March

Two moisture-laden low pressure systems moved up the Ohio River Valley during the latter part of March, 1913. Rain began falling on Easter, the 23rd, and rain fell in substantial quantities from that date through the 27th. Totals of between 7 and 8 inches were common throughout the Buckeye State. Among the greatest rainfall amounts officially reported were: 11.16 inches at Bellefontaine (Logan County); 10.61 inches at Marion (Marion County); 10:56 inches at Bangorville (Richland County) and 10.15 inches at Wooster (Wayne County).

The unrelenting heavy rains resulted in widespread and extreme flooding across much of Ohio. The Miami, Muskingum and Scioto rivers went to record stages. Trains were forced to cease operations in many areas due to flooded tracks (see photos below) or washed out bridges. Youngstown (Mahoning County) was without drinking water for several days beginning with the morning of the 25th, as the pumping station was under six feet of water. Creston (Wayne County) had no gas for a number of days, also beginning with the 25th.

In Ashland County, $100,000 in damages was done just to bridges alone by the 25th as 15 bridges there had already been swept away by the flood waters. Mail service in many areas came to a halt. In Akron (Summit County), 40 homes were washed away by flood waters, while Zanesville (Muskingum County) had 540 homes washed away.

Dayton (Montgomery County) was the hardest hit city in the state. Much of Dayton's flood problems could be blamed upon the failure of the Loramie Reservoir in Shelby County on the morning of the 25th. This added millions of gallons of water to the already flood swollen Miami River. South of Dayton, the Miami River swelled to over one mile in width. Except for the highest sections, North Dayton found itself entirely under water. Indeed, when night came on the 25h, most of Dayton, except for the highest points and outlying areas, was beneath flood waters of 6 to 10 feet, and downtown Main Street lay beneath 20 feet of water.

Thousands of people were stranded in the upper floors of tall office buildings and houses. Fires also broke out in some parts of the flooded area, and there was no way to reach them to put them out. Hundreds of people died in Ohio due to the flood, and millions of dollars damage was done.

On the lighter side, a large salmon was later caught floating in the cellar of the First National Bank in Wooster (Wayne County).

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