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Flash Floods

    Two flash floods of the Lowden area that vividly come to my mind occurred in the years 1924 and 1944.

     During the month of August, 1924, the Lizard Creek which flows through the south part of what was our farm went on a rampage. (This farm is the South Half of the Northwest Quarter of Section 17 in Springfield Township and is now owned and occupied by the Louis Miller Family.) The creek was so far out of its banks that it resembled a river. Since threshing was not completed in this area, many oat bundles were seen floating down stream.

     When the masons who were helping with the construction of our new house at that time, were on the way to their homes in Lowden, at the end of the workday, they found the road just west of Lowden covered with water. The water was so deep that when they attempted to drive their Model T Ford through it, . . .

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. . . the motor drowned out and the car stalled. The men climbed out of the automobile and proceeded to walk to town with the tail end of their raincoats they were wearing, floating off to the side because of the rushing currents of water.

     In town the water on the Louis Rixe acreage was waist deep. (This place is south of the Northwestern Railroad tracks on the west side of Harding Ave.)

     About twenty years later in June 1944, heavy rains, wind, and hail struck the Lowden area one evening and early the next morning, sending the creeks in the east and west part of town, and the Yankee Run south of town out of their banks. This deluge was greater than the one in 1924. By mid-morning the surrounding territory was completely under water for several miles and the traffic was at a standstill.

     Homes in the west, south, and east part of town were surrounded by water and a few homes in the west part of town were flooded over the main floor. At the home of the Albert Gottschalk family, the water was over the table. (This home is located at the southeast part of the T-intersection of Harding Avenue and 4th St.) Leroy Hansen rowed a boat through the D. W. Conrad Lumber Co. building. (This business is located at 616 Main St. and was later called Conrad and Conrad Lumber and Hardware.) Highway 30 which at that time followed Main Street through Lowden was covered with water west of town. Cars parked near the City Scales, located just west of the Conrad Lumber Com- . . .

Picture of Flood 1944
JUNE 1944 - Looking south from Lowden down the road towards the farm now owned by Dorance Scheer.

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. . . pany, were almost completely covered by the water. The railroad was flooded for several miles, and westbound trains were blocked at Lowden.

     Many bridges, including a Northwestern railroad bridge west of town were washed out. Farmers lost hogs, cattle, and chickens. Fences were damaged and hundred of bushels of corn were ruined by mud which was left six inches deep in many of the farm buildings.

Picture of Flood 1944
    JUNE 1944 - Looking west from Lowden down the road past the farm now owned by Melvin Licht.