Erie, Pennsylvania: The Wall of Water That Killed 36

August 3rd, 1915, downtown Erie, Pennsylvania, 8.45 at night. For the past five hours, an artificial lake has been growing in the middle of the city. Four city blocks flooded, water 30 feet deep in places, held back by a clogged culvert at 26th and State Streets. Fire Chief John McMahon stands at the edge, watching the reservoir rise. All day, police and firefighters have tried to clear the debris, blocking the culvert. They've used dynamite. It didn't work.

TIMELINE
1795: The downtown district was laid out back in 1795 in a Manhattan-style grid.
1835: By 1835, the creek powered four grist mills and thirteen sawmills.
1915: August 3rd, 1915, downtown Erie, Pennsylvania, 8.45 at night.
1917: Construction began in 1917 and finished in 1923.
1923: Since the Mill Creek tube was completed in 1923, Erie has not experienced another major flood from Mill Creek.

WHY THIS MATTERS
The story of Erie is a reminder that the events that shaped America didn't always happen in the biggest cities. What unfolded here left marks on the community that are still visible today. The full story is more complicated, and more human, than the version most people know.

Episode 176 | Hometown History | Hosted by Shane Waters

Hometown History explores forgotten stories from small-town America. The overlooked events, hidden triumphs, and buried tragedies that shaped the country we live in. New episodes every Tuesday. Find every episode at mythsandmalice.com/hometown-history

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