Local History by Dede Terns-Thorpe - Flood Waters

SEVERE DAMAGE FELT THROUGHOUT MOST OF COUNTY. GOVERNOR HARRIMAN DECLARED GREENE COUNTY A DISASTER AREA.

With all the rain we’ve had lately I thought it was a good time to share parts of a 1955 story found in the Windham Journal.

To summarize, the article said three days of heavy rain swelled rivers and streams and turned into the worst flood conditions experienced in 50 years. At Hunter the state rain gauge showed a total rainfall of 12.3 inches. It said the Schoharie River simply could not take the persistent amount of water coming down and finally overflowed its banks.

According to Windham Journal correspondent D. L. Ingalls, Hunter streets were awash. Flooded cellars were reported through the Mountain Top communities. As soon as the   Schoharie, the Batavia and lesser streams overflowed, cellars and basements were flooded.

It said roads were blocked from Lexington to Hunter and Prattville; also, from Westkill to Shandaken. It noted that damage to the Westkill Tavern included damage to their bowling alley. 

Little Westkill valley suffered severe damage when the overflowing waters covered their farmland with stones and debris. At the Waller farm, it separated the house and barn. At the Truesdell farm, a hen house together with about 65 pullets (baby chicks) and several smaller buildings were washed away.

Farmlands were damaged when the heavy flood water washed away topsoil and cut new channels through the fields.

“Margaret Deyo, chief operator at the Windham office, although on vacation, worked 10 hours a day to help on the switchboard, besides calling in extra help to relieve the pressure of calls due to the flooded conditions.”

It said the Willliam O’Brien family on the Colgate estate was completely cut off by flood waters.

Sadly, it resembles the flood waters of Irene back in 2011. With much damage to the surrounding hamlets and villages, it was a sad time for many Mountain Top residents.

Take care, stay safe, and thanks for reading.

Stay warm!

Dede Terns-Thorpe-Hunterhistorian@gmail.com