The South Fork Dam in Pennsylvania collapses on May 31, 1889 , causing the Johnstown Flood, killing more than 2,200 people. Johnstown is 60 miles east of Pittsburgh in a valley near the Allegheny, Little Conemaugh and Stony Creek Rivers. ... As the canal system fell into disuse, maintenance on the dam was neglected.
Who was responsible for the Johnstown Flood?
To the residents of Johnstown and many people across the nation, blame lay clearly with Andrew Carnegie, Henry Clay Frick and the other wealthy and prominent Pittsburgh businessmen who as members of the South Fork Fishing and Hunting Club owned the dam, and thus were responsible for its collapse.
Did Frick cause the Johnstown Flood?
The club, the membership of which included the likes of Andrew Carnegie and Henry Clay Frick, blamed the flood on unusually heavy rainfall . ... An 1891 report by the American Society of Civil Engineers backed that view, but doubt lingered to this day.
What was the main reason that destroyed Johnstown 1889?
Abstract: The Johnstown flood occurred in 1889, when an earth and rock dam failed during a record rainfall in eastern Pennsylvania. The flood was one of the worst civil disasters in the U.S.; 2,200 people were killed and the town virtually destroyed.
Why did the South Fork Dam failure?
1862- Due to heavy rains and lack of maintenance , the South Fork Dam failed for the second time; the water in Johnstown was raised only 2-3 feet. 1863-Canal between Johnstown and Blairsville was closed meaning there was no longer a viable reason to maintain the South Fork Dam.
Did Carnegie fire Frick?
Unlike his partner, Frick had unambiguous views of capital's relationship to labor. When Frick assumed contract negotiations at the Homestead mill in 1892, he was determined to rid the company of its most troublesome union. ... On December 5, 1899 , Frick resigned from the board of Carnegie Steel.
Who killed Frick?
He'd just returned to his desk on Saturday, July 23 1892, when anarchist Alexander Berkman , wearing a brand new black suit, pushed the door open. “Berkman rushed in, drew a . 38 caliber revolver, and fired two quick shots right at Frick, point blank,” said Andy Masich, president of the Heinz History Center.
What was Henry Frick worth when he died?
Henry Frick was a onetime chaiman of the Carnegie Steel company and an industrialist who helped finance and construct the Pennsylvania Railroad. At the time of his death in 1919 Frick had an equivalent net worth of $39.3 billion .
What happened to Mr Frick?
Frick died of a heart attack on December 2, 1919, weeks before his 70th birthday. He was buried in Pittsburgh's Homewood Cemetery.
How many times did Johnstown Flood?
Floods have continued to be a concern for Johnstown, which had major flooding in 1894, 1907, 1924, 1936, and 1977 . The biggest flood of the first half of the 20th century was the St. Patrick's Day Flood of March 1936. It also reached Pittsburgh, where it was known as the Great Pittsburgh Flood of 1936.
How did the Johnstown Flood affect people?
Four square miles of downtown Johnstown was completely leveled, including about 1600 homes, 280 businesses, and much of the Cambria Iron Company. Even more tragic was the loss of life. 2,209 people are known to have died in the flood waters. 99 whole families perished .
How fast was the Johnstown Flood?
The dam contained 20 million tons of water before it gave way, about the same amount of water as goes over Niagara Falls in 36 minutes. The great wave measured 35-40 feet high and hit Johnstown at 40 miles per hour .
How many died Johnstown Flood?
*What was the official death toll from the 1889 Johnstown Flood? In a list printed about fourteen months after the Flood, the death toll was set at 2,209 .
Does the South Fork Dam still exist?
It was abandoned by the commonwealth, sold to the Pennsylvania Railroad, and sold again to private interests . The dam was 72 feet (22 m) high and 931 feet (284 m) long.
How could the Johnstown Flood have been prevented?
It turns out that the flood could actually have been prevented— if only the magnates of the South Fork Fishing and Hunting Club had been willing to trade in a bit of their leisure for the safety of the town below .
