Ellsworth in Hancock County, Maine — The American Northeast (New England)
The Flood of 1923
Ellsworth, Maine
| — | The Museum in the Streets | — |
Photographed by Darren Jefferson Clay, October 17, 2024
1. The Flood of 1923 Marker
The "Freshet" of April 1923 caused serious and costly damage to downtown Ellsworth. Water levels rose dramatically in the lakes created by the 1907 dam, due to snow melt and torrential rain.
Upriver Brimmer's Bridge dam broke through, as did a sawmill's wing dam, sending timber and fast-moving water downstream. The rising water carried off buildings near the river, including the Farmer's Union Storehouse that lifted the steel bridge off its foundation. Up to a quarter million board feet of saw logs and thousands of cords of pulp and stave wood were propelled downstream, as well as a huge boat shed housing three yachts, a sloop and a tugboat.
La crue des eaux D'Avril 1923 causa des dégâts considérables et particulièrement coûteux au centre-ville d'Ellsworth. La fonte des neiges suivie de pluies torrentielles augmenta le niveau d'eau de façon dramatique dans les lacs créés par le barrage de 1907.
Le pont Brimmer en amont se rompit ainsi que l'aile du barrage d'une scierie, entraînant un déluge de bois et d'eau en aval. La montée des eaux emporta des bâtiments situés près des berges, dont l'entrepôt de la Farmer's Union qui souleva le pont en acier hors de son socle.
Près de 85 000 mètres cubes de bois à scier, des milliers de cordes de bois à pulpe et de douelles de tonneau furent emportés ainsi qu'un immense
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Erected by The Museum in the Streets. (Marker Number 6.)
Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Disasters.
Location. 44° 32.441′ N, 68° 25.57′ W. Marker is in Ellsworth, Maine, in Hancock County. It is at the intersection of Main Street and Grant Street, on the right when traveling north on Main Street. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 29 Main St, Ellsworth ME 04605, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Regionally, this marker is in Downeast Maine. It is also in the American Northeast and in New England. Globally, it is in the North Atlantic Region, North America, the Great North Woods, the Western Hemisphere, the Western World, and the Anglosphere. Historically, it finds itself in what was once the Viceroyalty of New France and also Acadia.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Fire of 1933 (about 500 feet away, measured in a direct line); Ellsworth Public Library and Peters Block (about 600 feet away); Welcome to Ellsworth (about 800 feet away); City Hall and The First Congregational Church (approx. 0.2 miles away); County Courthouse and Jail (approx. 0.2 miles away); Women in Business (approx. 0.2 miles away); Civil War Memorial (approx. 0.2 miles away); Main Street (approx. ¼ mile away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Ellsworth.
Photographed by Darren Jefferson Clay, October 17, 2024
2. The Flood of 1923 Marker
Credits. This page was last revised on November 8, 2024. It was originally submitted on November 2, 2024, by Darren Jefferson Clay of Duluth, Georgia. This page has been viewed 166 times since then and 15 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on November 2, 2024, by Darren Jefferson Clay of Duluth, Georgia. • Michael Herrick was the editor who published this page.
