Forsyth, MT

Forsyth, MT. June, 16 1918. In 1918 the city of Forsyth was flooded for 2 1/2 weeks by the rising waters of the Yellowstone River. , The waters rushed into the west end of Forsyth, flooding the entire town north of the Northern Pacific Railroad tracks. As the flood waters peaked, the most reliable transportation was vis shallow draft Jon boats because automobiles became bogged down in mud, and water disabled the engines. , In an era before antibiotics and other medications, residents feared dreaded diseases such as malaria, cholera, typhoid, and dysentery. In the coming autumn and winter, (1918-1919) Forsyth would lose may citizens to the Spanish flu, a pandemic which has spread worldwide. , These two catastrophes were the main motivators for the construction of the first public hospital in Forsyth within the next five years. The hospital was state-of-the-art for its time and no expense was spared, though by then the economy had turned and times were hard. , Even in the face of disaster, children found a way to entertain themselves and had a great old time in a precariously overloaded Jon boat in front of the Andrew and Ellen Thurston home. The Thurston home, on the corner of 14th and River Street, only suffered a flooded basement.