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floods |
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In recent times, we have seen some high water, as shown by this June 2014 video. But nothing like those seen in the past. Read on to learn about some of the flooding that we used to experience, beginning with the floods of 1858 that sent almost all of the pioneers of "Table Rock City" to other places.
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the nemaha river
1857 - flood impedes a sale of the town
Table Rock’s town site was selected and partially laid out in 1855. That was the “Table Rock Town Company,” owned by James Hinton, John Fleming, and Robert Furnas (who was to become the second governor of the state).
In 1857, C. W. Giddings of the Nebraska Settlement Company saw what he liked and struck a bargain to buy the Town Company out for $1,500. The Nemaha River rose the morning of the intended exchange, leaving the parties on opposite sides of the river. Who was more motivated, the buy or the seller? The buyer. The Settlement Company’s treasurer braved the raging water to finalize the deal.
Later that year, the first of the Settlement Company’s many families joined the few existing families. Many of the new families settled along the banks of the Nemaha, as well as Taylor Branch and Clear Creek. It probably seemed safe. The Nemaha here was once described, before it was straightened, as the “staid old Nemaha, which usually is as placid as an old maid with a fellow.” However, the old maid had a dark side. The Nemaha flooded the next year, creating not only destruction but death. The aftermath of the receding flood waters was disease, and many became critically ill and many died. Table Rock itself not flooded but it was virtually wiped out as a consequence of the floods.
Nevertheless the town persisted. After the Civil War, it became the first railroad town in the county. A monstrous Railroad Addition was platted which extended all the way to the Nemaha and even atop the bluffs overlooking the new depot.
In 1857, C. W. Giddings of the Nebraska Settlement Company saw what he liked and struck a bargain to buy the Town Company out for $1,500. The Nemaha River rose the morning of the intended exchange, leaving the parties on opposite sides of the river. Who was more motivated, the buy or the seller? The buyer. The Settlement Company’s treasurer braved the raging water to finalize the deal.
Later that year, the first of the Settlement Company’s many families joined the few existing families. Many of the new families settled along the banks of the Nemaha, as well as Taylor Branch and Clear Creek. It probably seemed safe. The Nemaha here was once described, before it was straightened, as the “staid old Nemaha, which usually is as placid as an old maid with a fellow.” However, the old maid had a dark side. The Nemaha flooded the next year, creating not only destruction but death. The aftermath of the receding flood waters was disease, and many became critically ill and many died. Table Rock itself not flooded but it was virtually wiped out as a consequence of the floods.
Nevertheless the town persisted. After the Civil War, it became the first railroad town in the county. A monstrous Railroad Addition was platted which extended all the way to the Nemaha and even atop the bluffs overlooking the new depot.
1858 - FLOOD nearly wipes out early settlers
1876 - Lower town HOUSES and "fat" hogs CARRIED AWAY
May 11, 1876 Nebraska State Journal --Lower town submerged, houses carried away.
From the August 26, 1876 Nebraska State Journal, a railroad bridge falls victim to the flood waters. The streets of Table Rock are covered by three feet of water with a current so swift no man could stand in it. Obviously they considered Table Rock to be the Railroad Addition of Table Rock near the depot.
1880 - Flood starts fire
1880-ish
The railroad drew the residents of Table Rock to the Railroad Addition, "Lower Town." As recounted in the 1882 tome of history and biographies by Andreas:
At times, it seemed as if the upper town would be deserted. The low land, however, was so subject to floods that the citizens came to the conclusion that the old site was the best, and, two years ago, a paper was extensively signed by them, agreeing to remove their buildings and their business interests to the upper town. All except a few houses did so.
1889 - railroad elevated because of floods
This is from a 1934 history of the Bunker Hill neighborhood by Elsie Pepoon.
1897
flood waters hit railroad between table rock and humboldt
April 17, 1897 Nebraska State Journal
1898
the a & N railroad changed the course of its rail lines to deal with long time flooding problems
June 16, 1898
1900 -- a poetic description of the flooding
July 19, 1900 Argus
1902
June 10, 1902 Lincoln Journal Star
1903 - flood not in table rock but affects table rock people
This June 11, 1903 article speaks of flooding in the Armourdale district of Kansas City, Kansas, suffered by friends from Table Rock who were living there.
1904 - again
April 26, 1904 Decatur (Illinois) Herald
Christine Wheeler, William (Peggy) Glenn, and W. G. Matthews homes affected, amongst others.
April 28, 1904 Argus
1915 - taylor branch floods
1919 - Brick yard flooded "leaving a mass of smoldering ruins," bridge across taylor branch impassAble, "woodpiles and chickens" moved to safety
Photo 423 - Flood at the depot. Undated, but from the nature of the photo, it is pretty old, probably from before 1900, perhaps representing what the A&N was dealing with in 1898.
Dr. Mccrea DESCRIBES BEING CAUGHT IN A FLASH FLOOD AS HE DROVE HIS BUGGY BACK FROM A RURAL CALL.
FLOOD At the old mill site
Crops and enhancements bring out the details of the old mill that is partially in shadows in the original unretouched photo.
Probably the nemaha - but where & when?
Photo 4. There is no date. The back is marked Eva Linn, who probably owned the photo.
probably the nemaha -- but where and when?
Photo 425. This bridge appears to be the railroad bridge north of Table Rock, but the photo bears no annotation.
The following photograph (Photograph 869) is labeled as train crossing the Nemaha. Looking at the concrete pillars might lead one to think that it is the same bridge, i.e., the bridge above is the railroad bridge north of town. When the picture below was posted on Facebook, the surmise is that it was on the Nemaha 3-1/2 miles north of Table Rock.
floods - taylor branch
date unknown - probably before 1915
Photo 492. This is probably of the bridge into Lower Town. If so, it is probably before 1915; compare the bridge with the bridge in 1915, below.
Details of Photo 492. Look at the bridge, the telephone pole on the north side of the road, and the house to the right in the trees, and compare to the 1915 flood picture below. It appears to be the same bridge, but an earlier time.
1915 flood
Photo 675 is identified as being in Lower Town 1915.
Here are excerpts of Photo 675 showing detais. The closest house is probably on the lot where Donnie Kalina now lives, which was built and lived in for many years by the Hillers. The Hillers may have built their house in about 1958.
Photo 424, the original and an excerpt, another view of the flood.
1941 and 1944. RICH SILT LEFT IN 1941, BRIDGE wiped out IN 1944
