May 16, 2024, marked the 150-year anniversary of the historic Mill River Flood Disaster that changed the course of history for the factory villages of Williamsburg, Skinnerville, Haydenville and Leeds. On that morning, the poorly constructed and neglected Williamsburg Reservoir Dam gave way—and a wall of water moved with lightning speed down the narrow Mill River riverbed all the way to Florence Meadows, killing 139 people, and wiping out homes and factories on its banks. Elizabeth Sharpe, in her riveting book, “In the Shadow of the Dam: The Aftermath of the Mill River Flood of 1874”, tells the stories of this disaster—the background, the calamity, the heartbreak, the heroes and the people, whose lives were changed forever.
This was the worst disaster of that kind in North American history to that time. It was covered by the newspapers of the day far and wide. Photographers flocked to the area to capture the scenes in double image stereographs, the photographic medium of the day. This stereograph is a view from the east side of reservoir bed, showing the west wall and gatekeeper George Cheney’s house, after the disaster. The Meekins Flood Stereograph Collection of about 84 different views, has been digitized and is accessible online.
On Sunday, November 10, 2024, from 1 to 3 p.m., there is one last 2024 opportunity for a special guided walk along the 1.5-mile Williamsburg Woodland Trails Historic Dam Trail in the woods north of Williamsburg, led by author Elizabeth Sharpe. Meet at the trail entrance on Ashfield Road.
If you haven’t already read the book “In the Shadow of the Dam” (available at the Meekins Library), read it and take this opportunity to visit the dam with Elizabeth Sharpe. Daria D’Arienzo, Meekins Archivist. #throwbackthursday; #tbt.
Posted to Facebook 11/7/2024
