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Today's flooding hits on 100 year anniversary of 1896 Great Flood July 19, 1996  Richard J. Gardner Local Historian July 24, 1996, marks the 100th anniversary of the Great Flood of 1896, the greatest disaster in the history of Jefferson County and one of the worst natural disasters in Colorado history. On that day a century ago, an emmense storm system from the Southwest overtook the unsuspecting inhabitants of the Front Range, taking with it 29 lives and causing an incredible amount of damage. Jefferson County bore the brunt of this weather attack, and, while lives were lost, even more were saved by the bravery of its people. The storm system suddenly washed over Jeffco during the beautiful sunset hours of Friday, July 24,1896. The clouds, described as having an eerie dark green hue, instantly sent huge torrents of rain over the mountains to the north and west of the Golden/Morrison area. The rain, described as a full sheet of water, soon made it to the populated areas, pouring relentlessly over several hours along with hail and lightening, making the sky pitch black. Through the lightning, people could see huge boulders that came rolling down the mountain like so many spools of thread, one ending up in a house. Great torrents rushed down slopes, thrashing the Cresman and Tucker gulches, and Clear, Mount Vernon, Cub and Bear Creeks, taking everything in their paths Evergreen was the first hit. A charcoal hauler by the name of Nichols was killed by the waters of Bear Creek while trying to rescue his horse team, his only source of livelihood. From there Bear Creek took out the buildings of the Morrell, Gregory and Pearson ranches, and then tore into Morrison, smashing a house and instantly killing Elizabeth Miller and her three children. The debris barely hit the Wolff cottage, but it was enough to dislodge it from its foundation, sending the three families inside on a horror-filled trip down Bear Creek. Downstream east of the hogback, farmer J.C. Longnecker saw the homes get smashed and raced his family to high ground, going back down himself to attempt to find son Jacob, who was missing. Not finding him, Longnecker barely managed to free his horses before the Flood was upon him. From a tree branch he helplessly watched the Wolff house and all inside float past him and be smashed to pieces about where C-470 runs today. Later he found his son near the debris. Those who died in Morrison were Elizabeth Miller, son Harry and two more children; Mrs. A.S. Procter of Denver and children Grace, Robert and Edith; Mrs. Anthony Herren of Denver and three children Eugene, Josephine, Caroll and infant Mable; Mrs. Thomas F.Casey of Denver and children Jimmy, Anna, Eddie, Mamie and Clara and relative Thomas McGough of Dayton, Ohio; and Jacob Longnecker. Out of that great tragedy came a miracle. As the Wolff cottage was smashed, ten-year-old Irene Proctor was hurled through the roof. In the raging waters she grabbed onto a passing plank to which she clung until she floated into shallow waters and safety. Hers was heralded as many as the most miraculous escape. In Mount Vernon Canyon, two young men were taking young ladies Adele and Mary Horner and Josephine Holme, along with chaperone Mrs. Warren, up on a horse drawn scenic trip through Mount Vernon Canyon when the flood hit them without warning. The men barely managed to swim to safety, but their companions were not as fortunate. Upstream two young girls saw the flood coming and climbed out of harm's way, spending the night on the moundside. Golden was under siege by flood waters coming at it from from two directions, taking out all bridges and forcing the electric plant to shut down. On Tucker Gulch, Laura Edwards was swept away instantly when 33 feet of water went through a narrow point where her house stood. Crushing downstream, the flows split at the abandoned Golden Glass Works (southwest corner of Eighth and Ford streets), sending a torrent down Washington Avenue and the rest down the gulch. The gulch waters smashed the back of the Treffeisen Building (northeast corner of 10th and Ford), and splintered a tiny frame cottage standing next to it, taking it bodily across 10th Street. Inside were an elderly couple, Mr. and Mrs. Andrew A. Johnson, who had just sat down to supper. Nearby, the Burgess House (1015 Ford) took extensive damage and lost one of its buildings. The Boston building (Golden's first building, now the site of Parfet Park) was knocked off its foundation and nearly destroyed. Up Clear Creek, miles of railroad track were twisted like pretzel dough, but the train was safely at Beaver Brook Station. After Jefferson County, the storm lashed waves in the streets of Denver and more rains pounded Pueblo and the Rio Grande. At Golden there were stories of heroism and miracles, which saved many more lives than were lost. At Tucker Gulch, friends rescued the Edwards children before the floods destroyed their home. Fletch Edwards had raced down the mountainside to discover his crashed home, desperately searching for his family before being reunited with his children. Downstream, a terminally ill man, Jerry Shrove, was taken by the flood and slammed against the back of the Treffeisen Building, where he clung to a corner for dear life until rescued. At the small brick cottage east of the Burgess House, Al Bawolski broke the bones of his right hand pulling his family to safety only feet away from where the Johnsons perished. At lower 11th Street (now the Mitchell Elementary School playground), Golden's fire department met and rescued families who were stranded in their homes in several feet of water using lanterns, ropes and ladders. Media accounts said there were many more stories of heroism but not space to tell them. Memorial services for even the most of obscure of the victims were greatly attended. Today, trees and greenery grace areas where homes like the Johnson cottage were once swept away, bearing peaceful living testimony to those who once were there. Victims of the Great Flood of 1896             Evergreen             Nichols            Golden            Laura Edwards            Andrew A. Johnson            Mrs. Andrew A. Johnson Mount Vernon Adele Horner Mary Horner Mrs. Harry M. Warren Josephine Holme            Morrison            Elizabeth Miller            Miller child            Robert Procter            Eugene Herren            Mable Herren            Anna Casey            Clara Casey Harry Miller Mrs. A. S. Procter Edith Procter Josephine Herren Mrs. Thomas F. Casey Eddie Casey Thomas McDowell Back to Golden Transcript Articles