DAYTON — The Carillon Historical Park has revamped its Great 1913 Flood exhibit as the 108th anniversary approaches.
Daytonians came to each other’s aid March 25, 1913, after rain heavily began to fall March 23, eventually putting the northern Miami Valley up to about 20 feet underwater, stated a media release.
More than 350 people died in the Miami Valley after the disaster, 92 of them in Dayton.
A few of the enhancements in the Carillon Historical Park flood exhibit include:
- The original NCR factory whistle that began blowing at 6 a.m. on March 25 to warn the citizens of Dayton of the coming flood
- The story of William Sloan and Frank Thompson who rescued more than 300 people. Sloan was a star pitcher for the Dayton Marcos, the only black team in the Ohio-Indiana League. The Marcos later joined the Negro National League when it formed in 1920.
- Photos of the wedding dress of Grace Herbig whose wedding was scheduled for March 26. She had to abandon her home and the dress because of the flood. She married a week later but was unable to wear her wedding dress which was still in her flooded home. The exhibit now features never before seen photos of her in the wedding dress taken a year after the flood, along with a photo of her and her husband on their honeymoon.
- The story of the hundreds of African American laborers from Chicago who came to Dayton to help clean up the city.
- A ceremonial Cherry Tree planted in front of the exhibit building marking the 10th anniversary of the 2011 tsunami in Japan.
Cox Media Group
