Floods and canal repairs

The image shows the Potomac and the Conococheague flood in January 1897. The aqueduct is visible. The scene also shows the coal boats by the tracks near Cushwa Warehouse, the timber stacked up next to the lumber warehouse, later J. Arthur Miller’s Planing and Sash Factory, and the stack of the power station on the right. The electricity was generated to provide fuel for the trolley line from Hagerstown to Williamsport. There was no major connection between the power plant and the canal, though today that building is used by the National Park Service as part of their exhibition space.

6/3/1889
Box cars on the WM siding from Cushwa Warehouse to the Steffey and Findlay Siding toward the lock at Williamsport
Note the boats in the canal and the drive bridge. This ground is all west of the cemetery.

Hagerstown Mail

Hagerstown, MD Nov 30, 1877

Great Flood       

The Potomac, Antietam and Conococheague higher than ever before known

Widespread Damage and Long Continued Rain.

Details of Ravages in our County.

Another break in the canal

We understand that a culvert on the Chesapeake and Ohio Canal, near the Point of Rocks, gave way on Monday night last, which, it is thought, cannot be repaired under three weeks. Forty-two boats, all heavily laden with Flour and Produce, are lying at this point unable to pass. This is sad information for the people of Washington County.

High Waters.

Men and mules were used to repair the canal at Big Pool during the late 19th and early 20th century. The mules are dragging a sled full of dirt.

Men and mules used to level and move dirt during the repairs at Big Pool. In the background you can see the footbridge that spans over the canal prism. Underneath the foot bridge would have been a pivot bridge and stop gate. A stop gate was used when there was a break in a portion of the canal that threatened the loss of water throughout a level. The stop gate would be used to stop the loss of water on a canal level that was exceedingly long or in the case of Big Pool, large.

It is probable that this image of the drained canal at Williamsport was taken after the wall of the aqueduct over the Conococheague failed in 1920. There are a large number of people walking along the tow path, possibly on their way to see the destruction. The photograph was taken before the rail lift bridge over the canal was built in 1923.

The Chair Factory after the 1889 flood.

The DeFrehn Chair Factory made multiple wooden chair styles and was located on the berm side of the canal above the Conococheague Aqueduct in Williamsport. The factory paid the canal for water rents in order to power the machines used to create the chairs. In 1889, a flood destroyed the factory along with a good portion of the canal. The cost to rebuild and recover from the flood was too expensive and the owners decided to move the operation to Johnstown, PA then Hornerstown, PA.

During the 1936 flood a portion of Dam 4 was damaged. This photograph shows the extensive work that went into the repair of the flood damage.