Putnam in Northeastern Region, Connecticut — The American Northeast (New England)
The Flood of 1955
The rebirth of Putnam
Putnam River Trail
November 8, 2018
1. The Flood of 1955 Marker
Inscription.
The Flood of 1955. The rebirth of Putnam. On August 19 1955, the Quinebaug River, fueled by rain from Hurricane Diana, overflowed its banks and flooded Putnam. Unlike earlier floods of the 1880s and 1930s, the flood of 1955 caused extensive damage. As the river carved a new channel through the town, bridges dams, houses, and mills were destroyed. The flood caused an estimated 6 million dollars of damage. Following the flood, Putnam underwent a time of planning and redevelopment. Planning for the town included the construction of new housing, parks, shopping centers, and roads; and the demolition of damaged neighborhoods and mills. The Putnam Shopping Center and Rotary Park (where you are now standing) were just two of the many redevelopment projects.
On August 19 1955, the Quinebaug River, fueled by rain from
Hurricane Diana, overflowed its banks and flooded Putnam. Unlike earlier
floods of the 1880s and 1930s, the flood of 1955 caused extensive
damage. As the river carved a new channel through the town, bridges
dams, houses, and mills were destroyed. The flood caused an estimated
6 million dollars of damage. Following the flood, Putnam underwent
a time of planning and redevelopment. Planning for the town included
the construction of new housing, parks, shopping centers, and roads;
and the demolition of damaged neighborhoods and mills. The Putnam
Shopping Center and Rotary Park (where you are now standing) were just
two of the many redevelopment projects.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Disasters • Waterways & Vessels. A significant historical year for this entry is 1955.
Location. 41° 55.026′ N, 71° 54.68′ W. Marker is in Putnam in Northeastern Region, Connecticut. It is on Kennedy Drive. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Putnam CT 06260, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Regionally, this marker
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is in Connecticut’s Quiet Corner. It is also in the American Northeast and in New England. Globally, it is in the North Atlantic Region, North America, the Western Hemisphere, the Western World, and the Anglosphere. Historically, it finds itself in what was once Windham County and also one of the original Thirteen Colonies.
Credits. This page was last revised on May 19, 2026. It was originally submitted on November 8, 2018. This page has been viewed 1,119 times since then and 54 times this year. Photo1. submitted on November 8, 2018. • Bill Pfingsten was the editor who published this page.
