Floods--Maryland

The Hancock News

Hancock, MD 21750
Volume 98, Number 11

The 1936 Flood: Oceans of Water

(from The Hancock News, March 20,1936)

Hancock visited by the worst deluge in its history. West Main St., covered by 25 feet of water. Span of Potomac River Bridge washed out. Damage to Hancock real estate and personal property will run up into thousands of dollars. Some homes washed entirely away. Many autoists marooned here.

OAKLAND ONLY SLIGHTLY TOUCHED BY FLOOD WATER

Garrett County Lowlands Covered, But Not Much Damage Reported—Snow Covers Earth

TRAIN SERVICE HAMPERED

With flood waters covering more than fifteen states of the East, Garrett county was only slightly touched, although the streams and rivers did overflow their banks and threatened considerable damage for a time.

Lonaconing Clean-up Halted by WPA Strike

Demand Town Rate of 40 cents an hour instead of WPA Rate of Pay.

Lonaconing March 23. Clearing up flood debris and repair work was practically at a standstill today following the strike of Works Progress Administration laborers. They are paid 23 1/3 cents an hour, under the WPA security wage ruling, but demand 40 cents the same as paid a few laborers by the Mayor and City Council of Lonaconing.

SPANS SWEPT AWAY BY SURGING WATER; SECTIONS HARD HIT

Hancock and Shepherdstown Bridges Are Wrecked— Williamsport Section Suffers Heavy Damage in Record Flood

WILLIAMSPORT—The Potomac river was believed to have reached its peak at midnight after rising to a new high of 49.6 feet above normal or four feet above the Johnstown flood stage in 1889. Town in darkness. Scores of families were homeless and the Red Cross and Salvation Army set up temporary rehabilitation headquarters. Hagerstown pumping station above Williamsport believed flooded.

The newspaper printed in Hagerstown three days after the March 17 1936 flood.

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The newspaper printed in Hagerstown two days after the March 17 1936 flood.

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The newspaper printed in Hagerstown on March 19, after the March 17 1936 flood.

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The newspaper printed in Hagerstown one day after the March 17 1936 flood.

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CONFERENCE ON RELIEF, FLOOD CONTROL TODAY

Forty-six million already raised through WPA Funds and American Red Cross

WANT DRY PERIOD

Representatives and senators from 12 stricken states to be in attendance.

Washington, March 23

905 WPA WORKERS IN STATE FLOOD AREAS

Five Hundred In Cumberland; Conference Tomorrow For Further Use of WPA.

Baltimore. March-23 A-total of 905 WPA workers are engaged in clearing away the mud and debris of last week's floods, Major Harry D. Williar, Jr., deputy state administrator for the WPA, reported today.

"We expect the clean-up work to be through in a few days,” Major Williar said.