Items

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  Flood destruction on Washington Street

  A home flipped onto its side by the flood waters. On the right side of the photograph is a home that sustained less serious damage, and a pile of flood debris. On the back of the photograph is a handwritten account of one family's experience, possibly the family that lived in one of these homes. Mr. and Mrs. Patterson, African-Americans, sought refuge in their attic, where they broke open a hole in the wall for air (possibly the damage seen in the photograph). As the waters continued to rise, they crawled to the roof, where they remained until Thursday morning. They were rescued by the Sisters of Notre Dame, a religious order who taught school in Dayton. The Pattersons were Catholic, and had a daughter, Sister Martina, who was a member of an order of African American nuns in Baltimore, Maryland. [From back of photograph] Washington Street. Got to attic -- broke open side for air. Crawled to roof till Thu. a.m. Rescued by N.D. [Notre Dame] Sisters. Mr + Mrs Patterson. Mrs Robinson. Cath[olic] have a daughter. Colored nun, Sr. Martina, Balto. [Baltimore]. Boat to door, Mrs. Patterson fell at [illegible]. N.D. felt frozen.
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  Flood debris on Monument Avenue

  Debris from the flood in the front lawns of homes on Monument Avenue in Dayton.
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  Flood debris on Dayton street (front)

  Postcard showing flood debris on the street outside Notre Dame Academy, located at the corner of Franklin and Ludlow Streets. Historical note: Fourteen years after the flood, in 1927, the Society of Mary purchased the Notre Dame Academy site and started Dayton Catholic School, renaming it Chaminade High School for the order's co-founder, William Joseph Chaminade. It became Chaminade Julienne Catholic High School in 1973.
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  Flood damage in a Dayton neighborhood

  Receding flood waters in a residential area of Dayton. On the left side are piles of debris from the flood waters, and a home in the center has been heavily damaged and pushed off of its foundation by the flooding. Exposed foundations from two destroyed homes can be seen in the bottom right corner.
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  Flood damaged houses and drowned horses

  Postcard depicting houses on Main Street and Washington Street that show significant flood damage and large piles of wreckage. Debris in the trees shows the heights floodwaters reached. Along the street are the bodies of horses that drowned in the flood. Transcript on back reads 'Pub. By The Acmegraph Co., Chicago' Main & Washington Sts., showing dead horses, Dayton, O.
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  Fire ravaged buildings on Third and St. Clair Streets

  Postcard depicting buildings at the corner of Third Street and St. Clair Street in downtown Dayton that were completely destroyed by the fires that occurred during the flood. Transcript of back reads 'Pub. By The Acmegraph Co., Chicago' Corner Third & St. Clair Sts., Dayton, O.
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  Fire fighters climbing telephone poles during flood

  Postcard showing Dayton fire fighters climbing telephone poles to reach fires isolated by high flood waters. The floodwaters caused gas leaks that in turn led to large fires; the high waters made it nearly impossible for the fire department to fight the fires. Transcript of back reads 'Kraemer Art Cincinnati Postcard' Wire Climbing, Fire Fighters, the only Means of Help during Fire in Cottage Homes during Dayton, O., Flood on account of Swift Currents, March 1913.
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  Department store after the flood waters receded

  Inside a department store in downtown Dayton after the flood waters receded. The floor is covered with mud carried by the flood, racks of clothing have fallen from the walls, and tables are covered with damaged goods.
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  Department store after the flood waters receded

  Inside a department store in downtown Dayton after the flood waters receded. The floor is covered with mud carried by the flood, and display cases have been heavily damaged. On the right side of the photograph, the height that flood waters reached can be seen on the wall.
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  Dayton residents rescued by boat from flood waters

  Four Dayton residents are being escorted to safety in a boat provided by National Cash Register, as a group of onlookers watches from higher ground.
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  Dayton residents cleaning debris after flood waters recede

  A car carrying officials in charge of the clean-up efforts drives down a damaged street in residential Dayton. On the left men can be seen piling flood-damaged furniture for disposal. A utility pole has been damaged by the flooding in the center of the image. On the right side of the street, men are shoveling debris off of the street.
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  Damaged buildings and flood waters at South Park Street Bridge

  Postcard depicting the damage to several buildings near the South Park Street Bridge and Main Street. High waters can still be seen. Transcript on back reads 'Pub. By The Acmegraph Co., Chicago' South Park St. Bridge and Main St., Dayton, O. The address painted on the side of the multi-story building in the center right of the image is 4 W. 2nd St. The business name shown is Joseph N. Boesch, Keen Kleener. An additional sign advertises "Fine Tailoring." The floodwaters deposited the second story of a Dayton home in the adjacent lot.
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  Curfew notice following Dayton flood

  Postcard shows a notice posted alerting Dayton residents to a curfew enacted following the flood. The sign reads: 'To the Citizens of Dayton: CURFEW will be sounded at 6:00 p.m. by the church bells. All citizens must keep off the streets from that time until 5:00 a.m. Geo. H. Wood, Brig.-Gen. Com.' A second posting reads that 'Citizens wishing to reach relatives in Detroit apply at Detroit Information Bureau N.C.R.' Transcript on back reads 'Pub. By The Acmegraph Co., Chicago' Curfew Notice, Dayton, O.
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  Cleanup begins on Third Street

  The businesses on Third Street in Dayton were badly damaged by the flood; waters in this area reached nine feet in depth. This photograph shows the cleanup efforts at the intersection of Third Street and Jefferson Street. The Fourth National Bank is in the center of the photographs. The buildings past the Fourth National Bank to the east were destroyed by fires. The building on the left housed the American Express Company, the Western Union Telegraph Company, C.R. Kalter's Drugstore, and the First Savings and Banking Company of Dayton. The First Savings and Banking Company experienced significant damage to their facilities, but proudly reported that 'all currencies and securities inside their safe were found as crisp and dry after the flood as when they were put into the safe,' making them the only bank in Dayton with paper money surviving the flood.
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  Burned out buildings near Third Street and Broadway

  Postcard of the remains of buildings destroyed in the fires that followed the flood near the intersection of Third Street and Broadway in Downtown Dayton. Transcript on back reads 'Pub. By The Acmegraph Co., Chicago' Near Third St. & Broadway, Dayton, O.
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  Buildings destroyed by fire on West Third Street

  Postcard depicting buildings at 625 West Third Street in Dayton destroyed and damaged by the fires that consumed parts of the city following the flood. Transcript of back of card states 'Pub. By The Acmegraph Co., Chicago' 625 W. Third St., showing Fire; Dayton, O.
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  Building destroyed in 1913 flood on South Main Street

  Postcard showing a building on South Main Street between Fourth and Fifth Streets that was almost completely destroyed by the floodwaters and fires. On the left side is Traxler's Department Store, and on the right side is Harvey's Tiger Hats Store. Transcript of back reads 'Pub. By The Acmegraph Co., Chicago' Main St. between Fourth & Fifth, Dayton, O.
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  Building destroyed in 1913 flood and ensuing fires on South Main Street

  Spectators look at the ruins of a building on South Main Street in Dayton that was destroyed by the flood waters and ensuing fires. On the left side of the image is Traxler's Department Store. Harvey's Tiger Hat Store is on the right side of the image.
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  Brother Gorman & unknown man in front of St. Mary's Hall during flood (front)

  Brother Edward Gorman, a Marianist, was involved in organizing the refugee efforts at St. Mary's Institute (now the University of Dayton). Here he is pictured on a postcard at the time of the flood with an unidentified man in front of St. Mary's Hall.