Yacht Point Cottage Area in Ashland County, Ohio — The American Midwest (Great Lakes)

The Flood of 1913

Ohio's Worst Natural Disaster

Photographed by Craig Doda, April 5, 2025

1. The Flood of 1913 Marker

Inscription. In late March of 1913, a large rain event moved over Ohio bringing high wind and rain...lots of rain. Some reports show up to 11 inches fell during a span of only a few days. From Cleveland, to Columbus, to Cincinnati, the state of Ohio was under water. Nearly 500 lives were lost and $300 million dollars in damage was done. In today's dollars, that would be damages estimated at nearly $7.5 billion dollars.

Why is this important?
In 1914, following the Flood of 1913, lawmakers passed the Vonderheide Act, also known as the Ohio Conservancy Law. This law allowed for the establishment of watershed districts and was the first step in an effort to prevent epic flooding from happening again in Ohio.

In 1933, the Muskingum Watershed Conservancy District (MWCD) was created. Between 1933 and 1938, MWCD contracted the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) to build 14 dams. In 1939, the USACE assumed responsibility for operation of all 14 dams and continues to operate them today; meanwhile MWCD operates recreation facilities upstream of the dams.

Erected by US Army Corps of Engineers.

Topics. This historical marker is

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listed in this topic list: Disasters. A significant historical month for this entry is March 1913.

Location. 40° 44.387′ N, 82° 21.475′ W. Marker is in Yacht Point Cottage Area, Ohio, in Ashland County. It is on Ohio Route 603 0.3 miles north of County Route 2256, on the right when traveling south. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 2203 OH-603, Lucas OH 44843, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in Amish Country.

It is also in the American Midwest.

Globally, it is in North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once the Haudenosaunee (Iroquois) Confederacy,

the territory of the Mississippian Culture,

and the Northwest Territory.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 4 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: Charles Mill Dam (here, next to this marker); Frontier Violence During the War of 1812 (about 700 feet away, measured in a direct line); a different marker also named Charles Mill Dam (approx. ¼ mile away); Site of Copus Massacre Monument (approx. half a mile away);

Photographed by Craig Doda, April 5, 2025

2. The Flood of 1913 Marker

"The Copus Massacre" (approx. 0.8 miles away); Copus Massacre Monument (approx. 0.8 miles away); Historic Mifflin (approx. 2.4 miles away); Greentown Delaware Village (approx. 3.3 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Yacht Point Cottage Area.

Credits. This page was last revised on April 18, 2025. It was originally submitted on April 12, 2025, by Craig Doda of Napoleon, Ohio. This page has been viewed 271 times since then and 29 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on April 12, 2025, by Craig Doda of Napoleon, Ohio. • Andrew Ruppenstein was the editor who published this page.