Fall- Winter 1996 Schoharie County Historical Review

By CHESTER G. ZIMMER
Former Town of Wright Historian

Nothing makes headlines in the local newspapers of old, as well as today, like floods and bad fires. I remember an old saying You can fight fire but not water. Following are local flood news — edited from my files copied in 1968 from old Schoharie newspapers (unless otherwise noted). These papers were at the Stone Fort Library at Schoharie and the State Library at Albany. There is lots of old history in these newspapers filed for future posterity.

There were some bad floods in the Schoharie Valley before the Gilboa Dam was completed about 1926 and the Power Dam at Blenheim just recently. There were bad floods with River Street in Middleburgh covered in 1869. It was definitely reported cov­ered in December 1901 and again very bad in 1903. October 1903 sounds like our recent floods of 1955 and very re­cently, January 19, 1996.

It is said HISTORY SOMETIMES REPEATS ITSELF. (Note: Floods were often called freshets back in the 1800’s)

1839 — January 31 — Great and De­structive Rood. The destruction on the Schoharie Creek and its tributary streams is greater than has taken place within the memory of our oldest inhabitants.

Col. Z. Pratt at Prattsville lost his Tannery. his saw mill and dam. The bridge was swept away, also the grist mill carried off. At Gilboa the dwelling house of Daniel Chichester was swept away also his store and lumber and tools belonging to an extensive wheelwright establishment. The water rose twenty-six feet and so suddenly it was impos­sible to save much. The damage at Es­perance it is said to be considerable.

(In the History of the Schoharie Re­formed Church, mentioned elsewhere in the Review, is the following “Then as now, there were occasional floods in the Schoharie Valley. One such flood is recorded by the Rev. John Scribner in vivid detail on the fly leaf of the Book of Baptismal Records. January 26th 1839 — “That day is remarkable for one of the greatest floods that was ever known in Schoharie. The water rising so as to surround the Parsonage on the east, west and north, & doing much damage, here and through the whole length of Foxen’s creek car­rying away nearly all the bridges & dams & doing much damage to fields & fences)”

1849 — November 15 The Late Freshet — The rains of last week welled the Schoharie Creek causing it to over­flow its banks into the low lands to a vast extent doing considerable amount of damage. Sheep and cattle were lost.

We understand that at Middleburgh considerable damage was done to mill dams and bridges, corn crops and fences. The water was full four feet higher than it has been known for the last 20 years. The foundation of Mr. David Beckers store was undermined and fell. Great fears were entertained for the bridge and for the new works at Scribner mills. No damage except sid­ing on the Grist mill.

(Note: This mill was on the creek back of today’s Mill Farm Greenhouses)

1854 — May 4 — The Flood — The rain for the past week has caused im­mense damage. The Schoharie Creek, we understand was higher than it has been since the memorable flood of January 1839. But except, the loss of the valuable bridge across that stream at North Blenheim, which was swept away, we have not heard of any other severe disasters.

1855 — September 6 — The North Blenheim Bridge, The New Covered Bridge. Let those who charge the in­habitants of Schoharie County with a lack of enterprise, travel up the Schoharie Creek Valley and see the New Covered Bridge now about com­pleted on the site of the one carried off in the Spring Flood of 1854. Its span is 226 ft. supported by only two abut­ments with no middle pier.

1856 — August 21 Tremendous Freshet. We have been visited with the most disastrous freshet ever witnessed in this county. The water rising in all the streams to a great height sub­merging fields of grain, carrying off bridges, barns and their contents, fences, etc.

An awful calamity occurred near Crary’s mill on Fox’s Creek about 1 o’clock this morning. Mr. Peter Wilty residing on a small island, was aroused from his sleep by water rushing into the house. He was able to save himself be­fore part of the house floated away. It is supposed his wife and 5 year old grandaughter are lost. Mr. Wilty’s barn, cattle, hogs and grain were swept away by the flood. (today’s Shutters Corners)

The flood last week was very de­structive in the southern and eastern parts of the county. $50,000 is a low estimate of the losses. At Gilboa very serious damage has been done. The cotton mill was badly damaged The tannery inundated with a large loss. In Blenheim, many farms along the Creek have suffered severe losses. The splen­did new bridge came near a total wreck. It will be repaired.

