REMEMBERING the JOHNSTOWN FLOOD, LEST WE FORGET

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10 ай бұрын

The gravestones in the Unknown Plot at Grandview Cemetery are without names…only numbers, marking unidentifiable people, most of whom died in a space of about 20 minutes when more than 20 million tons of water and tangled debris, accumulated over the course of a 14-mile descent down the mountain, came crashing down on the good people of Johnstown, Pennsylvania.
Outside of September 11, 2001, it’s the worst man-made disaster in American history, yet relatively few people even know it ever happened. To be sure, it didn’t help that unprecedented rains covered the area the night before, but as events would unfold, the world would come to understand that this was more than a natural disaster.
It’s hard to imagine that 2,209 people perished on the Friday afternoon of May 31, 1889, all in the path of the enormous wave that most had no idea was coming. Oh sure…many worried about the great earthen dam up the mountain, but most thought it could never happen…not to them anyway. In fact, just the day before, the downtown streets of Johnstown were chock-full of people taking in the Memorial Day parades.
It would be a half-dozen years before Johnstown began to resemble itself again. After the initial shock, anger took hold of the Johnstown residents. They knew that this was more than Mother Nature. But while lawsuits bubbled up over the years here and there, no one, or no entity, was ever held responsible for the Johnstown Flood. Carnegie, on his own dime, built a new library where the old one once stood. The Carnegie Public Library, finished in 1892, is now the home of the Johnstown Flood Museum, open daily. The Johnstown Flood National Memorial, operated by the National Park Service, offers a great view of where Lake Conemaugh once lived. The break in the dam, separated by two abutments that visitors can walk out to, provides further perspective on what happened up there in the mountains on that terrible day. The South Fork Fishing and Hunting Club is still there, and stands in a small town that became St. Michael. Some of the cottages, once occupied by members of the club, also survive.
The graves in the Unknown Plot are marked by numbers; there are no names. No. 25: Unknown female, about 15 years. No. 17: Unknown. Man about 50 years. Short hair, smooth face. No. 66: Small child, about one year.
Lest We Forget...

Пікірлер: 63

@MissTerri207 9 ай бұрын

Thank you for covering this tragedy. A similar tragedy caused primarily by the Bayless Pulp and Paper Company destroyed Austin, PA on September 30, 1911. Prior to the disaster, they billed it as "The Dam that Could Not Break". My father, Robert W. Cooney, was responsible for working to ensure the Dam was listed on the National Register of Historic Places. God rest ALL the souls who were taken so cruelly from us. ❤

@chuckg6039 9 ай бұрын

I made a trip to Austin, Pa and visited the dam remains. A truly sad and bizarre place. Just looking at the fragmented dam gave me the creeps.

@HistoryMysteryMan 9 ай бұрын

Interesting...I've never heard of the Austin, PA tragedy; I'll have to look that up. "The Dam that could not break."... that sounds similar to the SS Titanic..."The ship that could not sink." Thanks for watching...HMM

@oldjunkman4864 9 ай бұрын

Great video! Thank you.

@HistoryMysteryMan 9 ай бұрын

You're welcome oldjunkman! Thanks again...HMM

@rogerozdarski2935 9 ай бұрын

What a video! To think of the countless lives that were lost,and for no one to be held accountable, it's a disgrace. I just can't even imagine a 40foot wall of water coming down on them. R I P you souls of the valley. Thank you again HMM. As always great video and you make me think and hope something like this never happens again.

@HistoryMysteryMan 9 ай бұрын

It's the preventable tragedies that seem to hurt the most, although they're all so sad. Thanks Roger...you rock! HMM

@rogerozdarski2935 9 ай бұрын

@HistoryMysteryMan thank you HMM!

@rayisland23 9 ай бұрын

Thank you for doing this video and sharing with everyone this history

@HistoryMysteryMan 9 ай бұрын

You're welcome; thanks for watching! HMM

@robertayers9424 9 ай бұрын

This would be another story I didn't know I wanted to hear! It showcases the arrogance , selfishness and lack of concern and compassion the so called elite have had throughout history. Thanks for the telling of the story! I'm certain to enjoy it at least once more.

