Scioto River Flood Letter   Save
Ohio History Connection
Description: A woman identified only as "Louisa" wrote this letter to her cousin in Cincinnati telling her about the Scioto River flood of 1884. The letter was written over the course of nine days and documents the writer's observations of the flood. She writes about having to move her family's cows and horses to higher ground, and then moving the family to the second floor of their house when the first floor flooded. She recalls sitting on the roof of the porch watching fellow residents go by in boats. The letter is twelve pages and measures 7" x 11" (17.8 x 27.9 cm). It is part of a larger collection of correspondence of Esther Hunter Mears. The 1884 Scioto River flood was caused by heavy rain and snow throughout January 1884. By February 7th, the river was rising at a rate of five inches per hour. In early March, the water level reached 66 feet in Portsmouth. The courthouse was the only place not touched by the water. Portsmouth residents crowded into the building along with their livestock and carriages. Later in March the water froze; it melted relatively slowly, allowing the city to begin to recover in April. View on Ohio Memory.
Image ID: Om1390_1144634_001
Subjects: Climate and Weather; Geography and Natural Resources; Floods
Places: Scioto County (Ohio)