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)
 

Description: Picture postcard showing an aerial view of Lorain, Ohio, looking south following the devastating tornado of June 28, 1924. Visible in the photograph are shipyards, rail lines and the intersection of F Street and Colorado Avenue. 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_008
Subjects: Tornadoes--Ohio; Tornado damage; Natural disasters; Climate and Weather;
Places: Lorain (Ohio); Lorain County (Ohio)
 

Description: Picture postcard showing Fire Station No. 1 and the church next door in Lorain, Ohio, following the devastating tornado of June 28, 1924. Onlookers gather before the buildings which have sustained heavy damage. 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_001
Subjects: Tornadoes--Ohio; Tornado damage; Natural disasters; Climate and Weather;
Places: Lorain (Ohio); Lorain County (Ohio)
 

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: Picture postcard showing an aerial view of the Business and Residence section of Lorain, Ohio, following the devastating tornado of June 28, 1924. Labeled on the photograph are the high school, the Erie Park Addition, the Antler Hotel, the State Theater, and Fire Station No. 1. 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_009
Subjects: Tornadoes--Ohio; Tornado damage; Natural disasters; Climate and Weather;
Places: Lorain (Ohio); Lorain 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: This photograph shows the Zanesville Y bridge during a flood of the Muskingum and Licking rivers in August 1935. The bridge was the fourth y-shaped bridge built at the same location. On January 4, 1902, it was opened for foot passengers. Ten days later, streetcars and wagons began to cross the bridge. In 1979, the fourth Y bridge was judged unsafe. The fifth bridge was opened on November 9, 1984. In 1812 a charter was granted to Moses Dillon and others to construct a toll bridge that spanned the confluence of the Muskingum and Licking rivers, connecting Zanesville with Natchez and West Zanesville. A walled, oak-planked bridge with a central pier where the forks of a "Y" met was opened to the public in 1814. A makeshift structure, this first bridge (1814-1818) needed constant repair and collapsed into the river in 1818. A second bridge (1819-1832) was built on the same site of stronger construction, but it was condemned thirteen years later when twelve-inch-thick ice in the river weakened the superstructure. During renovation work in 1832, a section of the bride collapsed, killing two men, one of whom was Ebenezer Buckingham, an owner of the bridge. The third Y bridge (1832-1900) stood until 1900. View on Ohio Memory.
Image ID: Om1903_1984416_001
Subjects: Climate and Weather; Floods; Muskingum River (Ohio); Licking River (Ohio); Bridges; National Register of Historic Places
Places: Zanesville (Ohio); Muskingum County (Ohio)
 

Description: Photograph showing flooded downtown streets in Mount Vernon, Ohio, January 21, 1959. Visible in the photograph are downtown businesses including Ralston's Barber Shop, a B.F. Goodrich service station, Louie's Shoe Repair, Larry's Carry Out and the LK Diner. 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_005
Subjects: Floods--Ohio; Natural disasters; Climate and Weather; Downtowns;
Places: Mount Vernon (Ohio); Knox County (Ohio)
 

Description: Photograph showing the Munson Music Company building at Third and Main Streets in Zanesville, Ohio, following the 1913 flood. In late March 1913, an unusually heavy rainstorm moved into Ohio. It rained steadily for five days and the water levels rose rapidly. By the third day of the downpour, levees were overtopped and many towns suffered disastrous flooding. When the flood waters receded, tons of mud and debris covered the streets, homes, businesses and factories of towns like Zanesville, where the Muskingum River had crested 27 feet above flood stage and water was 20 feet deep at several downtown intersections. The death toll for the disaster stood at 361, and property damages were well over $100,000,000 and 65,000 were forced to temporarily leave their homes. View on Ohio Memory.
Image ID: P259_B01F10_001
Subjects: Climate and Weather; Floods--Ohio; Natural disasters; Zanesville (Ohio)
Places: Zanesville (Ohio); Muskingum County (Ohio);
 

Description: Picture postcard showing Brenz Music Store on Broadway in Lorain, Ohio, following the devastating tornado of June 28, 1924. The facade of the building is gone, and the interior of the shop as well as the apartment rooms above 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_002
Subjects: Tornadoes--Ohio; Tornado damage; Natural disasters; Climate and Weather;
Places: Lorain (Ohio); Lorain County (Ohio)
 

Description: Picture postcard showing an elevated view of the east side of Lorain, Ohio, following the devastating tornado of June 28, 1924. The photograph was taken near the intersection of G Street and Colorado Avenue. Missing and damaged homes can be seen as well as tents set up as temporary shelter for residents. 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_005
Subjects: Tornadoes--Ohio; Tornado damage; Natural disasters; Climate and Weather;
Places: Lorain (Ohio); Lorain County (Ohio)
 

Description: Photograph showing two young men helping an elderly woman cross floodwaters in Gambier, 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_004
Subjects: Floods--Ohio; Natural disasters; Climate and Weather; Rescue operations
Places: Gambier (Ohio); Knox County (Ohio)