Train station and waterfront, Bangor flood, 1902
Partially submerged boxcars alongside a double-masted ship on the Penobscot River during the Bangor flood of March 20, 1902.Bangor Public Library
Text by The 7th Grade Maine Studies Students of the William S. Cohen School
Images from Bangor Public Library, Bangor Daily News and Bangor Historical Society
The Penobscot River has brought wealth and prosperity to Bangor, but it has also has been destructive. More than once, the citizens of Bangor found their waterfront businesses destroyed by the force of the river. And each time the city rebuilt its waterfront, it created a new look for Bangor.
Flood, Bangor, 1902
Looking down Broad st. during the flood of 1902.Bangor Public Library
Flood on the Penobscot, Bangor, 1902
The Kenduskeag Stream (on right) flows into the Penobscot River in the flood of 1902. Two partially submerged rail cars and an unidentified building were just a couple of the many damages caused by the Bangor Flood of 1902.Bangor Historical Society
1902
The rain was coming down hard in downtown Bangor on the evening of March 20, 1902. The townspeople had been experiencing unseasonably warm, wet weather for many days now, and they were sick of it. Little did they know that the rain was only the beginning of a very wet few days.
It was that time of year again--Bangor was beginning to thaw out, and the ice on the Penobscot River was starting to break up and float down the river and two ice jams were formed. Along with ice, logs flowed down the river and created a dam, causing the water to back up. When the water overflowed onto the banks, the Great Bangor Flood of 1902 began.
The dark, raging flood swept through downtown Bangor. Along with all floods come damage. Two hundred to three hundred thousand dollars were spent putting our beloved city back on its feet. Part of this money went to rebuilding two bridges that were swept downstream. Other damaged items include about $1850.00 in meats and other goods from various stores. A nice save was made by C.P. Galgher when he successfully moved five thousand dollars worth of goods before the flood hit. Buildings, money, and years of hard work were lost in the flood. Thankfully, there were not any lives lost. Some injuries were reported, but not any deaths.
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The quickly rising water caught many shoppers and downtown workers by surprise.
Photo courtesy of the Bangor Daily News
1976
February 2, 1976 was a warm and rainy day. Howling winds topping 80 miles an hour and rising tides made the conditions tough. The rain kept coming down. And just when you thought it couldn't get any worse, a buildup of logs jammed the Penobscot River, and the flood had just begun.
Very high tides and strong winds made for perfect flood conditions. It took only 15 minutes for the water to flow over the banks. The water rose so quickly that people were trapped in their cars, and many cars were ruined. Damages to personal property cost over two million dollars.
After the short but costly flood there were many things that needed to be cleaned up. The clean-up for the flood started on February 4, 1976, just two days after the flood hit. Many of the townspeople went out in boats to help others. Many loans were needed to rebuild all of the businesses that were damaged during the flood. Most of the businesses in the plaza were damaged, such as Viner music, Dakin's Sporting Goods, and two banks. All the businesses that had basements near the river were damaged. On top of the flood waters, some fires also broke out. The power connections were shut off, but short circuits caused these fires.
People watch as a man swims to the woman trapped on the roof of her car. He was able to swim her to safety.
Photo courtesy of the Bangor Daily News.
People watch as the parking lot along the Kenduskeag Stream floods, damaging many cars.
Photo courtesy of the Bangor Daily News.
