South River Road and the West Lafayette levee, both underwater, at the height of the 1913 flood of the Wabash River. Sx inches of snow fell that March 26.
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The record snowfall that fell in Greater Lafayette on Sunday night and early Monday was similar to the half a foot that fell 100 years ago today at the height of the worst flood in Tippecanoe County history.
Despite the snow of March 26, 1913, the river began receding late that night after reaching a record level of 32.9 feet. While the snow didn't worsen the flood, it came at a most inopportune time.
The Lafayette Morning Journal on March 27, 1913, told of some of the conditions residents faced.
? "The flood has carried away all the buildings on the levee. ? Houses along the river road are flooded to the second story, and much property loss is reported."
? "Many of the people are without coal oil and others are running short."
? "On North Fourth Street the water extends from Salem Street to Cincinnati Street, and at many points people are using boats to reach their homes."
While three people drowned in floodwaters in Tippecanoe County, other communities in Indiana and Ohio lost hundreds after dams or levees failed.
A circus headquartered in Peru, Ind., lost several animals, including elephants, in the swirling waters of the Wabash River.
Such were the hardships caused by the flood. In news space given to often sensational wire stories, little mention is made of Lafayette's half a foot of snow.
On March 28, two days after the snowfall, the Journal contains this rare reference on a Page 3 story about conditions in West Lafayette: "The water supply has been exhausted from the reservoir, but a large number of the residents have cisterns from which they may get enough water for some time. Snow is being used when possible."
This year's snowfall finds the Wabash River 5 to 6 feet below the flood stage of 11 feet and unlikely to reach flood stage anytime soon, according to the National Weather Service.
- David Smithfirstname.lastname@example.org