Webster Station in Dayton in Montgomery County, Ohio — The American Midwest (Great Lakes)
The Abrupt End of the Canal: The Flood of 1913
| | Patterson Boulevard Canal Parkway | |
Photographed by Craig Doda, May 4, 2024
1. The Abrupt End of the Canal: The Flood of 1913 Marker
Dayton had been subjected to floods many times during the nineteenth century, but none as devastating as the Great Flood of 1913. Heavy snow followed by rains in March of that year caused the flood that led to the loss of over 300 lives and costly damage to properties in Dayton. The Miami Erie Canal was filled with silt and debris, with its locks and the aqueduct, undergoing reconstruction, severely damaged. Although portions of the canal were cleared, the flood had made the canal unusable for transportation. The establishment of the Miami Conservancy District to protect the Miami Valley from flooding was a direct consequence of the 1913 disaster.
[Caption:]
Above: Flood conditions in downtown Dayton on March 26, 1913.
Erected 2017.
Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Disasters • Industry & Commerce • Waterways & Vessels. In addition, it is included in the The Miami & Erie Canal series list. A significant historical year for this entry is 1913.
Location. 39° 45.635′ N, 84° 11.208′ W. Marker is in Dayton, Ohio, in Montgomery County. It is in Webster Station. It is at the intersection of North Patterson Boulevard and East 3rd Street when traveling
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Regionally, this marker is in Ohio’s Miami Valley. It is also in the American Midwest and in the Corn Belt. 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 walking distance of this marker: The Canal after the Flood (here, next to this marker); Planning the Parkway (here, next to this marker); Filling the Canal (here, next to this marker); John Patterson, Toll Collector (here, next to this marker); "What Shall We Do With The Canal?" (here, next to this marker); The Patterson Legacy (here, next to this marker); The Miami Erie Canal / And Patterson Boulevard (here, next to this marker); Miami Erie Canal between Third and Fifth Streets (within shouting distance of this marker). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Dayton.
Photographed by Craig Doda, May 4, 2024
2. The Abrupt End of the Canal: The Flood of 1913 Marker
Credits. This page was last revised on July 26, 2025. It was originally submitted on May 12, 2024, by Craig Doda of Napoleon, Ohio. This page has been viewed 272 times since then and 30 times this year. Last updated on July 26, 2025, by Ian Lefkowitz of New York, New York. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on May 12, 2024, by Craig Doda of Napoleon, Ohio. • Devry Becker Jones was the editor who published this page.
