Mill River flood of 1874

The Mill River flood of 1874 started in Williamsburg and ended in Florence, leaving 139 dead in its wake.

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Our Question:

Analyze how business, construction policies, and the economy changed due to the Mill River Flood of 1874

Thanks for listening

The Flood

Why did this Happen?

Business

The Haydens

Citations

"Digital Collection -"A History of Williamsburg in Massachusetts"." American Centuries: History and Art from New England. N.p., n.d. Web. 24 June 2013. <http://www.americancenturies.mass.edu/collection/itempage.jsp?itemid=17747&level=beginner&transcription

"Digital Collection -"Harper's Weekly Journal of Civilization" illustrations of Mill River Disaster Flood." American Centuries: History and Art from New England. N.p., n.d. Web. 24 June 2013. <http://memorialhall.mass.edu/collection/itempage.jsp?itemid=17826>.

"DIGITAL TREASURES : Item Viewer." DIGITAL TREASURES : Home. N.p., n.d. Web. 24 June 2013. <http://dlib.cwmars.org/cdm4/item_viewer.php?CISOROOT=/williamsbrg&CISOPTR=8&CISOB

"The Hemenways the story of one family's journey throughAmerican History." The Hemenways the story of one family's journey throughAmerican History. N.p., n.d. Web. 24 June 2013. <http://www.wolfkiller.net/>.

Sharpe, Elizabeth M.. In the shadow of the dam: the aftermath of the Mill River flood of 1874. New York: Free Press, 2004. Print.

"The Valley Advocate: The Public Humanist - William Skinner & Holyoke's Water Power." The Valley Advocate. N.p., n.d. Web. 24 June 2013. <http://www.valleyadvocate.com/article_print.cfm?aid=9842>.

"Awesome Stories." Awesome Stories. N.p., n.d. Web. 24 June 2013. <http://www.awesomestories.com>.

The Mill River Flood Of 1874

The Economy

Our Thesis:

On May 16, 1874, the Mill River dam in Williamsburg burst, killing 139 and destroying large amounts of property in five towns. The Mill River Flood affected not only Williamsburg but also the surrounding areas. It caused people to realize that reform in infrastructure was desperately needed. The atrocity of the disaster convinced skeptics that construction policies needed to become more stringent and started a conversation about who should have the final word on dam safety. Businesses struggled to rebuild and it caused large amounts of bankruptcies which hurt the economy in the valley. There was a gradual shift from waterpower to steam power starting before the Mill River flood but it caused Williamsburg to accept steam power faster than in other areas.

By Olivia Ferguson and Christianna Gardner

Heroes of the Mill River Flood

Dam and Reservoir Policies