Vermilion River Floods – Jan. 23, 1959

Many of us remember the terrible flooding that occurred in the Vermilion area during the notorious storm on July 4, 1969.

But did you know the Vermilion River flooded sixty years ago in January 1959 with similar disastrous results?

Here’s the front page of the Lorain Journal with the story from January 23, 1959.

As it notes, “The overflowing waters of the Vermilion River were subsiding today in the wake of a nightmarish flood which caused estimated damage of more than $1 million to property in the Vermilion area alone.

“An estimated 200 persons were evacuated or forced to leave homes and house trailers along both sides of the river south of Rt. 6 and 2.

“The main highway leading to Vermilion at that point was covered with as much as three feet of water from noon yesterday.

“Several long-time Vermilion residents said they could not recall another flood which caused so much property damage in the Vermilion area.

“At least 10 pleasure boats were torn from moorings at Cooper’s Boat Basin by the fast-moving river water which swept the boats north toward Lake Erie.”

Here are the continuations of the front page articles.

And here’s a full page of Journal photos by Don Shook, Bill Conley and Ed Nemecek of the disaster.

It would be interesting hearing from Vermilion area residents who lived through both disasters as to which (1959 or 1969) was worse.

But this photo of Routes 6 & 2 from the montage (in which you can see a Romp’s sign at left and the bridge off in the distance) really gives me the creeps.