Clinton News-Record, 1976-06-24, Page 261 04n iNrvXA i r:':AYrUb'
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Bayfield has had many floods,
many of which have not been
recorded, and some much more
damaging than others.
Aitchesan Brown, who lived
near Goderich in the mid 1800's,
recorded in his diary that the
Bayfield Dam was washed out by
the flood in 1841, the Goderich
Bridge being damaged that same
year. The dam at Thompson's
flour mill was again washed out
in 1856.
November 28. 1883 - The Huron
News -Record: "The heavy gales
during the last two weeks com-
pletely closed up the Bayfield
River harbour with sand and
driftwood. The heavy rain of last
Thursday raised the river t.
unprecedented heights. The pier
on which the Government ex-
pended a large amount of money
were in danger of being washed
away altogether. The sandbar at
the mouth of the river prevented
the outflow of water from the
river and the backwaters thus
confuted surrounded the
fishermen's houses. However.
there was no serious damage to
property."
,In March 26. 1886. the Clinton
New Era stated in their Bayfield
News column, "Some fear the
mill dam may be injured by the
terrible force of the water
passing over it".
The . Clinton New Era, Nov. 27.
1891, -- "abad wind and rain
storm on Monday, did con-
siderable damage. washing away
part of the mill dam and one of
the abutments of the bridge.
rendering it unsafe."
But the biggest of all the floods
was in the last week of March.
1904. It had been a very hard
winter with heavy frost and
immense amounts of snow which,
time after time. blocked roads
and stalled ttr�ins.
April 1, 1904 - "The ice jam at
the mouth of the Bayfield River
presented a wonderful spectacle
last week. Tons of ice came down.
bringing with it a great many
cords of wood and limbs, several
boat=houses were taken away and
the inmates of the houses nearby
were compelled to remain up-
stairs until relieved from their
perilous position. It was feared at
first that the bridge spanning the
river would be swept away, but
the ice having been forced
through by the rush of the water,
the bridge remains. The villagers
say that they had never seen such
a sight before."
April 8. 1904 - "One of the
largest floods that ever was
known to the village expended its
fury by bringing about a great
amount of damage to the river
property. The boathouses of
Jowett. Dressler, Thomson and
W hiddon were completely
wrecked. Mr. Ferguson will be
able to repair his at some cost as
it was not carried off but Messrs.
Jowett and Dressler are the
losers of many fine new boats.
The houses on the loner flats
were flooded to the second story
and the bridge also badly
damaged. The two piers are
badly wrecked and to see how the
sailing boats were tossed over
each other showed how little our
sailors anticipated such a
deluge."
Another flood did some damage
in the spring of I905 and one in
1942 covered the Flats but neither
of them, nor any since then have
come anywhere near the "daddy
of them all" in the spring of
1904.( see accompanying pic-
tures).
The flood of 1914 broke through the north pier and went out on. the north beach after being damn
at the river mouth between the piers.
The spring Mood of -1904 caused the most damage to buildings along the Bayfield River. FIsh Ito
and boat houses were carried away by the water. McLeod's house is still left intact back by then
bank and escaped the raging waters.
CONGRATULATIONS
BAYFIELD
100th BIRTHDAY
We at The Tuckersmith Municipal Telephone
System Est. 140! are pleased to continue the
telephone service begun by the Bayfield
Telephone System.
VERN ALDERoICE. CHAIRMAN
COMMISSIONERS: A:4;r%
and Best Wishes
PERC :IOHNSON
ELMER HAYTER
W.Q. „WILSON
LLOYD FERGUSON
SECRETARY --TREASURER
MEL GRAHAM
to the
VILLAGE OF BAYFIELD
and all its residents,
on their Centennial Year
Bob McKinley
M.P. HURON MIDDLESEX