Ohio; Tornado damage; Natural disasters; Climate and Weather;
Places: Lorain (Ohio); Lorain County (Ohio)
 

Description: Picture postcard showing the intersection of 5th Street and Hamilton Avenue in Lorain, Ohio, following the devastating tornado of June 28, 1924. Damaged and destroyed homes can be seen. The deadliest tornado in Ohio history struck Lorain and Sandusky on Saturday, June 28, 1924. This was not the largest or strongest tornado to occur in Ohio, but the violent storm struck an urban center where thousands of people were put at risk. There were 85 fatalities, 72 of which occurred in Lorain. The Lorain Tornado formed over Sandusky Bay and passed eastward, striking the northern edge of Sandusky at 4:35 PM. One hundred homes and 25 businesses were destroyed in the town, and there were eight deaths. The tornado continued over Lake Erie before coming ashore at the Lorain Municipal Bath House in Lakeview Park. Buildings were damaged for 35 blocks along Broadway and at least 200 automobiles were buried in bricks and other debris. More than 1,000 homes were damaged and 500 destroyed in Lorain. All downtown businesses sustained some damage. The death toll of 15 in the State Theater is the most ever killed by a tornado in one building in Ohio. Dozens of doctors and hundreds of nurses arrived in Lorain Saturday night from Cleveland to attend to the injured. View on Ohio Memory.
Image ID: SC169_011
Subjects: Tornadoes--Ohio; Tornado damage; Natural disasters; Climate and Weather;
Places: Lorain (Ohio); Lorain County (Ohio)
 

Description: Picture postcard showing the ruins of the State Theater in Lorain, Ohio, following the devastating tornado of June 28, 1924. Two men in military uniforms are seated in the upper right corner. There were 15 confirmed dead after the theater was crushed by a seven-story building next door which collapsed. The property would later be razed on June 30, 1924. The deadliest tornado in Ohio history struck Lorain and Sandusky on Saturday, June 28, 1924. This was not the largest or strongest tornado to occur in Ohio, but the violent storm struck an urban center where thousands of people were put at risk. There were 85 fatalities, 72 of which occurred in Lorain. The Lorain Tornado formed over Sandusky Bay and passed eastward, striking the northern edge of Sandusky at 4:35 PM. One hundred homes and 25 businesses were destroyed in the town, and there were eight deaths. The tornado continued over Lake Erie before coming ashore at the Lorain Municipal Bath House in Lakeview Park. Buildings were damaged for 35 blocks along Broadway and at least 200 automobiles were buried in bricks and other debris. More than 1,000 homes were damaged and 500 destroyed in Lorain. All downtown businesses sustained some damage. The death toll of 15 in the State Theater is the most ever killed by a tornado in one building in Ohio. Dozens of doctors and hundreds of nurses arrived in Lorain Saturday night from Cleveland to attend to the injured. View on Ohio Memory.
Image ID: SC169_012
Subjects: Tornadoes--Ohio; Tornado damage; Natural disasters; Climate and Weather;
Places: Lorain (Ohio); Lorain County (Ohio)
 

Description: Photograph showing a man steering a rowboat through floodwaters in Circleville, Ohio, January 21, 1959. A dog is seated on a partially-submerged structure behind him. 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_003
Subjects: Floods--Ohio; Natural disasters; Climate and Weather; Circleville (Ohio); Dogs
Places: Circleville (Ohio); Pickaway County (Ohio)