Today in Wheeling History: January 28--The Ohio River crested at 44 feet in Wheeling, creating the city's eleventh largest flood and forcing evacuation of 500 Valley families (1952).
The January 1952 flood struck Wheeling with surprising speed after torrential rains Friday and Saturday, January 26-27, dumped two and a half inches of precipitation across the region. Initially predicted to crest at 47 feet, colder weather and freezing temperatures slowed the rise, bringing the peak to 44 feet by 3 p.m. on Monday, January 28. This mid-winter disaster affected areas unvisited by high water since 1948, forcing mass evacuations from Wheeling Island and South Wheeling neighborhoods. The American Red Cross, led by disaster chairman Andrew R. McClure, mobilized over 200 volunteers who established emergency shelters at Lincoln and Clay schools, plus the Salvation Army facility. A feeding station at St. James Lutheran Church served 500 sandwiches and gallons of coffee to workers and evacuees. Eight amateur radio operators proved invaluable for communications, particularly coordinating aid to Weirton. Eighteen valley industries shut down or curtailed operations, including Wheeling Steel's Steubenville works. Route 2 flooded at eight locations, and the Suspension and Aetnesville bridges closed. When temperatures plunged to 8 degrees on January 29, cleanup efforts were hampered as streets became sheets of ice, creating what News-Register reporter Joe Hoffmann described as "frozen worlds" across the flooded districts.
To learn more: Wheeling News-Register (https://tinyurl.com/8s7d24f) (https://tinyurl.com/594j34bj)
Photo credits: Wheeling News-Register
The January 1952 flood struck Wheeling with surprising speed after torrential rains Friday and Saturday, January 26-27, dumped two and a half inches of precipitation across the region. Initially predicted to crest at 47 feet, colder weather and freezing temperatures slowed the rise, bringing the peak to 44 feet by 3 p.m. on Monday, January 28. This mid-winter disaster affected areas unvisited by high water since 1948, forcing mass evacuations from Wheeling Island and South Wheeling neighborhoods. The American Red Cross, led by disaster chairman Andrew R. McClure, mobilized over 200 volunteers who established emergency shelters at Lincoln and Clay schools, plus the Salvation Army facility. A feeding station at St. James Lutheran Church served 500 sandwiches and gallons of coffee to workers and evacuees. Eight amateur radio operators proved invaluable for communications, particularly coordinating aid to Weirton. Eighteen valley industries shut down or curtailed operations, including Wheeling Steel's Steubenville works. Route 2 flooded at eight locations, and the Suspension and Aetnesville bridges closed. When temperatures plunged to 8 degrees on January 29, cleanup efforts were hampered as streets became sheets of ice, creating what News-Register reporter Joe Hoffmann described as "frozen worlds" across the flooded districts.
To learn more: Wheeling News-Register (https://tinyurl.com/8s7d24f) (https://tinyurl.com/594j34bj)
Photo credits: Wheeling News-Register
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