Local History: Dams Carried Away and Buildings Destroyed

Dams Carried Away and Buildings Destroyed reads the New York Times headline. Another headline announces, “Big Floods in New-Jersey.”

While it reads like last week or last month’s news, this is a report from July 31, 1889, when a heavy downpour, described as “the most disastrous storm that has ever visited this vicinity” washed through the region. Newark was hard hit, with sewers that burst under pressure of water. Factories ceased work as their cellars and lower floors filled with water.

South Orange was even harder hit, with buildings – including the Post Office – washed away completely. 250 barrels of flour stored on the upper floor of a warehouse on South Orange Avenue were swept out the windows.

Orange Valley’s hat factories were flooded and people reportedly swam out of second floor windows, and paddled to safety on planks of wood. Millburn, however, suffered the greatest damage. The Orange water reservoir – which may be what we now call the East Orange Water Reserve in Millburn and Florham Park – “was not regarded as safe.” Inhabitants moved to higher ground, though it wasn’t easy: “Nearly every road in the county is impassable, as all the bridges have been washed away.”

Flood damage then cost the county some $100,000 and impeded business and transit for weeks. But no lives are reported as lost, and even the commuters were cared for. Passengers delayed or stranded on trains mired in flood waters were fed. According to the New York Times, “they lunched on onions, crackers and cheese.”

Part II will look at a historic Rahway River flood.