History of the 1913 Flood in Miamisburg

History of the 1913 Flood in Miamisburg. . , In the spring of 1913, Miamisburg, Ohio, was a picturesque town nestled along the banks of the Great Miami River. The townsfolk were accustomed to the river's gentle ebb and flow, but nothing could prepare them for the devastating flood that was about to change their lives forever. It began innocently enough, with heavy rains falling steadily for days. The river swelled, creeping closer and closer to the town's edge. The residents watched nervously as the water rose, but they never imagined the extent of the disaster that awaited them., On March 25, 1913, the river burst its banks, unleashing a torrent of water that engulfed the town. Buildings were swept away, bridges collapsed, and homes were torn from their foundations. The streets were transformed into raging rivers, and the once bustling town was reduced to a sea of destruction., Amidst the chaos, the people of Miamisburg banded together, helping their neighbors evacuate to higher ground. Families huddled together, clinging to whatever belongings they could salvage. The floodwaters showed no mercy, sparing nothing in their path. As the waters began to recede, the true extent of the damage became apparent. Entire neighborhoods lay in ruins, and the once vibrant town was now a scene of desolation. But amidst the rubble, there was hope. The people of Miamisburg were resilient, and they vowed to rebuild their town stronger than ever before., In the months and years that followed, Miamisburg rose from the ashes of the flood. Homes were rebuilt, businesses reopened, and the town began to thrive once more. The flood of 1913 would never be forgotten, but it had also shown the strength and resilience of the people of Miamisburg, who had come together in their darkest hour to rebuild their community., In 1914, the Ohio General Assembly passed the Conservancy Act of Ohio, leading to the establishment of the Miami Conservancy District (MCD) in 1915. To ensure that no flood as devastating happened again, the MCD built and maintains flood control works in the Miami Valley, including the Germantown, Englewood, Lockington, Taylorsville, and Huffman earthen dams. Protections for Miamisburg include levees and walls along the Great Miami River and its tributaries. Riverfront Park, on land inundated by the 1913 flood, is where people enjoy the Great Miami and trust that it will stay its course to the Ohio River., Now, over 100 years later, many buildings along Main Street are still standing including the Baum Opera House, Market Square Building, the Silberman building, and many other buildings and houses. Throughout downtown plaques marking the 1913 flood level can be seen on the walls of buildings to provide a glimpse into the impact of how high the flood waters actually were in 1913., The Hamburger Wagon. As Miamisburg was virtually under water, the Red Cross set up a tent city for the refugees at the top of Mound Hill. Sherman "Cocky" Porter, a Miamisburg resident, volunteered to help provide food for the flood victims and relief workers. As the cold March winds blew through the camp, Porter knew that whatever food was to be provided needed to be warm, nutritious and readily available in large quantities. Porter had just the right answer. Utilizing a favorite family recipe, Porter began serving up hot, tasty hamburgers to everyone in the camp for many days. These sandwiches were a huge hit and were extremely popular throughout the community., As time went by, the floodwaters receded, the tent city closed, and life in Miamisburg returned to normal. However, something was missing! Miamisburg residents loved the little "Porter Burgers" so much that nary a day went by without a request to Porter to cook up a few more of his burgers. With demand swelling, Sherman Porter finally agreed to start selling his secret recipe burgers on Saturdays. The burgers were so popular it soon became a full time endeavor and these tasty treats have been a Miamisburg institution ever since.