At Middleburgh Judge Danforth’ s bridge, which has withstood the freshets of forty years is seriously damaged.

At Gallupville the rush of water was tremendous and injuries sustained, very large. The Plank Road through Wal­denville was entirely carried away. Bridges here and on the Albany and Schoharie Plank Road are all gone. We suppose $20,000 will hardly cover the loss in the Town of Wright.

1857 — February 12 — The freshet on Sunday last seriously injured the toll bridge across the Schoharie Creek at this place. The bridge at Middleburgh is a total wreck and will have to be rebuilt. It was built in 1813. The bridge at Central Bridge over the Schoharie on the Schoharie and Richmondville Plank Road is much injured, but it is still considered safe.

1857 — November 19 — New cov­ered bridge at Middleburgh (Note: This is a toll bridge owned by Judge Dan forth on the old Loonenberg Turnpike, from Athens to Sharon Springs) At the ad­vanced age of seventy-seven years, Judge Danforth has not only begun, but completed, an enterprise which might well tax all, the energies of the most vigorous and determined of his con­temporaries.

1869 — October 7 — The Schoharie Creek overflowed its bank and the en­tire Schoharie fiats were covered. We are told that it was twenty-two inches higher than ever before. The village was entirely surrounded at one time. It was feared the water would actually flow through the business section. Damage was done to the Schoharie Valley Rail­road line. The brick kiln of Mr. Jas. Waterbury was destroyed, a small barn near the Schoharie Bridge was carried away. At Middleburgh the Grist mill and dam are damaged. A bridge at Shutters Corners and one on the road leading to Central Bridge have been carried away.

Nearly all the bridges in the South part of the County have been carried away. At Gallupville nearly all the bridges across the Foxse’s Creek and Kings Creek are all gone. and a great portion of the old plank road near Kings Creek is washed away. A barn and wagon house of J.J. Dominic is swept away. Alfred Zeh’s mill dam is de­stroyed. Allen Brewster’s carding mill property partly destroyed. Heny Flans­burgh and Adam Warner lost barns and lumber. The families on the lower end of Factory Street were compelled to leave, No lives lost.

Its reported seventy bridges in the Town of Berne destroyed by the flood. Reference History of the Town of Blenheim 1797-1959 page 39 — “In the spring of 1869, an especially severe freshet washed out a wide channel across the western approach of the covered bridge necessitating the erection of a small wooden extension across the gap. This was replaced by an iron structure in 1895.

1874 — June 11 Disaster-Storm and Flood-Rain and Hail Little brooklets to mighty rivers Great destruc­tion of property and loss of life — Hundreds of acres of rich land swept away. (Note: From the news copy it was a very unusual bad thunder storm with incessant lightening. Storm dam­age was spotty, small streams did more damage than the Schoharie.)

1901 — December 15 A real Flood. The waters of the Schoharie River reached the highest point in 32 years. The highest point reached was only second to the great flood of 1869. About Schoharie village the flats were flooded, the rail road tracks being cov­ered and cellars filled.

At Middleburgh the water spread over the flats on the west side caring off thousands of hop poles. The farm house of H.V. Pinder was surrounded. Along River Street the water filled the road flowing over the Danforth lawn. Many cellars were filled.

Much damaged done at Fultonham, Breakabean and Blenheim.

1902 — March 6 —Another Flood the Schoharie spread over the flats in many places. Damage done by several ice jams. One damaged one of the piers of the Middleburgh Covered Bridge. At Shutters Corners a bridge was car­ried away, also at West Berne on the Foxes Creek. The Mohawk and Hudson Valleys had damage estimated at three million dollars.

October 15, 1903

A Disastrous Flood
Schoharie Valley Becomes a Vast Lake

A flood which eclipsed that of 1869, filled the valley from mountain to mountain at some points, swept with resistless power down the Schoharie valley destroying crops of corn, buck­wheat and hay, carrying away fences, buildings, bridges, dams and hop poles, tearing great furrows through the valu­able lands of the valley, such is the flood of 1903; which came as a result of a tremendous rain storm which began on Thursday, making a record of over 10 inches in 24 hours.

Damage Near Middleburgh

At Middleburg the water rose to within ten inches of the covered bridge, and at one time it was feared it would be carried away. Main street was cov­ered as far as the Baker House, boats being run up that far, The cellars of the hotels and stores were all flooded and the merchants moved their goods to the first floor.

