Today in Wheeling History: April 15--The Ohio River at Wheeling reached a flood stage of 44.2 feet, causing widespread damage, disruption, and evacuations throughout the Ohio Valley region (1948).
In April 1948, the Ohio River experienced a significant flood that caused widespread damage and disruption in the Wheeling, West Virginia area. On April 15, the river reached a flood stage of 44.2 feet, forcing hundreds of families to evacuate their homes and move to higher ground. Large areas of Wheeling Island and South Wheeling had flooded streets, with water covering Market Street from 35th to nearly 22nd Street, Water Street from 12th to 48th Streets, Eoff Street from 48th to 33rd Streets, and Wood Street from 45th to 36th Streets. On Wheeling Island, the entire area south of Ohio Street was under water, with South Broadway open only between Ohio and Virginia Streets. Zane Street, the connecting link between Ohio and West Virginia, was covered by high water during the night.
Mayor Cal G. Bachmann declared a state of emergency in the city of Wheeling, calling upon all governmental and administrative bodies to coordinate their activities with the Wheeling-Ohio County Chapter of the American Red Cross in flood relief work. Chief of Police Robert Kennedy announced that his men, along with the National Guard, were handling traffic in the affected areas. Fire Chief William McFadden ordered the setup of all portable firefighting equipment, including the city's fire boat stationed on Wheeling Island. Dr. John Gilmore, Commissioner of the Wheeling-Ohio County Health Department, required all food establishments to be inspected before reopening after the water receded. Transportation was severely impacted, with many streets, highways, and bridges closed due to high water levels, including Route 7 at West Wheeling on the Ohio side, Route 40 at Brookside, and several points above Martins Ferry.
Major Noel Ellis, commandant of The Salvation Army, opened their facilities at 3329 Eoff Street to those made homeless by the flood and had crews working to move furniture for affected families. The flood, described as the most erratic in the valley's history, attracted thousands of spectators and created a mounting sense of uneasiness among residents and business owners as the water continued to rise.
To learn more: (https://tinyurl.com/yrczmsuv) (https://tinyurl.com/mt4k6vvc)
Photo credits: Wheeling Intelligencer
In April 1948, the Ohio River experienced a significant flood that caused widespread damage and disruption in the Wheeling, West Virginia area. On April 15, the river reached a flood stage of 44.2 feet, forcing hundreds of families to evacuate their homes and move to higher ground. Large areas of Wheeling Island and South Wheeling had flooded streets, with water covering Market Street from 35th to nearly 22nd Street, Water Street from 12th to 48th Streets, Eoff Street from 48th to 33rd Streets, and Wood Street from 45th to 36th Streets. On Wheeling Island, the entire area south of Ohio Street was under water, with South Broadway open only between Ohio and Virginia Streets. Zane Street, the connecting link between Ohio and West Virginia, was covered by high water during the night.
Mayor Cal G. Bachmann declared a state of emergency in the city of Wheeling, calling upon all governmental and administrative bodies to coordinate their activities with the Wheeling-Ohio County Chapter of the American Red Cross in flood relief work. Chief of Police Robert Kennedy announced that his men, along with the National Guard, were handling traffic in the affected areas. Fire Chief William McFadden ordered the setup of all portable firefighting equipment, including the city's fire boat stationed on Wheeling Island. Dr. John Gilmore, Commissioner of the Wheeling-Ohio County Health Department, required all food establishments to be inspected before reopening after the water receded. Transportation was severely impacted, with many streets, highways, and bridges closed due to high water levels, including Route 7 at West Wheeling on the Ohio side, Route 40 at Brookside, and several points above Martins Ferry.
Major Noel Ellis, commandant of The Salvation Army, opened their facilities at 3329 Eoff Street to those made homeless by the flood and had crews working to move furniture for affected families. The flood, described as the most erratic in the valley's history, attracted thousands of spectators and created a mounting sense of uneasiness among residents and business owners as the water continued to rise.
To learn more: (https://tinyurl.com/yrczmsuv) (https://tinyurl.com/mt4k6vvc)
Photo credits: Wheeling Intelligencer
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