Flood more than a century ago in Glen Williams caused catastrophic damage
Spring flood in Glen Williams, 1912
The season of spring is typically associated with warm temperatures, sunshine and the blooming of flowers, but this pleasant visualization has not always been the case for the area of Halton Hills.
Historically, residents have had their fair share of spring floods and storms over the decades that have resulted in damage to property and even harm to those who have been caught up in the path of nature’s wrath.
One water body that has been a repeat offender for floods is the unforgiving Credit River, which made spring flooding almost an annual event for the residents of Glen Williams and Norval.
A notable flood along the Credit River, documented in The Acton Free Press, was the flood of April 7, 1912.
The week leading up to the massive flood saw the rapid melting of snow, causing the Credit’s water level to rise and dislodge large amounts of ice in the process.
On the afternoon of April 7 this sudden rise in temperature was catastrophic as the dams and bridges along the river were wiped out in the downward course of the water and ice, resulting in major flood damage to the buildings and roads in the Glen and through to Norval. Repairs and clean up took months and was described by old-timers as “the worst in 34 years.”
Other sizable spring floods along the Credit include the years of 1940, 1965, 1974 and 1983. The flood of March 1983 saw levels rise well above five feet and firefighters even had to rescue two people that were almost washed away in the rushing current.
Besides flooding along the Credit River, heavy spring rains have also wreaked havoc, as was the case with incidents at Acton.
Due to an unprecedented amount of rainfall in March 1946, one of the dams at the Beardmore Tannery broke. A 30-foot high dam, holding back tanning effluent in a filter bed, let loose and a wall of red-coloured fluid flowed down the Black Creek, completely flooding Glen Lawson in 15 feet of filth.
The breaking of the tannery’s dam also caused a portion of the Third Line to wash out, as well as the undermining of a nearby railway bridge and the temporary polluting of Acton’s water supply. All repairs to infrastructure were promptly made.
Another incident involving spring showers in Acton, as reported in the Free Press, was on the evening of April 18, 1975, when a thunderstorm broke out over the community.
Prior to the heavy downpour, the ground was saturated and would not absorb water, causing runoff and pooling on the surface. The result of the spring storm, in low-lying areas of Acton, was flooded basements and the pooling of water on streets. There was also a rather large sinkhole, brought on by the flash rain, at the intersection of John and Church streets.
While measures have since been put in place, through the Credit Valley Conservation Authority and the Town of Halton Hills to prevent and mitigate spring flooding, the historic accounts shared serve as a reminder of the force and damage that the season of spring can bring to the area.
Article written by Scott Brooks, with information from Dills Collection/EHS/HHPL.
Historically, residents have had their fair share of spring floods and storms over the decades that have resulted in damage to property and even harm to those who have been caught up in the path of nature’s wrath.
One water body that has been a repeat offender for floods is the unforgiving Credit River, which made spring flooding almost an annual event for the residents of Glen Williams and Norval.
A notable flood along the Credit River, documented in The Acton Free Press, was the flood of April 7, 1912.
The week leading up to the massive flood saw the rapid melting of snow, causing the Credit’s water level to rise and dislodge large amounts of ice in the process.
On the afternoon of April 7 this sudden rise in temperature was catastrophic as the dams and bridges along the river were wiped out in the downward course of the water and ice, resulting in major flood damage to the buildings and roads in the Glen and through to Norval. Repairs and clean up took months and was described by old-timers as “the worst in 34 years.”
Other sizable spring floods along the Credit include the years of 1940, 1965, 1974 and 1983. The flood of March 1983 saw levels rise well above five feet and firefighters even had to rescue two people that were almost washed away in the rushing current.
Besides flooding along the Credit River, heavy spring rains have also wreaked havoc, as was the case with incidents at Acton.
Due to an unprecedented amount of rainfall in March 1946, one of the dams at the Beardmore Tannery broke. A 30-foot high dam, holding back tanning effluent in a filter bed, let loose and a wall of red-coloured fluid flowed down the Black Creek, completely flooding Glen Lawson in 15 feet of filth.
The breaking of the tannery’s dam also caused a portion of the Third Line to wash out, as well as the undermining of a nearby railway bridge and the temporary polluting of Acton’s water supply. All repairs to infrastructure were promptly made.
Another incident involving spring showers in Acton, as reported in the Free Press, was on the evening of April 18, 1975, when a thunderstorm broke out over the community.
Prior to the heavy downpour, the ground was saturated and would not absorb water, causing runoff and pooling on the surface. The result of the spring storm, in low-lying areas of Acton, was flooded basements and the pooling of water on streets. There was also a rather large sinkhole, brought on by the flash rain, at the intersection of John and Church streets.
While measures have since been put in place, through the Credit Valley Conservation Authority and the Town of Halton Hills to prevent and mitigate spring flooding, the historic accounts shared serve as a reminder of the force and damage that the season of spring can bring to the area.
Article written by Scott Brooks, with information from Dills Collection/EHS/HHPL.