This week, I’ll be posting stories/photos from the 1937 Flood, which occurred 84 years ago from January 18 to February 5th. You can also view my short film made in 2017 here.
1/27/1937 Delta and Columbia Ave. The American Legion and Salvation Army give out coffee and sandwiches to the National Guard and WPA (Rex Mattice)
As is often the case when a major weather event or disaster takes place, especially one before our time, we tend to focus on the causes and effects. We focus on the loss, the imagery, the scope and magnitude of the event. We study the history and compare it to other similar events.
But when we look deeper, and get past the numbers and the damages, we see people.
We see our ancestors, moms and dads. grandmothers and grandfathers, and the people they knew, worked with, and loved. They are known. They are unknown.
Natural disasters from our long ago past take on a whole other meaning when we look into the eyes and see the actions of folks that saw the event play out before them in real time.
Below are some of those people. And some of those actions.
1/28/1937 - Kenilworth Place East End. WPA workers rescue a man and his dog from the rising waters. (Rex Mattice)
Citizens come to the aid of firefighters by throwing rocks through windows so water could reach the upper floors of the Crosley Radio factory fire. (Provided)
Citizens, WPA workers, and factory employees do whatever it takes to help contain the rushing water. (Provided)
Red Cross workers patrolling at “Knowltons Corner” at Hamilton Ave. in Cumminsville (Rex Mattice)
1/26/1937 - A Kahn’s Meats truck is used to drop off sandbags at Bates and Colerain Ave. (Provided)
American Legion official Herbert E. Michaels helps rescue a sick flood victim from home. 3rd and Broadway. (Cincinnati Times-Star)
An unknown man and woman on Hogue St. in the East End (Rex Mattice)
WPA workers and citizens work together to clean up 2nd and Court St. in Covington, KY (Provided)
Dubbed "Cincinnati’s Water Works of 1937", Red Cross workers with help from the WPA at Clifton Ave.and Klotter St, drove pipes into hillside to provide drinking/cooking water to citizens. (Rex Mattice)
The flood completely disrupted phone service, which in 1937 was a life line for help and assistance. Phone repairmen braved the conditions to restore service.(Provided)
A Cincinnati police officer rescues a woman from her home at 8th and Freeman in the West End. (Cincinnati Historical Society)
These photos show people, no matter their standing, doing whatever it took to get through the disaster.
In these turbulent times, we can learn from the many examples in your article how much can be accompliished when we work together toward the same goal and by helping one another.
In these turbulent times, we can learn from the many examples in your article how much can be accompliished when we work together toward the same goal and by helping one another.