The Flood of Wednesday, March 18, 1936 caused $50,000 damage to roads and bridges in Westminster—the highest damage toll in the county, according to the March 27, 1936 Phoenix. The total estimate for the county was $400,000. The 1927 Flood damage in Westminster was caused mostly by the Connecticut River (which rose even higher in 1936 than in 1927), but this springtime flood damaged the whole town. Even so, there were no deaths in Westminster or elsewhere in the county. Stock loss, however was extensive. Train service was interrupted for a week. On the lighter side, one Westminster boy was able to use the idle track to get to the High School on a handcar furnished by the railroad!
Nine days after the flood, the [Brattleboro] Vermont Phoenix reported Westminster’s story on page 1, “All main highways in this locality were open to traffic yesterday. Near the Riverside cabins on Route 5 this side of Westminster village, heavy trucks are being detoured over the old location for a short distance, pending repairs to the cement at that point.”
“A procession of federal relief officials visited the selectmen’s office Wednesday in connection with general flood rehabilitation plans for this locality.”
“Dr. W. D. Bowen of Bellows Falls, assisted by Mrs. Harold Hatch and Miss Edna Smith, inoculated about 200 Westminster residents against typhoid Wednesday.”
The Westminster column in the issue has some recent details followed by an extensive “Notes on the Flood” section:
…The latest report from the W. S. Fenn Co. as to stock lost during the flood is: Eight cows, five calves and three pigs. …
About 100 feet will have to be filled in at the approach to the Walpole bridge on the Westminster side before the road can be opened. [A brief article elsewhere in the paper reported that it was unknown at first if this new channel of the Connecticut would be filled in or another bridge built.] …
The Connecticut Valley Orchard Co. men, with a pump, came to empty the cellars of the flooded farms early Monday morning and will continue to help in every way possible as long as they are needed. …
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Notes on the Flood.
A. L. Vose lost all his stock when the water closed over them in their stalls and tie-ups.
R. C. Edson shot his horses when they became entangled in a clothes line as he was trying to save them.
W. S. Powers and Carlos Morse moved their families to Bellows Falls. Mr. Powers was able to save a few of his cattle.
W. H. Powers and family were at the home of Rollo Metcalf Wednesday night and then moved to H. E. Partridge’s. Thursday night Mr. and Mrs. Rollo Metcalf had seven with them and they stayed on several days.
Mr. and Mrs. Warren Potter and family, with Mrs. DeRoque, were guests of J. C. Richmond until they could return to their home.
The water here was four feet higher than it was in the flood of 1927.
Alfred Reed and family were with Albert Moore. Mr. Reed’s father died in a Burlington hospital about the time the telephone service failed here. Word was brought Mr. Reed by Herbert Leach on his return from Essex Junction, where he went on business during the flood.
J. Robert Miller lost his entire herd of cattle and just how many Warren Potter lost could not be learned at this writing. There were about 170 on the second floor of the Fenn barn until Tuesday, belonging to Fenn and Potter, and so crowded that a count could not be made until they could be moved.
The people of the lower village (south) heated water to help clean the milk bottles for the Fenn Co., that families in Bellows Falls could have milk. Most homes in this village have electric pumps in their homes and therefore could not use water freely.
W. H. Bent moved everything but the stoves to the second-floor of his home, save the pianlo which was taken to the Institute. Four chicken houses were moved to the village and left on the highway. These were replaced early Tuesday morning. The Bents stayed with Arthur Bemis and family.
W. H. Powers lost 26 cattle and Charles Holton two dogs. The schoolhouse at Sand hill was flooded to the eaves and moved six inches off the foundations. The teacher, Miss Anna Eddy, left for her home in West Brattleboro March 24.
Dick Williams went to Bellows Falls Monday on the handcar furnished by the railroad to attend school.
George Woodburn, who has been in Springfield this winter, had announcement made over WNBX that he had at his farm here five or six tons of hay that could be had by applying to Lynn Fullam.
A. O. Amidon, A. E. Waldron and Postmaster Moore went to Brattleboro Saturday to take mail and get the mail from the south that was held there for Westminster. It had to be brought by boat from Trybulski’s to Bent’s turn.
James Wilcox and family were with the R. R. Barbers for several days during the flood.
The Lowell family that lived at Grout station moved a 2 a. m. last week Thursday to the John Jennison house. The cellar of their house was pumped out Sunday so they could return.
Lawrence Harlow took a boat ride Thursday over the railroad track from his home in Putney to Westminster Station.
The Edwin Fentons had with them for the period of high water Mrs. Carroll and Gordon and the Frank Jones.
As far as is known no one from the upper street went to Bellows Falls because of the high water. They came to the lower or south village.
Mrs. Martha Miller, who was 101 years old last Dec. 1, had to move upstairs in her home.
The storage house of the Woodward Wreath shop, which was well filled, went down the river Thursday.
While the houses and barns in Westminster were not swept away by the river waters, many milk houses, ice houses and garages were moved and broken up.
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Westminster West
Roads Seriously Damaged.
Never has such high water been seen here as last Wednesday. The section from Chapman’s store to Miss Houghton’s house was one body of turbulent water, flowing over the bridge at times about two feet deep. Cellars were flooded and fires extinguished. Electric current was off about 48 hours; telephones working on a 50-50 basis. The star mail route made daily trips at great hazards, the whole contents of one mail were copies of the Bellows Falls Times which were eagerly scanned.
The road damage is serious; several trucks and men are working north of the town repairing damages. The steam shovel was brought into service Sunday. Much sympathy is felt for those in the West Parish who have suffered such losses.
Red Cross workers are active in flood relief work. The request for funds has been met with generous response, two contributions being $100 each. Quilts are being tied for distribution. Red Cross tags will be sold.