South Fork Dam facts for kids
.jpg)
The South Fork Dam was a large dirt wall that held back a lake called Lake Conemaugh. This artificial lake was near South Fork, Pennsylvania, in the United States. On May 31, 1889, the South Fork Dam broke apart. A massive amount of water, about 20 million tons, burst from Lake Conemaugh. It rushed 14 miles (23 km) downstream. This terrible event caused the Johnstown Flood.
The South Fork Dam was first built between 1838 and 1853. It was made by the state of Pennsylvania. The dam was part of a canal system. It was meant to store water for the state's canal basin in Johnstown. Later, the state stopped using the dam. It was sold to the Pennsylvania Railroad. Then, it was sold again to private owners.
Contents
Building and Problems with the Dam
The dam was very big. It stood 72 feet (22 m) high. It stretched 931 feet (284 m) long. After 1881, when the South Fork Fishing and Hunting Club opened, the dam often had leaks. Workers tried to fix these leaks. They mostly used mud and straw.
Also, a previous owner had removed some important parts. They took out three large iron pipes. These pipes used to let water out in a controlled way. They sold the pipes for scrap metal. People worried about the dam's safety. The head of the Cambria Iron Works in Johnstown even raised concerns.
The South Fork Fishing and Hunting Club
Before the flood, some wealthy people bought the abandoned dam and lake. They made repairs to the old dam. These repairs were not very well done. They also raised the lake level. Then, they built cottages and a clubhouse. They created a private vacation spot called the South Fork Fishing and Hunting Club.
This club was very exclusive. Its members were 61 rich business people from Pittsburgh. They worked in steel and coal. Famous members included Andrew Carnegie, Andrew Mellon, Philander Knox, John George Alexander Leishman, and Henry Clay Frick. Daniel Johnson Morrell, who worked for the Cambria Iron Works in Johnstown, also joined. He wanted to keep an eye on the dam's condition.
Lake Conemaugh
The Dam Breaks
On May 31, 1889, there had been many days of heavy rain. The dam could not hold back the water any longer. It broke apart. A huge rush of water raced downstream. It destroyed several towns along the way. When the water reached Johnstown, it caused terrible damage. Over 2,209 people lost their lives. The damage cost about $17 million.
This disaster was the first big emergency that the new American Red Cross helped with. Clara Barton led their efforts. After the flood, victims tried to get money for their losses from the dam's owners. But they lost their court cases. People were very angry about this. This anger led to a big change in American law. Courts started to use a new rule called strict liability. This meant owners could be held responsible even if they didn't mean for something bad to happen. The Johnstown Flood became a symbol of how powerful and destructive nature can be.
Today, part of the St. Michael neighborhood and most of Creslo are in the town of St. Michael-Sidman, Pennsylvania. These areas now sit on what used to be the bed of Lake Conemaugh.
Images for kids
-
A modern view of the South Fork Dam. The large gap overlooked by the two wooden terraces pictured is the breach that caused the Johnstown Flood.
-
An 1889 stereoscope view of the dam after the flood.