Families on Foundry street were re­moved in boats and carriages. The wa­ter in the creamery was deep.

River street was covered its entire length. The boats plying about made it look like Venice.

The first floors of the old Sanford homestead and the Reformed Church were covered with about a foot of wa­ter. Carpets were ruined, and furniture damaged. The church shed was under­mined.

Friday afternoon Main street was lined with people who watched the rap­idly rising waters with anxious faces.

The H.V. Pinder farm was covered, nearly 50,000 hop poles carried off, the house and barn floors being covered. Mr. Pinder’s family sought safety in the house on the hill. Mr. Pindcr estimates his loss at nearly $6,000.

The poles on the F.R. Hyde, Dow Vroman, and Neville hop yards were carried away. T.J. Engle, A. Almy, Jas. Schaeffer and others also lost more or less poles.

H.S. Manning and a party of men who were baling hops in the hop house were surrounded before they realized it and were removed by team.

The river bank in front of the resi­dence of Trustee T.W. Neville was cut deeply, causing the large trees to fall into the stream.

The lands of J.H. Tator, Mrs. Neville, D. Beckman and others were washed badly, quantities of the soil being carried away.

Near Huntersland, a bridge was car­ried away. Roads in many places were badly cut up.

At Frisbieville the flume of the elec­tric light plant was carried away, and the water reached the floors of the buildings.

The island of Jas. Schaeffer was badly torn and the bank cut away. The loss to the electric light Co., is estimated at $500.00. The small bridge was carried off its abutment, but saved.

Farmers between Middleburgh and Schoharie all suffered more or less loss of crops.

Fulton Flats Under Water

The rich Fulton flats were flooded, and the banks in many places carried off.

Josiah Vroman lost nearly six acres of land. Win. H. Haines and others also had lands cut into.

The families of C.W. Vroman and W.H. Haines were rescued by teams. Warner Bouck lost 2 cows and 4 calves. The barns were generally flooded, and much damage done to crops.

Damage at Breakabeen

At Breakabeen, the road along the river was destroyed in places, and crops carried away. The Foland foundry was also badly damaged.

The road along the rocks which was blasted out and built of rock was car­ried off, but a foot path remaining.

Our local correspondent says:

Considerable damage was done around here by the high water on Friday. The older people say the water was the highest they ever saw it. Along the rocks the road is nearly all washed away. Fred Zeh lost 4 acres of corn. Jas. Zeh lost a quantity of corn and potatoes. Frank Weaver some corn. Abram Keyser’s sheep were carried down stream, and sonic young cattle of Jay Hilts. Mr. Hilts cattle were found near Bouck Island, all alive. The Foundry race was carried away. Great damage was also done to the flats above the village. There was 18 inches of water in the school house. The wood house, which contained 14 cords of wood, was carried away.

At Blenheim

The road along the village of Blenheim was flooded, and considerable damage done to the raceway and flume of the Haverly mill. A barn was carried into the road near the approach to the covered bridge. Farmers suffered loss of crops in that vicinity also.

Havoc at Gilboa

At Gilboa the dam was carried out and the raceway of the grist mill also. The road on the west side of the bridge was destroyed while the houses were many of them flooded. The barn of H.L. Reed was moved from the foun­dations but saved by trees nearby.

Farm crops principally buckwheat and corn were carried off between Gilboa and Blenheim.

At Cobleskill

The Cobleskill Creek was a raging torrent and did considerable damage to the abutments of the bridge at the lower entrance to the village.

Telephone and Telegraph lines were broken in many places and communi­cation greatly interrupted.

In and About Schoharie

Not in the memory of the oldest resi­dent, with the single exception of the flood of Oct. 5, 1869, has the Schoharie river raised such havoc in and about Schoharie as it did on Friday last.

From the village to the base of West Mountain nothing but rushing waters could be seen. Shortly after two o’clock it began to rise at the rate of more than a foot an hour, and reached its highest point at about the midnight hour.

At first no danger to the residences on Bridge St. was dreamed of. But soon those occupied by Harmon VanVal­kenburgh, Austin Shafer and Alexander Weatherwax were surrounded. The water steadily made its way toward Main St. from the end of Bridge street, coming down as far as the residence of Dr. O.A. Snyder on Main St. By this time Bridge street, Knower avenue, and that part of Grand Street at its juncture with Fair street, was submerged.

