In late March of 1913, an unusually
heavy rainstorm moved into the Miami Valley region. By the
third day of the downpour, levees were overtopped and many
towns and farms suffered disastrous flooding. The city of
Dayton was particularly hit hard. When the water receded
the death toll stood at 361. In all, 65,000 were forced
to leave their homes temporarily, and property damages ran
to well over one million dollars. Following the flood, a
vigorous movement for flood protection began in Dayton.
The story of the flood protection movement can be told
through the political cartoons of the period. The following
exhibit of cartoons is taken from the Miami Conservancy
District Collection, MS 128, at the Special
Collections and Archives at Wright
State University.
These political cartoons were published in a variety of
newspapers and journals throughout Ohio, including The Columbus
Dispatch, The Columbus State Journal, and The Dayton News.
Link to other collections and online exhibits
about the 1913 Flood
Dayton
Public Library
Montgomery
County Historical Society
Miami
Conservancy District |
