The Mill Creek Flood of 1915

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The Flood of 1915

August 3, 1915 started as a sticky, humid day.

The Headwaters

From 4 to 7 pm, between 7-9 inches of rain fell upon the beginning of Mill Creek, gathering strength that would prove to be unable to be contained.

Erie circa 1915 - Flood Damage at the Mouth of Mill Creek

Glenwood Park Ave and 26th Street

Mill Creek starts to overflow and starts to topple buildings along the creek’s banks.

Erie circa 1915 - Flood Damage at the 26th St. bridge

John Higgins, walked outside of their home about 7:30 pm. It was reported he saw “The waters of swollen Mill Creek continued to rise and in a short time a neighbor of the Higgins' came to their door and urged upon Mr. Higgins the possibility of danger." Later, Will Davitt, brother of Mrs. Higgins stopped by the house and took two of the children to safety. Upon return to the house to rescue the rest, "That was the last that was ever seen of Will Davitt. Hardly could he have gained the top of the stairs when the house...slid rapidly from its foundation.”

From the Erie Daily Times

26th and State Street

As the water flowed toward Presque Isle Bay, it picked up and carried everything in its path.

From wagons and timber to farm equipment and trees, all were carried with ferocity toward the culvert at 26th and State Street.

At this juncture, the debris created a dam, preventing it from passing through the culvert and continuing its journey.

The dam became a lake within hours, with residents using horse-and-wagon teams and dynamite to attempt to break the debris blockage.

At approximately 9 pm that evening, the waters of Mill Creek would no longer remain contained.

Erie circa 1915 - Where the water dammed near 26th and State St.

Erie circa 1915 - Flood damage, looking South on French from 12th St - former Jarecki Building

"It was a terrible ride. If a piece of that debris had struck a man at the rate it was going, it would have gone right through him. We bumped something once, and we went up in the air." (Regarding his being washed away in the floodwaters.)

Fire Chief John McMahon (Died of typhoid pneumonia from exposure in the flood)

North of 26th Street

Many residents north of the 26th street blockade were unaware of what was happening, going about their evening business, perhaps amazed at the amount of rain that refused to let up.

As the temporary dam broke that night, a wall of water roughly 30 feet high and 200 feet wide raced north to the bay.

Flowing uncontained and overflowing its path along State Street, Mill Creek destroyed houses, carried others to a new location, decimated businesses, and took 36 lives.

Among the lives lost were Fire Chief John McMahon and fireman John Donovan. As McMahon was working with his crew on evacuation efforts, he was swept away in the initial wave of water. Donovan lost his life in his effort to save his Chief. Against the odds, McMahon was found hours later struggling amid debris. Unfortunately, his exposure to the elements caused his death of typhoid pneumonia 5 days following his rescue.

Families and children were not spared either, namely the Higgins family, washed from their home and found at 6th and German, and an unnamed young boy found in his swim suit at 9th street.

1915 Flood Path Damage Map — PDF

Erie circa 1915 - Flood Damage on French St.

Erie circa 1915 - Flood Damage at 6th and German, many people died at this location

Erie circa 1915 - 6th and German, where Higgins Family was found

The Resolution

As this tragedy was not the first flood in the region, following smaller floods of 1878 and 1893, both resulting in smaller but no less important loss of life. The City of Erie decided that the risk of an open creek flowing through the city was unacceptable, moving forward.

At a cost of nearly $1,000,000, the construction of the Mill Creek Tube commenced in 1918.