FLOOD: How might ice gorges and floodwaters have been cleared from the low-lying areas of Bradford in 1904, long before the Flood Control Project had the Tunungwant Creek under control? Well, dynamite, of course.

On March 4, 1904, The Era ran a story about the third flood of the year in the city. “The heavy rain of the previous 36 hours caused the ice to gorge near the Arcade, shortly after 9 o’clock, and within a few minutes a volume of water was flowing down Boylston Street, partially covering Pine and the intermediate streets.” Ice gorges near the head of Bishop Street caused overflows on Forman, Amm, Miller, Florence and parts of Davis, Kennedy, Bishop, Boylston and Main streets.

“On Main Street the water reached from the Erie tracks to a point near Webster Street, but did no material damage. Residences in the extreme lowlands were deluged and for a time the houses and factories in the vicinity of Hilton Street were seriously threatened. Work was entirely suspended at 10 o’clock at the B&S shops owing to the flood. Gorges near the old foot bridge caused the water to overflow the banks near there, flooding North, River and Roberts streets for a brief period. At 1 o’clock the employees of the Street Department succeeded in breaking the gorges with dynamite and the water receded very rapidly, the streets being entirely cleared of their encumbrances within an hour.

“The flood affected a gas main in the Fourth Ward and a number of houses were practically cut off from a supply of gas, the defect occasioning much suffering and inconvenience to various families. Both gas companies had forces of men out looking after their lines, but owing to the high water, little good could be accomplished.”