From the Town of Lindley Historian's Files

For a short time in 1939 and 1940 ,a young man named Rutty Passmore who lived on Morgan Creek Road in the cinder block home published a local newspaper. Most of the items were about the comings and goings of Lindley-Presho and Lawrenceville,Penna residents. Occasionally,he wrote about events occurring in the area. The following is one of these articles. At another time, I will copy his article on the 1940 flood. (Kitty )

Vol. III No.9 Thursday April 4th 1940

100 Years Ago

A weekly feature by W.Rutty Passmore

" I believe that a little over One Hundred Years ago pertaining to past floods would be timely considering last weeks high water.

In the Autumn of 1817, the Tioga Valley had what is known as the Great Pumpkin Flood .
At this time , the valley was scarcely populated and the settlements did not extend out of the rivers flats and when the water overflowed the banks ,it took away nearly all the late crops and produce. The pumpkins which were unusually large and brightly colored that year due to the rich soil of the valley and the extra fine growing season ,were very much in evidence covering the surface of the water as it raced down stream. That is where the flood of 1817 got it's name.

One amusing incident was noted about that flood. One family ,the David Cooks, the second David Cook ,not the first of Lindley which were on higher ground took in two families when the water forced them out. As the water raised ,the farmer took his sheep in his canoe and took them in the house and placed them in the attic of the one story house, the attic being nearly full of corn on the cob,not in a bottle. Soon the water entered the first floor and the families were forced to 'flee" to the attic. Three families, eleven sheep and an attic full of corn were jammed into the small space that normally would be large enough for either alone.

That same home has a sequel in the same inundation. The next day the water lowered and then raised again until the families had to abandon the second story attic,escaping through an attic window to a canoe. The sheep were like wise removed . They spent the night on a hillside a few hundred feet away. During the night 5 large stacks of wheat and oats floated off and went out of sight down the river. Later, they were found down the river in a field on Mulhollen's Island ,every stack right side up and not a shock missing. **

It is interesting to note that one flood following another by a day or so is not something new or of recent origin ,such as last weekend. At least one hundred and twenty-three years ago,it did that. Seems like there is nothing new under the sun ,especially if one looks at history. "

***

** Note from Kitty -( Before the days of combines and corn harvesters,Shocks were bundles of cornstalks or grain standing on end together in a field waitng to be harvested. On rare occasions any more they can be seen in a field of Amish farmers)

*** During all the rain and flooding recently, many local residents expressed their gratitude for the flood control dams in neighboring Tioga County,Penna.