May 31, 1889, on Friday to be precise, the dam broke 20 miles upstream from Johnstown, PA and in a short time more than 2000 people died. It is now a National Park Unit and one I was able to revisit with Kellen in April to get a couple of photographs. The first photo shows the area below the house that was the recreational lake and filled most of the valley. The second photo is where the earthen dam broke away.
One story. Cindy’s grandmother, Isabella Davison was in route from Northumberland, England to the Pittsburgh area. At that time there was one train line west from the Mid-atlantic and the Northeast and it was across Johnstown. Needless to say the railroad was destroyed in the flood and she was delayed on her journey. She - according to family lore- then made the trip after train service was resumed. It was one week and photo three shows the trestle that was built in five days. It was 400 feet long and 80 high. She was a brave lady.
