Wanatah flood looking north from hotel March 6, 1908
The following is presented after viewing and reading many of the local and state newspapers for the period of February and March of 1908. Portions of La Porte County lies in lower marsh type lands that over a period of decades, residents have been tamed and controlled or dammed waters to prevent flooding. This was not the case, however, in February and March of 1908. A series of natural occurrences along with some "not so well thought out" man-made structures and landscape set into motion a disaster and one that would be talked about in LaPorte County for generations to come. The snow fall, creating a large snow pack had lined the banks of the streams in a manner that could not be remembered even by the oldest of residents. Then it started to rain and the unseasonable warm temperatures added to the mix allowing the snows to melt unusually fast and streams and rivers to go over "flood stage". Many watched in Dismay as bridges, railroad tracks, dams and roads washed away. One of the hardest hit areas was Wanatah, which, due to the Pennsylvania and Monon Tracks forming a dam which held water like the sides of a lake, the town quickly flooded with 4 feet of water. Noble township also suffered losing seven of it bridges. And Waterford in Coolspring township, also with Union Mills also experienced considerable damage. We will be writing more on this flood and which inhabitants it effected in the following months on our GenWeb site.
On February 15, 1908, the Michigan City Evening News reported on
"Big Blow Came From Nor 'East"
"City Gripped by Another Severe Storm" - JOHN
NEVA'S HOUSE BLOWN DOWN
High Gale played havoc with building in course of construction, fortunately no one injured, street cars delayed.
The storm of unusual velocity which raged most of last night and today was again drifted the snow and made the country roads almost impassible. The wind came from the north and northeast and swooped down from the north poles with a vengeance, although the temperature was not so severe as it has been with other storms of the winter......... The article continues in next paragraph....
The street car company had its trouble with the storm today. The snow plow and sweeper were put in operation at 4 o'clock this morning and were kept busy on the interurban and city lines during the greater part of the morning.
New Building Razed
Wind Plays Havoc With John Neva's New
Saloon Building.
The nor;easter which prevailed most all night and became
perhaps the heaviest during the forenoon today razed a building in the course
of erection for John Neva on Ohio Street. Neva is erecting a building for
saloon purposes. The structure is to be two stories high. He is superintending
the work himself and had the framework pretty well up when the storm hit.
Wednesday 16 February 1908 Michigan City Evening News
Some of the headlines and articles on this date were:
Worst Blizzard in 20 Years
Steam and Electric Roads have
Manifold Troubles
Freight Trains are Abandoned.
Passenger Trains Run But are Hours Behind Schedules – Two
Days' Storm Exhausts Every Means Employed to Combat the Elements
Numerous
Fatal Accidents Follow in Wake
HELD PRISONER IN SNOWDRIFT
Six-Year-Old Morris Schinitzky in
Perilous Position
Buried in Snow Two Hours While trying to get home from
School
Search Party Out when Lad is Found in Snowbank by His Older
Brother
Morris Schinitzky, son of Mr. And Mrs. B. Schinitzky of north Pine
street, had an unpleasant experience in the storm
Tuesday afternoon while
returning to his home from the Elston school building, where he attended the
kindergarten classes.
The lad was partially buried in the snow and remained
there for nearly two hours before discovered by his brother Ike, who
was one
of a searching party.
The lad is less than six years of age. He endeavored
to take a short route home by going through the alley. He was alone and
became
bewildered in the storm. He was unable to make any progress in the
face of the blizzard and falling against a fence was unable to
recover
himself until assistance reached him.......
Morris was chilled
through, but is seemingly none the worse today.
MC Evening News - Monday – 2 Mar 1908
Sleet and Ice,
Fearful; City Just Recovering
Telegraph and Telephone Wires Go Down and
Communication Is Cut Off ---
Street Cars Battle With the Elements
The snow storm of ten days ago was a big one and the “worst
in many years” so far as the transportation companies and
the
automobiles were concerned, but the storm of Saturday night did things
to the telegraph, telephone and electric companies
that the blizzard never
thought of doing.
The snow storm, so far as the damage to the many wire
companies is concerned did not compare for one minute with the rain and
sleet storm of Saturday night. The city has been entirely shut off from
telegraph and telephone communication with the outside world, - except LaPorte,
since Saturday night. The downpour of rain was unusually heavy and with the
accompanying thunder and lightning had the ear marks of a spring shower. The
atmosphere, however, was cold enough to freeze the rain as soon as it fell and
a coating of ice covered everything, especially the wires. The weight upon the
wires became to much for them and they snapped.
Michigan City Evening News - Friday – March 6, 1908
Highest Water Ever Known
City and County is Flooded With High Water
Danger Felt At Roeske's Mill
All Outlets Possible are Opened But Water
Continues to Rise – Romel Ditch Over Banks and Houses are Marooned.
Reports from various sections of Michigan City and the surrounding country state that there is more water on the ground in ponds and in creeks and streams than for many years and perhaps more than the oldest resident can recall. In the city the effects of the continued thaw for several days of the immense snowfall of two weeks ago are most felt in the territory drained by the Romel ditch. The ditch overflowed its banks last night and water covers the adjacent territory, ......
Highest at Roeske's
From Roeske's mill comes the report that the water in the millpond
has reached the highest stage ever known and
grave fears are felt
concerning the dam......
From Waterford comes the report that the dam is in imminent danger of giving way and should that happen the danger at Roeske's mill to dam, dikes and mill will be very great.
Bridge Threatened
Reports this afternoon from Hendricks street
in the vicinity of the bridge spanning Romel creek, were that the bridge was in
danger of being carried away by the high water. E. C. Fedder and Edward Haller
of the board of works, investigated at 3 o'clock. The water is reported to be
about five feet above normal and within a very few inches of the top of the
bridge. Residents in that section of the city having occasion to use the bridge
say it has long been in a dangerous condition and much in need of repair.
MC Evening News – Friday – 6 March 1908
Under
Water Wanatah Flood
Streets Are a Big Lake – Much Damage Inflicted
Want to dynamite for an Outlet
Pennsylvania and Monon Tracks Form Big Dam – Business Houses
and Residences Flooded --
Water Several Feet Deep in Streets
MC Evening News – Monday – 9 March 1908
Off Bridge Into Water
Horse Belonging to John R. Weaver Hurt Due to High Water
One
of J. R. Weaver's livery horses was badly injured Friday night by falling into
the deep water of the Norris ditch at a point where it crosses the
Westville road, south of the city. The bridge, which is known as the Neimer
bridge, has been out for several days and on Friday
a temporary structure
was used. The water that night was running two or more feet over this temporary
structure. Mr. Weaver sent on of his
teams to Otis to convey Steve Delato
and a friend home. Henry Moyer was the driver. The young man did not know the
bridge was under water
and in driving upon it the horse missed the boards
and went off into deep water. The animal was badly hurt about the legs and was
rescued from drowning after heroic work by the men in the party.