History is full of calamitous events. Some of these events are caused by nature; others are caused by human actions. The flood that destroyed much of Johnstown, Pennsylvania, in 1889 was caused by a combination of nature’s fury and human failure.
The South Fork Dam, located 14 miles above Johnstown, was built in the early 1800s to block the Conemaugh River for
a reservoir. A judicious plan for the maintenance of the enormous earth-filled dam was never formulated. The dam
began to weaken even before the reservoir was full. Repairs were inadequate.
In 1879, a developer purchased the dam, the lake, and the surrounding land. The property was turned into the South Fork Fishing and Hunting Club, a private resort for the wealthy. Little attention was given to the worsening condition of the dam.
In the spring of 1889, extremely heavy snows and rains put an enormous strain on the dam. The club’s managing engineers spotted problems, but their belated attempt to shore up the dam failed. At 3:10 on the afternoon of May 31, the dam gave way with a thunderous roar. Tons of water swept down the valley into Johnstown in a towering, unstoppable wave. As the flood roared through the town, debris and bodies piled up at the Stoneycreek Bridge. Railcars filled with chemicals ignited, and a terrible fire ensued.
Despite the gallantry of hundreds of horrified volunteers who tried to pull victims from the water, 2,209 people died. Clara Barton herself led the relief work of a team from the American Red Cross. It took five years for the stunned survivors to rebuild their city and their lives.