@HistoryMysteryMan 9 ай бұрын

Best compliment ever...to actually watch it twice. That's huge in my world! Thanks again my friend...HMM

@billmellinger1134 9 ай бұрын

Such a sad story. I had never known about this disaster. Now there will be alot of interest in it thanks to you Don. It needed to herd by more people.

@HistoryMysteryMan 9 ай бұрын

You're welcome Bill. Now if I could just get some folks to watch it! HMM

@wideslammer 9 ай бұрын

Thanks for the history lesson. I learned a number of new things today. Thanks for putting all this together.

@HistoryMysteryMan 9 ай бұрын

You're welcome! Thanks again...I appreciate you...HMM

@dirtmodified16 7 ай бұрын

I appreciate you doing stories like this. I never knew and those people should be remembered

@HistoryMysteryMan 7 ай бұрын

Thanks...very few people watched it but I enjoyed doing it...appreciate your support. HMM

@waynestock2006 7 ай бұрын

HMM, love watching your videos. They're my go-to for decompressing after a long day. They're so good at scratching my history story itch, and they are therapeutic. Thank you for all your hard work and time!

@HistoryMysteryMan 7 ай бұрын

You're always welcome Wayne...thanks for your support! HMM

@fivecitydirttracker4776 9 ай бұрын

I hope the victims will accept my visiting and remebering of their tragic murdering by way of you sharing this disaster with me. The terror and pain from the fire is unimaginable for me. Thank you HMM for taking me along to remember them 🙏

@HistoryMysteryMan 9 ай бұрын

You're always welcome; thanks again my friend...HMM

@unclebones2488 9 ай бұрын

Thank you HMM my father was from Johnstown & as a 10year old we visited back in the early 70's

@HistoryMysteryMan 9 ай бұрын

You're welcome unclebones; I was hoping you would watch it...knowing your connection to Johnstown. Thanks again, HMM

@edwardlee1150 9 ай бұрын

You have a great mission! You are single-handedly educating race fans in US history! My race fan buddies wonder where I studied history, and I tell them HMM College. Your racing videos are great, but your history lessons are the best of all.

@HistoryMysteryMan 9 ай бұрын

Thanks Edward...such a huge compliment, and it means a lot to me to receive it...so appreciated. HMM

@jakehobbs 27 күн бұрын

I’m watching the man that built America documentary on the history channel and it was about this. I searched for it and found this video. Great information.

@HistoryMysteryMan 18 күн бұрын

Thanks Jake. Sure wished more people would have watched this one. HMM

@chuckg6039 9 ай бұрын

Don, really learned a great deal from your video. And it was raining during your time there. Thanks so much for all your efforts on this one. That area is only 20 miles from the Ghost Town rail to trail. I rode the entire length about 10 years ago and at the time didnt realize just how close Johnstown was to the trail.

@HistoryMysteryMan 9 ай бұрын

Ghost Town Rail to Trail? That sound interesting...love that area. How long was your ride? Thanks! HMM

@chuckg6039 9 ай бұрын

@@HistoryMysteryMan The Ghost Town Trail totals 46 miles in Indiana and Cambria Counties, Pennsylvania. I was accidently there on the opening of deer season. Not the best time to be riding! Luckily I had no issues and was never thought to be a 🦌

@HistoryMysteryMan 9 ай бұрын

A super-satisfactory answer...thanks!@@chuckg6039

@kodykorvela7152 7 ай бұрын

Wow! What a horrific event! I had no idea that this event had occurred! Great job as usual Don!

@HistoryMysteryMan 7 ай бұрын

You're welcome Kody; thanks for watching this one. It's outside my wheelhouse in terms of the audience here....so not too many people watched, so I'm extra grateful that you did. HMM

@matthewcosta780 5 ай бұрын

Ever since I found out you did a video on the Johnstown flood on a comment you responded to on another video, I had to see it and like the video. You did a video on the Daniel J. Morrell wreck which fun fact, the guy the ship was named after tried to prevent the flood and fix the dam, but they wouldn't let him. Cambria/Bethlehem Steel owned the Morrell and the man owned the company. I live one town over from the flood ground zero. Morrell then sold his membership and distanced himself from the area after that. He was one of the few that actually helped the victims by paying out.

