The Great Flood of 1947

Tragedy visited Saranac, New York on July 12, 1947. Between 4:30 and 6:30 that afternoon, the Saranac area experienced a torrential rain storm so severe that even the most minute details were etched in residents' minds. The tragedy occurred where True Brook enters the Saranac at Moffittsville. Bob Lamkins and Highway Commissioner, Paul Ebere, inspected the storm damage on True Brook Road in their own vehicles. When Lamkins crossed the bridge, he felt it sway and jumped out to warn Ebere. Unfortunately, Ebere had already begun crossing the roaring debris-filled brook, and the car's weight proved too much for the bridge. It collapsed at that moment, sending Ebere and his passengers into the surging waters of True Brook. In the car were Paul Ebere, his teenage son Donald, his brother-in-law Leo Lashway, and Leo's son, Donald. Donald Ebere was thrown free of the car and pulled from the river by a human chain. Paul Ebere and his relatives could not escape the vehicle.  It twisted end-over-end down the brook for 200 feet, under the Route 3 bridge, and traveled another 200 feet down the river before it could be hauled to the riverbank.  Ebere was removed from the wreckage, and despite Dr. Ganong’s efforts, he was too severely injured to survive. The Lashways were carried away in the roaring river. Leo was found three days later, three miles downriver, and young Donald on the fourth day over seven miles from True Brook.

Almost fifty years later, everyone remembered July 12, 1947, in great detail. Harold Ryan said it was like a “never-ending bucket of water being poured over my head.” The air was so charged with electricity from the lightning his hair stood on end. Alex Lamkins described the rocks and boulders crashing together at True Brook as a continuous thunder roar. He saw “full-grown trees marching down the brook like soldiers going to war,” only to drop and then reappear mutilated.

Damage was estimated at $500,000 ($6 million in 2021), and repairs began immediately. The first priority was temporary roads so farmers could get their milk to market. Surrounding towns sent road crews and equipment, at no cost, to help clean up. Even inmates from the prison helped with debris removal. A bonus was the acquisition of war surplus heavy equipment used in repairing the roads.  Alex Lamkins, who replaced Ebere as highway commissioner, praised area residents for giving their time, equipment, and even property to get back on their feet again.

Corners Brook Road ran between Canning Road and Picketts Corners and was totally washed out and not rebuilt. True Brook Road was pushed back into its original course, graded, and paved. Along Nashville Road, a gully marks the old road and can still be clearly seen. As with other areas, adjacent land was used for roadways. Within two weeks, the temporary roadwork was completed, and by the new year, all highways were back to normal.

Despite all the devastation of that day, a light shone. Saranac natives Ellsworth Napper and Shirley Everleth were engaged that night, proving that every cloud has a silver lining.

Written by Jan Couture, Town of Saranac Historian

Photos courtesy of the Town of Saranac

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