The overflow from the river crossed the upper part of Main Street swelling the small stream which flows east of the village to immence proportions, filling Spring street, and causing the water to cover a foot of Prospect Street to the depth of two feet or more. In front of the residence of Ira Wilsey the water crossed North Main St. to the depth of four feet and nearly three hundred feet in width.

While no particular damage was done he houses in the submerged section, everything that would float was carried away, while on the flats all in the shape of corn, buckwheat, etc. was taken.

Late in the afternoon Ellsworth Vrooman endeavored to get to the home of Mr. Weatherwax on Bridge St. by wagon but was unable to do so. The water around the house was deeper than on any other street. It was suggested that a raft he made, but the party saw they did not have the time. As the house must he reached immediately, Edwin Deitz, Jerry Wood, Wm. Kelley and several others made their way through k the water, waist deep, about seventy-five feet to the house and carried Mrs. Weatherwax, who is seriously ill, to the second floor. Soon after they left the water rose into the lower story of the dwelling to more than a foot in depth. Mr. Weatherwax had some twenty bar­rels of apples and nineteen hens swept away.

The families of Ira Wilsey and R.V. Spencer were taken from their homes early in the evening without much difficulty. It was long after midnight be­fore Mr. Wilsey got his cow from the barn, and saw that his horse was safe. At about nine o’clock the family of Asaph Schoolcraft was, with much dif­ficulty taken from their home in a wagon, and driven to a place of safety.

The residence of C.P. Vroman, cor­ner of Fair St. and Knower Ave. was surrounded by three feet of water.

Of course, it is impossible to note the damage to each particular case. Prob­ably the heaviest losers of crops were SE. Tennant. Charles Sholtes, Jacob Rickard, Hans Shafer, C.P. Vroman, David Dietz and Peter Cullings, the former three having large crops of corn, and the latter both corn and buckwheat.

The short bridge on the M. & S. R.R. near the depot, was moved from its foundation and was saved from de­struction by being against the water tank.

Several washouts on the Schoharie Valley R.R. were noted, delaying the trains until Monday morning, the pas­sengers on Saturday being carried by wagon and the mails by handcar.

The cast approach to the iron bridge was considerably damaged. At one time it was feared the abutment was dam­aged. hut it turns out to he alright.

Jacob Stifflaer, who resides near Shutters Corners, lost his entire crop of onions, cabbage, corn, etc. which was swept away by the Foxes Creek.

All through the valley to Central Bridge the work of destruction is no­ticed. Every thing in reach of the wild waters was taken.

The High Water at Gallupville

Our regular correspondent write us:

Not since the Fall of 1869 has the village of Gallupville been visited by such a freshet and flood of water as that which occurred the past week. Early Friday morning the water in Foxes creek began to overflow, and the surrounding streams also. At about noon Haverly’s mill dam began to overflow, flooding the lower end of Main St., and filling the cellars of bearly all the residences on that street. Much damage has been done to bridges and roads. On Friday night at 12 o’clock, the large iron bridge across the Foxes creek, went with an awful crash into the stream. The bridge was built a few years ago at a cost of $5,000 to the town. The private road belonging to Gideon V. Griggs, was nearly washed away.

The iron bridge at Shutters Corners is damaged considerably, and the roads at that place are impassable.

The long iron bridge across the Foxes creek on the West Berne road is left on dry land, the creek taking a new course and cornering on the Gallupville side. Many of the small bridges of the town are gone and roads badly damaged.

1938 — September 21 — Bad Flooding — No newspaper reports to copy just my memory. My poultry farm in Gallupville was hit hard. The con­crete bridge built in 1912 on the main road went down when the middle abut­ment gave way. I had a lot of young pullets growing on a range on the west side of the creek just below the bridge. The creek took a new direct course across the range when the main chan­nel became dammed with falling trees (there was a wind storm also). I lost over 300 ready to lay pullets. The land was badly damaged. One building was surrounded by some water but no dam­age.

Water was around the mill on lower Factory Street (site of today’s Town property and park). Not as bad as the flood of 1903. I remember the report that the Cobleskill Fair was flooded out. The cattle had to he moved out of the cattle barns and the fair ended. I don’t know about the Schoharie River basin.