We have completed another year of operation for the Martins Ferry Area Historical Society and I want to take an opportunity to look back at 2003. We were able to enjoy many successes during the year. The new furnace and air conditioner are in use, alleviating that area of concern. We were finally able to begin our window project, with the windows on the west and south sides of the building being covered with storm windows. Also, other minor projects were completed to keep the museum, both inside and outside, in good operating condition.

     Because of support from the Martins Ferry Rotary Club, we were able to employ Betty Douglas to serve as a guide for museum visitors from April through September. Many groups, from school students to scouts, were abler to visit the museum. Visitation was higher this summer, mainly because of the Ohio Bicentennial celebration and the special events held in Martins Ferry.

     The Walnut Grove Cemetery proved to be a popular place this year. It was the center of the bicentennial celebration with a special ceremony held there in June. Also, the brick wall restoration project will probably be realized this spring.

     As we look forward to 2004, three goals have been set for our group: continue to work on the window project, hire Betty Douglas to serve as a guide again this summer, and to be a part of the ceremony to dedicate an historical marker to honor James Wright and William Dean Howells. Please come and be a part of our work this year.

     Also, we ask that you keep Miss Annie Tanks in your thoughts and prayers. You can send a card to her at 905 Hickory Street in Martins Ferry.

     In its more than 200 years of existence, Martins Ferry has suffered its share of disasters. Proximity to the Ohio River led to the founding of our town, but also made the city vulnerable to many floods. Some of the more memorable floods occurred in 1884, 1913, and 1936. Floods always seem to draw a crowd, and the files at the Sedgwick House Museum bear that out by the many photos of people standing around looking at the rising water.

February 5, 1884 at the foot of Hanover Street.
Flood water reached 52.4 feet.

Boating in the Flood of March 28, 1913
Flood water reached 51 feet.

Flood of 1936 showing Martins Ferry High School Athletic Field.
The flood crested at 55.5 feet.

FROM THE DAILY TIMES
MARCH 19, 1936
FLOOD LOSS IN MARTINS FERRY IS STAGGERING

     Inundated from the river shore to the railroad embankment west of the Pennsylvania tracks, with all of 1st and 2nd streets under water, flood waters on the second floor of many homes, hundreds homeless and sleeping in vacant storerooms, property loss rising to a staggering total, Martins Ferry carried on today after a night of heroic effort. Sirens of rushing fire trucks and ambulances were stilled this morning as volunteers rested after 24 hours of intense activity. Families and household furnishings not evacuated by 4 a.m. today will stay where they are as it is impossible to get autos or trucks into the flood zone. Early today, according to markings at the foot of Hanover Street, the flood waters swept above the crest of the 1913 flood and then swamped the record breaking 1884 high mark.

     From the south end of the city to the low ground north of the Wheeling Corrugating and American Sheet and Tin Plate plants, the entire district east of the Pennsylvania tracks is under water. North of the Corrugating works two cinder banks show above the water, the only ground visible in that entire area.

     The worst Ohio River flood in history reached a crest of 55.5 feet at 3 o’clock this afternoon was stationary three hours, and then began receding. From points north of here come reports that the stream, after swelling to unprecedented proportions, is falling rapidly. The recession here is expected to continue at an accelerating rate throughout the night.

     The gigantic river racing along at a channel velocity of eight or ten miles an hour, beat the 1884 record of 52.4 feet at 9 o’clock this morning and was still rising at six-tenths of a foot an hour at that time. It started receding at Pittsburgh early today.

     Ferry firemen, all the men who could be mustered, were on duty all day yesterday and last night. They used their trucks to aid in moving families from the flood zone and later, during the night, when moving was halted, took boats to carry occupants from their homes.

     They reported moving one aged couple out of their home in boats, both unable to move. The man had not been outside of his home for four years. Most of the firemen were sound asleep in their fire stations early today, practically exhausted.

