In partnership with the Maine Memory Network Maine Memory Network

Historic Hallowell

This is a breadcrumb navigation to take you back to previous pages.Maine Memory Network > Historic Hallowell > News Article by Emily Markham
  • Skip to Navigation
  • Skip to Content
  • Skip to Sidebar Content
  • Skip to Footer
  • Solid Foundations - Lasting Legacies
  • Our Journey Home
  • Protect and Serve - Hallowell Fire and Police
  • Solid Foundations - Hallowell Granite
  • In Sickness and in Health
  • Important Buildings and Institutions
  • Earning Our Keep
  • Disasters - Natural and Man-made
  • Industry on Bombahook
  • Commerce on the Kennebec
  • The Cotton Mill & The Johnson Shoe Company
  • Contact Us

News Article by Emily Markham

DEVASTATING FLOOD OF HALLOWELL
Many people all across Maine and even some parts of New England have heard of the devastating news in Hallowell. The Kennebec River waters have taken over the shore lines and even some houses have been considered ruins in what is now left of the shores of Hallowell. Some bad news has fell upon more Hallowell citizens. On February 20th 1870 the flood waters of the mighty Kennebec river rose six more feet in a half an hour leaving Owners of many wreckage wondering what's next. Two major transportation paths have been swept away in the Kennebec. Hallowell city's train tracks were swept away leaving no train transportation for many people and cargo. The Hallowell-Chelsea bridge was also swept away and destroyed in not time at all. Ice jams of the river had tore walls off riverside buildings leaving out the building that was thrust into Water St.. You can assume that many of the riverside buildings have gotten a beating, including the Store owned by Leigh and Wingate who had lost 300 barrels of flour. That was a big devastation to all, especially people who have bought flour from Leigh and Wingate in the past. Ice harvesters have had a hard time with the flood also. Two nearly build ice shacks have been blown in the river by a gale. The Kennebec waters have flooded the ice field before they could be harvested. The Kennebec River has wrecked $1,000,000 worth of Hallowell all together, and without any effort. This was a very hard time for every one and hopefully the future will bring us better times and technology when the Kennebec decides to devastate us again.


Hallowell Floods

News Article Flood of 1870 by Emily Markham

Flood 1936 Timeline 

Wanted Ad Flood of 1936 

Poem Flood of 1896

Flood 1987 News Flash 

Photo Album - Flood of 1987

Wanted Ad Flood of 1987 

Flood of 1987 Newscast 

Flood 1987 Timeline 

Hallowell Floods Citations





Historic Hallowell
In partnership with the Maine Memory Network    |    Project of Maine Historical Society