The worst natural disaster in Pennsylvania history was the Johnstown Flood of 1889, which killed over 2,000 people

The day that the South Fork Dam collapsed and killed more than 2200 and caused over $17,000,000 in damages.

Johnstown, Pennsylvania, was founded in 1800 and was located where the Stonycreek and Little Conemaugh Rivers joined to form the Conemaugh River and is 60 miles east of Pittsburgh. The damn was built in 1840, 14 miles upstream from Johnstown.

The dam was 900 feet by 72 feet, the largest earth dam, made of dirt and rock, which then created the largest artificial lake of its time, lake Conemaugh. Unfortunately, when the railways came, they replaced the old canal system, and the canal was neglected, and maintenance was not kept up.

When the state abandoned the channel, it was sold to the Pennsylvania Railroad, and then they sold the dam and lake to private investors. Henry Clay Frick was part of a group of wealthy Pittsburgh investors, and they bought the abandoned reservoir to modify and convert it to a remote lake resort for the rich.

Development began on the dam, which included workers lowering the barrier, which is also thought to have caused more damage, making it more vulnerable to breaking. Pieces of relief pipes and valves that were part of the original dam were removed and not replaced or fixed, leaving the dam vulnerable and unable to lower the water levels in an emergency.

The area was home to Cambria Iron Company, founded in 1852. It was one of the most important contributors to American industrialism and one of the most significant early modern iron and steel works. A model plant and it attracted the brightest in the industry.

It also represented the end of America's reliance on British-produced railways and helped the US railway expansion. The company continued to grow so did Johnstown. By 1889 Johnstown was home to at least 30,000 people, most employed by the steel companies.

The dam is believed to have failed during record rainfall in May, and 6-10 inches of rain fell within 24 hours, causing small creeks to rage rivers, pull up trees, and collect debris. Telegraph lines were down as well as rail lines were washed away.

On the morning of May 31, the president of South Fork Fishing and Hunting Club, Elias Unger, noticed the lake looked like it was about to burst. He saw the water rising above the dam, and they caught the spillway clogged and attempted to clear it but were unable.

Others tried to dig ditches to allow water out of the lake to prevent water from going over the dam. Even John Parke, an engineer, was there to assess the situation. However, the spillway was not kept up or maintained. Unger sent a man to the village of South Fork to warn the residents.

Unfortunately, his telegraph was never sent because there were a lot of false alarms, and the telegraph was never sent to the authorities in Johnstown. The men worked until 1:30 pm to secure the damn and felt that the damn would collapse even with all the efforts to prevent it. The men were instructed to get to high ground, and between 2;50- 2:55 pm, the dam collapsed.

South Fork was hit first, but the town was higher, and most residents could run to higher ground. Yet between 20-30 hours were destroyed, and four people were killed. The waters hit the Cambria Iron Works, collecting railroad cars and barbed wire, killing 314 people and even causing explosions and smoke visible to Johnstown residents.

Once the flood reached Johnstown, the water moved 40 miles per hour at 60 feet. The flood had collected even more debris and destroyed everything, including people and homes. People got caught in the trash and barbed wire; some drowned while others ran to higher ground or fled to their attics. Many who survived waited to be rescued for hours on top of roofs and floating debris.

Unfortunately, some who held on to debris were caught in a bridge in town and then caught fire. Those were clinging to the garbage and then burned to death. At least 80 people died in the fire. The fire burned for three days, and once the flood began to recede, the debris covered over 30 acres, taking workers over three months to clear the area.

The total death toll was calculated at 2208 people, and it was one of the most significant losses of civilian lives at that time in history. Bodies were found as far away as Cincinnati, Ohio, and 99 entire families died, including 396 children, 124 women, and 198 men, and 777 people were never identified, and their remains were buried at Johnstown Grandview Cemetery.

The local residents placed blame on those wealthy businessmen, for not keeping up the maintenance of the dam.

"Fifty thousand lives," wrote Harrisburg newspaperman J. J. McLaurin, "in Pennsylvania were jeopardized for eight years that a club of rich pleasure seekers might fish and sail and revel in luxurious ease during the heated term."

Originally published here, and noted references.