     Mrs. Jebbia and Mrs. Runyon set up a feeding station at the Central fire station in remarkable time yesterday afternoon and last evening fed 350 persons with a wholesome, hot meal.

     Where did winter go? Meteorologists say that average temperatures and snowfalls show no change, but it doesn’t seem as though snow falls as thickly or regularly as it did some fifty years ago when a Christmas sled got a real workout.

     Snowfalls weren’t popular with drivers since snow tires hadn’t been invented and chains were difficult to put on. Not everyone owned a car; among those who did, many locked their cars into small garages when the snow fell and rode the streetcars to work. That left the hills clear for sledders.

     It seems unbelievable now that boys and girls rode their sleds down Hanover Street, but any number of senior citizens will remember that long slope which made the ride worthwhile. Of course there was danger that a train might come barreling along the Pennsylvania lives when riders couldn’t stop or turn aside when the warning lights flashed on. At least two tragedies happened that way. But at the next snowfall, the sleds were back on Hanover Street. Third Street too provided a thrilling jaunt where it sloped steeply on either side into Hanover. A sled could gather real momentum before turning downhill to zing across the tracks.

     Zane Highway from the Elm School was another popular track. A good three blocks downhill to Grant Avenue and a gradual slope so that trudging back was not so much of a chore. The hidden street car tracks added spice, for as the snow packed down the steel sled runners might bite through to the rails and then sparks flew.

     Center Street was even better: downhill from Seventh to Second where momentum would carry a sled at least another half-block. This course had two railroad crossings for hazards and one of them had to be negotiated by sight or hearing as a train slowly rounded the curve a block away, engine bell ringing, and bore down on the crossing. Streetcars were less of a problem. They could be seen trundling over the trestle above the North School in time for a sledder to decide whether to beat the car to the intersection or turn into the curb. If the streetcar was coming up the hill from Main St., the rider would be faced by the need for sudden decision unless he had been wise enough to avoid the middle of the street from the beginning. Oddly enough, none of the fatalities so vividly remembered by retired sledders occurred on this hill.

     Seventh Street and Elm were the last tracks to be surrendered to today’s traffic. They were still roped off in the late 30’s for the benefit of sled-owners, but the practice was given up when residents protested about difficulties encountered in getting their cars out the next morning.

     The upper end of town had more than its share of suitable streets. Sherman and Columbus, for instance. Cemetery Road stretched from back of Eighth Street down to Main Street. It included a blind crossing of street car tracks and the Fifth St. railroad crossing was worse than Center’s, but it did offer better turn-offs in emergencies. Mackey Avenue, untraveled in bad weather, was only for daredevils, for anything that would slide on snow turned into a “Flyer” on that steep hill. Ohio Avenue was a little safer, for a dogleg bend and an unpaved street provided turn-offs, but one rider once shot down across Route 7, off a retaining wall six feet high and crashed on the railroad tracks. No harm except for a general shaking-up.

     The ultimate in sled-riding must have been bob-sledding on Colerain Pike. There was comparatively little danger from traffic if the sled kept to the right, skimming along the edge of the long drop over the hill, but it took real skill for the steersman to swing around one hairpin curve after another and land his shrieking passengers safely past Horseshoe Bend. One veteran of the course remembers how his mother suggested one spring that the bob-sled should be stored under the porch to save room in the basement. Many homes of the period had a coal-cellar: half the space beneath the porch dug out to basement depth, paved and walled on the dirt side about breast-high with bricks. The other half space was still high enough to harbor a number of seldom-used items. The sled was put away in that crawl space and forgotten until the first good snow of the next winter arrived. Then the sledder realized that the full coal cellar blocked his way to the sled. No comment from Mom, but she was much more relaxed during the snow times that winter.

     We are now accepting dues for 2004. Annual dues are due on April 1st. The Martins Ferry Area Historical Society is a non-profit organization. Many of our projects, including this newsletter, are supported by membership dues. If you haven't yet paid your dues this year, please consider doing so.