The Flood of '37 (Part 1)

[Darkhorse]

In lieu of recent threads containing vintage photos of days gone bye, here's a thread from an envelope of photos I inherited from a relation who died in 2005. The photos were complete with the original negatives, but the prints simply scanned better. The photos also all had captions on the back describing the events of the time, which I have included.

The photos, taken by Uncle Charlie (who I recently found out was a very bad man) offer a look at a time in April of 1937 when a flood ravaged my home town of London Ontario Canada.

 

[kshapero]

great shots. grew up along the Ohio River and the flood of 37 was a defining moment for the whole area.

 

[Darkhorse]

 

[oftheherd]

Interesting to be sure. I wasn't around in '37 so I have no idea what may have happened then. But in the 50s, there were several bad floods on the Missouri river in Northern Missouri. Kansas City really suffered. Those events were partly responsible for the building of so many dams along the Missouri river. Floods could and were caused by excessive rain, but more commonly by ice jams.

EDIT: You posted the second set just as I was making the above reply. Fascinating that someone would have gone out and taken so many photos like that. Do you know what camera was used?

 

[robklurfield]

The images are wonderful, the event, obviously, awful and the notes are a great addition. I hope you post more of these.

 

[Darkhorse]

I thought I could alter the thread title as I went along, or I would make a new thread for part 2 - but I've included the remainder of the photos in this thread.

London Ontario was once very prone to severe flooding, but the flood of '37 was arguably the worst in terms of damage. Wikipedia says there was $50 million in damage - when I plug that into the inflation calculator that's close to $739177373.32 in today's money.

Here are the final 2 images.

 

[Darkhorse]

Do you know what camera was used?

Not really sure. I'm assuming it was an ordinary folding 620 Kodak. Most of them anyway; the negatives were exactly the same size as the prints so I'm assuming photofinishers just did contact prints in those days. There are a however a few smaller photos, and thus I'm assuming they're from smaller negs (which aren't in the photofinisher's envelope).

 

[oftheherd]

Not really sure. I'm assuming it was an ordinary folding 620 Kodak. Most of them anyway; the negatives were exactly the same size as the prints so I'm assuming photofinishers just did contact prints in those days. There are a however a few smaller photos, and thus I'm assuming they're from smaller negs (which aren't in the photofinisher's envelope).

Yes, for some formats they sure did do contact prints. I can remember getting some when I was younger. Even after I got in the Army, some photos that I took with a 120 folder (6x7 or more likely 6x9) were contact printed.

 

[charjohncarter]

Great job Darkhorse, this is an excellent presentation. It is a exhibition in itself. Your uncle did an amazing original set up but your careful scanning an detailed editing is certainly high quality. One question, were the pictures (the originals) as well finished as they show here. They have great contrast and tones?

 

[Darkhorse]

The photos are pretty much as they are in person, except for maybe levels adjustments. I'm guessing more people knew the rules of sunny 16 back then - they had to. I'm not sure what adjustments photofinishers made back then, but they seem pretty typical (tonality-wise) as other photos from this era that I've seen.

 

[johne]

Paducah was the last major city hit by the flood in 1937. The most unusual thing was that the flood hit in winter. The population of Paducah was evacuated and regular army troops enforced the decision. Over 20,000 folk fled; some had to go as far a Knoxville, TN to find shelter [especially among the black population]. The Kentucky Humanities Council has recently been doing a TV project to capture experiences of the flood generation. For a more detailed account, see John E.L.Robertson, Paducah, Frontier to the Atomic Age, Arcadia Publishing, 2002, Chapter 10.
John

 

[SimonSawSunlight]

and here's why documentary is more than just another form of ''art'' 🙂

 

[arunrajmohan]

Those are some stunning photos. I lived in London Ontario for 2 years once and had heard a lot about the floods of 37. Today Thames is well controlled and the city is well protected from the river and even then it once in a while overruns the University of Western Ontario parking lots which is right on the river banks on Richmond street. I've seen a few photos long back from that flood but not these many and this detailed. Thanks.
Arun

 

[Darkhorse]

once in a while overruns the University of Western Ontario parking lots which is right on the river banks on Richmond street. n

Yes, I saw this in the very early 00's, I was attending UWO at the time. Luckily the year was over and no cars were in the Elgin Hall parking lot. Conversely, when I was last in London in 2007 the Thames River was practically a creek.

I don't really miss London at all though. No one who I've known who has moved away from it has really missed it either.

 

[Keith]

They have a bleak look to them that really imparts the devistation .. great job Darkhorse.

 

[kshapero]

Louisville, Ky Feb 1937 Flood

Louisville, Ky Feb 1937 Flood

 

[Darkhorse]

They have a bleak look to them that really imparts the devistation .. great job Darkhorse.

Thanks. The city is still bleak, but for different reasons. 😉