The Ohio River Flood of 1907 in Wheeling

The 1907 flood was one of the worst floods Wheeling suffered. It crested at 50.1 feet making it the fifth highest on record. It is well-documented, especially in pictures. Nicoll's Art Store in Wheeling saw an opportunity: according to their advertisement, "Our Camera Experts were active and caught everything worth seeing; much that is worth preserving." What appears to be proofs of some of the postcards produced are in our collection. The library also is blessed with a collection of beautiful large format photographs of the flood by Charles C. Kline (who was probably one of, or the, photographer for Nicoll's Art Store).

Images

Newspaper Articles

 ▶ "42 Feet or Over...," Intelligencer front page story, Thursday, March 14
 ▶ "47 or 48 Feet Here To-day," Intelligencer front page story, Friday, March 15
 ▶  Back page stories, Intelligencer, Friday, March 15
 ▶ "River Is Yielding Up Its Dead," Wheeling Daily News, Saturday, March 16.
 ▶ "The City of Scene of Desolation," Wheeling Daily News, Saturday, March 16.
 ▶ "Thrilling Were Scenes," Wheeling Daily News, Saturday, March 16.
 ▶  An editorial about getting the news out during the flood and the consequences of deforestation, Wheeling Daily News, Saturday, March 16, Special Flood Edition.

Additional Resources

▶ Vertical File: Wheeling Flood of 1907, Wheeling Room, non-circulating, ask for access at the reference desk.
▶ Binder: Wheeling Floods, Wheeling Room, non-circulating, ask for access at the reference desk.
▶ Archival Collection: Flood Photographs [1884-1936], OCPL Archives, non-circulating, appointment must be made to view collection.