@HistoryMysteryMan 5 ай бұрын

Yeah that's an interesting story on Morrell. I knew that he had spent time and resources on trying to get the dam fixed, to no avail. He would be an interesting video. Thanks again, Matthew. HMM

@matthewcosta780 4 ай бұрын

@@HistoryMysteryMan I'm glad you mentioned South Fork, it's often overlooked because the flood was named after and more famous in Johnstown, but our town predates the flood, and the town of St. Michael where the dam was, wasn't incorporated until after the flood when they found coal under the dry lakebed. I'm glad you mentioned Engineer Hess, he was a hero that day. My foster mom was related to a guy who was involved in the flood, Pickerill. I live now in South Fork, I was always drawn to here and love the history, ever since I spent that year with that foster mom. We just moved here this past September. It's cool Clara Barton was involved in this shortly after the Civil War. I'm surprised you didn't mention the incline, which was made because of the flood.

@HistoryMysteryMan 4 ай бұрын

That's a beautiful area to live...I love it there in South Fork. I've seen the inline of course but it's never operated when I was in town, so I didn't pay it much attention. And...I did not know it was built because of the flood...but it certainly makes sense...thanks again. HMM@@matthewcosta780

@dennymarreesr6187 9 ай бұрын

Thank you History Mystery Man for taking the time to make this informative video!! You do an excellent job on all the videos you make! Keep up the great work and once again..Thank You!

@HistoryMysteryMan 9 ай бұрын

You're welcome Denny; thanks for taking the time to watch! HMM

@mr.obvious4371 9 ай бұрын

HMM thanks for your time Wow

@HistoryMysteryMan 9 ай бұрын

You're always welcome; thanks for watching...HMM

@bobblair4046 9 ай бұрын

HMM, fantastic video! You truly are a great and talented storyteller. Thank you for your efforts God bless you and know you are appreciated. Good health and best wishes to you sir

@HistoryMysteryMan 9 ай бұрын

Thank you Bob. Comments like yours are what gives me the juice to keep going! Now if I could just get someone else to watch Johnstown. HMM

@critterscute3642 9 ай бұрын

I likely will never make it to Johnstown, but may my learning of this horrendous tragedy through you be my “tip of the hat” to all those who lost their lives. Thanks for bringing it to my attention, HMM😞❤️

@HistoryMysteryMan 9 ай бұрын

Nicely said critterscute; thanks for sharing your sentiment here...and thanks for coming back. HMM

@jaredbrown1580 7 ай бұрын

This was really really well done!!! I started watching your channel with the start of the Fitzgerald series and was surprised to see this being I live near Johnstown. Thank you and as always thumbs up

@HistoryMysteryMan 7 ай бұрын

Thanks...so appreciated. Yeah the story of the Johnstown Flood just fascinates me! HMM

@stevebixler1920 9 ай бұрын

Wow… an amazing story.. thanks Don… I had heard that Carnage was the one held responsible?

@HistoryMysteryMan 9 ай бұрын

Thanks Steve. No...I wouldn't say that one could make a big case against Carnegie...he would only come every now and then to get away from Pittsburgh. If we put blame on anyone, to me, it would be Benjamin Ruff, who started the South Fork Fishing and Hunting Club and did a very poor job of maintaining the dam...pure negligence. Only problem was that Ruff died before the Johnstown Flood...HMM

@jeffmill6683 9 ай бұрын

Here in Canada we are taught a lot of the US history but this is something I don't believe we were taught. I don't believe there's to many states taught their kids about say about when Halifax N.S. was almost blown off the map when a ship blew up on the harbor when it was full of highly volatile explosives on Dec 6 1917. It stopped to refuel. The ship was going to Europe for the 1st world War. Unfortunately bad things happen everywhere in this world.

@HistoryMysteryMan 9 ай бұрын

No doubt on the bad things happening across the world. Here in the US, we weren't taught about the Johnstown Flood either; I discovered that one on my own...thanks for watching. HMM