South Fork Dam
Encyclopedia
The South Fork Dam was located on Lake Conemaugh, an artificial body of water located near South Fork, Pennsylvania
, United States
. On May 31, 1889, the South Fork Dam failed catastrophically
and 20 million tons of water from Lake Conemaugh burst through and raced 14 miles (23 km) downstream, causing the Johnstown Flood
.
The South Fork Dam was originally built between 1838–1853 by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
as part of the canal
system to be used as a reservoir for the state's Main Line of Public Works
canal basin in Johnstown. It was abandoned by the commonwealth, sold to the Pennsylvania Railroad
, and sold again to private interests.
Prior to the flood, speculators had purchased the abandoned reservoir, made less than well-engineered repairs to the old dam, raised the lake level, built cottages and a clubhouse, and created the South Fork Fishing and Hunting Club
. Members of the exclusive and secretive retreat in the mountains were 61 wealthy Pittsburgh steel and coal financier
s and industrialists, including Andrew Carnegie
, Andrew Mellon, Philander Knox, John George Alexander Leishman
, Henry Clay Frick
and Daniel Johnson Morrell
.
, 2,209 people were killed, and there was $17 million in damage.
This was the first major disaster relief effort handled by the new American Red Cross
, led by Clara Barton
. After the flood, victims suffered a series of legal defeats in their attempt to recover damages from the dam's owners. Public indignation at that failure prompted a major development in American law state courts' move from a fault-based regime to strict liability
. The Johnstown Flood became a symbol of the havoc, 20 million tons of water unleashed from the reservoir.
Part of the St. Michael neighborhood, and most of Creslo, of the town St. Michael-Sidman, Pennsylvania
now sits on the bed of the former Lake Conemaugh.
South Fork, Pennsylvania
South Fork is a borough in Cambria County, Pennsylvania, United States. It is part of the Johnstown, Pennsylvania Metropolitan Statistical Area...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. On May 31, 1889, the South Fork Dam failed catastrophically
Catastrophic failure
A catastrophic failure is a sudden and total failure of some system from which recovery is impossible. Catastrophic failures often lead to cascading systems failure....
and 20 million tons of water from Lake Conemaugh burst through and raced 14 miles (23 km) downstream, causing the Johnstown Flood
Johnstown Flood
The Johnstown Flood occurred on May 31, 1889. It was the result of the catastrophic failure of the South Fork Dam situated upstream of the town of Johnstown, Pennsylvania, USA, made worse by several days of extremely heavy rainfall...
.
The South Fork Dam was originally built between 1838–1853 by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania
The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is a U.S. state that is located in the Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States. The state borders Delaware and Maryland to the south, West Virginia to the southwest, Ohio to the west, New York and Ontario, Canada, to the north, and New Jersey to...
as part of the canal
Canal
Canals are man-made channels for water. There are two types of canal:#Waterways: navigable transportation canals used for carrying ships and boats shipping goods and conveying people, further subdivided into two kinds:...
system to be used as a reservoir for the state's Main Line of Public Works
Main Line of Public Works
The Main Line of Public Works was a railroad and canal system built by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania in the 19th century. It ran from Philadelphia west through Harrisburg and across the state to Pittsburgh and connected with other divisions of the Pennsylvania Canal...
canal basin in Johnstown. It was abandoned by the commonwealth, sold to the Pennsylvania Railroad
Pennsylvania Railroad
The Pennsylvania Railroad was an American Class I railroad, founded in 1846. Commonly referred to as the "Pennsy", the PRR was headquartered in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania....
, and sold again to private interests.
Prior to the flood, speculators had purchased the abandoned reservoir, made less than well-engineered repairs to the old dam, raised the lake level, built cottages and a clubhouse, and created the South Fork Fishing and Hunting Club
South Fork Fishing and Hunting Club
The South Fork Fishing and Hunting Club was a Pennsylvania corporation which operated an exclusive and secretive retreat at a mountain lake near South Fork, Pennsylvania for more than fifty extremely wealthy men and their families...
. Members of the exclusive and secretive retreat in the mountains were 61 wealthy Pittsburgh steel and coal financier
Financier
Financier is a term for a person who handles typically large sums of money, usually involving money lending, financing projects, large-scale investing, or large-scale money management. The term is French, and derives from finance or payment...
s and industrialists, including Andrew Carnegie
Andrew Carnegie
Andrew Carnegie was a Scottish-American industrialist, businessman, and entrepreneur who led the enormous expansion of the American steel industry in the late 19th century...
, Andrew Mellon, Philander Knox, John George Alexander Leishman
John George Alexander Leishman
John George Alexander Leishman was an American businessman and diplomat. He worked in various executive positions at Carnegie Steel Company and later served as an ambassador for the United States.-Biography:...
, Henry Clay Frick
Henry Clay Frick
Henry Clay Frick was an American industrialist, financier, and art patron. He founded the H. C. Frick & Company coke manufacturing company, was chairman of the Carnegie Steel Company, and played a major role in the formation of the giant U.S. Steel steel manufacturing concern...
and Daniel Johnson Morrell
Daniel Johnson Morrell
Daniel Johnson Morrell was a Republican member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Pennsylvania.Daniel J.Morrell was born in North Berwick, Maine. He moved to Philadelphia in 1836 and entered a counting room as clerk and afterward engaged in mercantile pursuits...
.
Accident
On May 31, 1889, after several days of unprecedented rainfall, the dam gave way. A torrent of water raced downstream, destroying several towns. When it reached JohnstownJohnstown, Pennsylvania
Johnstown is a city in Cambria County, Pennsylvania, United States, west-southwest of Altoona, Pennsylvania and east of Pittsburgh. The population was 20,978 at the 2010 census. It is the principal city of the Johnstown, Pennsylvania, Metropolitan Statistical Area, which includes Cambria County...
, 2,209 people were killed, and there was $17 million in damage.
This was the first major disaster relief effort handled by the new American Red Cross
American Red Cross
The American Red Cross , also known as the American National Red Cross, is a volunteer-led, humanitarian organization that provides emergency assistance, disaster relief and education inside the United States. It is the designated U.S...
, led by Clara Barton
Clara Barton
Clarissa Harlowe "Clara" Barton was a pioneer American teacher, patent clerk, nurse, and humanitarian. She is best remembered for organizing the American Red Cross.-Youth, education, and family nursing:...
. After the flood, victims suffered a series of legal defeats in their attempt to recover damages from the dam's owners. Public indignation at that failure prompted a major development in American law state courts' move from a fault-based regime to strict liability
Strict liability
In law, strict liability is a standard for liability which may exist in either a criminal or civil context. A rule specifying strict liability makes a person legally responsible for the damage and loss caused by his or her acts and omissions regardless of culpability...
. The Johnstown Flood became a symbol of the havoc, 20 million tons of water unleashed from the reservoir.
Part of the St. Michael neighborhood, and most of Creslo, of the town St. Michael-Sidman, Pennsylvania
St. Michael-Sidman, Pennsylvania
St. Michael-Sidman is a census-designated place in Cambria County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 973 at the 2000 census.-Geography:St...
now sits on the bed of the former Lake Conemaugh.