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The Flood of 1938
Story by Bette Reynolds On a sunny, windy, 40 degree afternoon in February, Janet Barber Pool and I look over original snapshots of the effects of the 1938 hurricane flood. She reminisces of her experiences with the natural disaster in Wilmington. As we gaze out of her window onto the sunlit slopes of Mount Haystack from her cozy living room, she remembers clearly the events of sixty years ago that occurred on Wednesday, September 21, 1938. Her husband William walked back to the Grand Union, where he was employed, to retrieve the cashbox of the day's transactions. The flood waters had risen to such a level that he was forced to utilize a ropetow to wade back to their home, which at the time was on higher ground on East Main Street near the Congregational Church.
Janet's sister Muriel Barber was a schoolteacher who taught grades 1 through 8 in a one-room schoolhouse in Wilmington. School was let out early that day because of the flood. Phone lines were down, the baseball field was flooded and the grandstand floated away. The water main burst under the West Main Street bridge. Janet was working at her father, Merton Barber's, insurance company. Her father lived in Montpelier. She also left work early and went home to offer her relatives a place to stay while their own homes were filling up with water.
Residents looking out of their windows or safely standing on porches out of the flood's harm were entertained by floating debris and household furniture and appliances making their way past the houses. Merton Barber's trophy-mounted deer heads with full antler racks also drifted aimlessly through the muddy waters.
Most inhabitants of the town drove a horse and buggy. Few possessed an automobile.
Also cancelled that year was the Deerfield Valley Farmers day, which in 1938 was held for one day and scheduled on the day of the disaster.
Today, to commemorate the occasion, the high water mark of six feet may be seen on the police station building at the corner of East and North Main streets. Modern day Wilmington has a multitude of fun things to do in summer. Check out our Calendar of Events for the Mount Snow Valley region, especially the Fourth of July festivities. While enjoying the clean, clear, cool mountain air, stop and sample everything from picking up that perfect gift from one of the many fine shops, to sampling informal to elegant dining at one of the many exquisite country inns and restaurants in downtown Wilmington. There are also lounges and a local brewery in the historic district established in 1751.
To assist you in getting around town, park your car in one of the free parking lots and take the free local bus named the MOO-VER due to its distinctively Holstein cow paintjob. Don't forget to take a scenic cruise on the Mt. Mills cruise ship on Lake Whitingham, the largest lake whose territory lies completely in Vermont. It is also known as the Harriman Reservoir. Mt. Mills also offers canoes with or without electric motors, kayak, sailboats, and surfbike rentals. There are also art galleries, museums, Memorial Hall (the local historical society), flea markets, weekend craft shows, hiking, mountain biking, antiquing, a local petting farm, golf, fishing, rollerblading, horseback riding, farmers' markets, and the scenic and vibrant community itself with its friendly inhabitants. Come check it out! For more information on the Wilmington/Mount Snow area, check out the MT Snow/Wilmington Chamber of Commerce website or give them a call at 802-464-8092. |
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