40 Years Ago, Patapsco Devastated By Agnes Flood
Newspaper accounts of the time state that the hurricane devastated the state park.
Photos
Forty years ago on June 23, flooding from Hurricane Agnes hit the Patapsco River Valley area, devastating the state park, wiping out old mill towns and severely flooding Ellicott City and Oella.
The flooding was first reported in the early morning hours of June 23 and water was reported as high as 40 feet, according to an article in the Catonsville Times on May 21, 1973.
The park area from Ilchester to Elkridge was was closed indefinitely. River Road was completely washed out.
The flood changed the course of the river, several newspaper articles stated, around where Lost Lake is. The original swinging bridge over the river was destroyed.
An article in the Catonsville Times from July 20, 1972 said that the flood caused roughly $1.8 million in damages to Patapsco State Park. An article from May 23, 1973, stated that damages to the Orange Grove and Avalon section of the park exceeded $8 million total.
According to an article from the Howard County Times, more than 900 people were evacuated from their homes. The National Guard helicopters were called in to rescue two workmen from the roof of the Daniels plant.
In Elkridge, a family of six was forced from its home and they attempted to reach high ground in a small boat. It capsized and all six held onto the boat for several hours until it reached shallower water, according to the article.
In Howard County, a total of 704 county residents were left homeless. More than 80 homes in the Ellicott City area were damaged and in Elkridge 72 homes were affected.
A total of seven people died and another died in the flooding at the South Entrance to Columbia, according to the Howard County Times.
Then park superintendent Charles Jackson recalled that time period roughly a year later in an interview. It would be several years before some areas of the park were open again.
"Sandy loam fills the area between Lost Lake which is really lost now, and the new river bank."
Patch readers recalled the storm on the Catonsville Patch Facebook page. Fran Shaw wrote, "I remember driving out to see the damage in Ellicott City and only being able to drive halfway down the hill into town. The river took up the rest of it."
Kathleen Dunworth Geil wrote, "We lived in Woodstock MD at the time. The bridge between Woodstock and Granite was washed away along with the hill supporting the railroad tracks, which caused travel issues for years. In Old Ellicott City, the water went all the way up to the door of Leidig's Bakery's."
The local history room at the Catonsville Library has old newspaper articles, photos and a book published by the Howard County Times chronicling the flood.
Patch would like to thank Catonsville Library employee Bryce Rumbles and volunteer Lisa Vicari for their help in finding information.
Do you have memories of Hurricane Agnes? Tell us in the comments below.
Kim Dixon
7:04 am on Sunday, June 24, 2012
And the area was deemed a hundred year flood plan and the no building was supposed to be conducted, in fact the state of Maryland bought homes and tore them down in a effort to protect people from a future flood. But Howard county continues to allow developers build in the same areas. Where is your home built??
Lori
3:08 pm on Sunday, June 24, 2012
Liberty damn was wild!
Debra Rosner
3:13 pm on Sunday, June 24, 2012
i've noticed that too, the house that sits on Levering avenue i think, it's the french restaurant now, used to be a home but was condemned after the flood, funny it turned into a restaurant just a short time later.
Tracy Peterson
8:22 pm on Tuesday, June 26, 2012
You are correct. The people that owned that house when Agnes hit...last name was "Raley". I went to middle school with "John". His nickname was "Pickles". Yup, brings back memories.
Monika
3:20 pm on Sunday, June 24, 2012
Sitting in the window of a business was a railroad car. This was as you would be driving down Washington Blvd. to Elkdrige going toward Washington. The building is still there.
Mary Louise Tablada
8:01 pm on Sunday, June 24, 2012
I grew up in Elkridge and have lived there for over 50 years now. As a teenager, my friends and I would take bagged lunches to the park from Montgomery Road area and ride down Lawyer's Hill Road to the park on our bikes. Building up speed was great fun going down Lawyers Hill road and also great muscle was built for the determined ride back up the hill, which I did repeatedly without stopping. We'd have fun eating our bagged lunches at the park and bring change to buy soda out of the soda machine. We'd park our bikes and cross over the "swinging bridge" and hike all over the park. Back then it was a real swinging bridge. I can't tell you how fun this was and what great memories it made. The summer that Agnes came was different. It only rained and it was difficult to go out and have as much fun. The rain eventually even damaged the roads making them not able to be driven on any longer. There was eventually a decision made to not fix the roads because residents felt that the nature of the park was preserved greater with no passing cars as a pass through within the park. I disagreed a little. I loved being able to drive throught the park. Its something I have always missed. When I go to the park now and see the roads, I remember that summer and the devastation that Agnes brought. Still great memories will always remain from many enjoyable summer days at this wonderful location.
Tracy Peterson
8:42 pm on Tuesday, June 26, 2012
Oh the memories. I grew up on Meadowridge rd. Troy Hill Farms used to be a bar called "My Brother's Place". My grandfather built it. We used to ride our bikes through the woods and out and down Rt. 100 to I-95 (before any of that was open) and ride down the long hill to the Patapsco River bridge (Ho. co./Balt. co. line) to spend time in the park.
Corinne
7:32 am on Tuesday, June 26, 2012
Peoples' homes were filled to the top floor with water. I went with a group of teens from my high school to help clean the houses of two elderly men who each lived alone. I couldn't believe the mess and the ruin of a house full of a lifetime of work and memories. The men were grateful for what little we could accomplish. The sadness of the situation and the helplessness of the homeowners haunts me to this day.
Mary Scheuer Rea
8:53 pm on Tuesday, June 26, 2012
I remember passing over route 1 on 95 and looking down at what is now Commercial Tire and only seeing the roof of the building.
Tracy Peterson
8:57 pm on Tuesday, June 26, 2012
That used to be the pharmacy and the barbershop. And standing on the edge of Miller Chevrolet parking lot and looking at the gasoline floating on top of the water from the gas station on the corner.
Mary Louise Tablada
10:33 pm on Tuesday, June 26, 2012
I don't remember if it was during the flood of Agnes or another flood but there was a business that sold tractors on route 1. It had a large window to view the tractors. Well...during the flood the water carried that tractor directly out that window and it ended up outside on the front lawn. The tractor was larger than a sedan car. Imagine that!
By the way, I was one of the first to drive on I-95 in Elkridge. My friends and I would ride out bikes all over I-95 before it was open. We were very disappointed when they finally opened the highway!
karen miglio
12:08 pm on Wednesday, June 27, 2012
I was a teenager when I first visited the park a few years after the hurricane, My friends and I spent many, many, many days in the park exploring all the areas of the park that were devastated, but especially the areas we shouldn't have ventured into. For instance, we went under the damn, we went up to and knocked on the door of the monastery (no one answered!, EVER!), we walked around their prayer garden. We walked along the rail line waiting for the trains to pass through the tunnel, we visited (w/o invitation, the spot for the Nun's) they didn't answer either. We had such a wonderful time hiking, swimming, laughing, finding and seeing the history. I'm 53 now and live in Florida. I just went back on June 26, 2012 for a nostalgic visit. Was hard to remember, a lot things have changed. As I went through the park it all came back to me and so wonderful to see and relive. We talked with Dave the Park Ranger and he was so helpful, Thanks Dave! If I could only be a kid again, that's where I'd be. Tell your kids and grandkids to get off the phone and go outside to the park, Patapsco State Park!