I
would think that checking newspapers published in Rochester,
Oneida and Syracuse you may be able to find references. Most likely
the NY State Newspaper Project could guide you to such
newspaper issues/accounts for the time period you are researching. (Many of
these newspapers from the early and mid-19th century are now on
microfilm.)
BTW:
There was also an extraordinary flooding, circa 1937, which affected central NY
(and as far away as Ohio as well).
Douglas Scott Treado, MA
Challenge Industries/Preservation Microfilm
Ithaca, NY
Having recently spent 12 fun filled days without
electricity due to Hurricane Isabel (I now live in Virginia), I recognized the
signature of a hurricane in an 1809 reference to flooding in central New
York. I looked on-line for resources for hurricanes in that year, and
other references to devastating floods across upstate NY, but was unable to
find any. In fact, I found a list of hurricanes that said there were
none (tropical cyclones, to be precise) affecting the eastern seaboard in
1809.
Does anyone have other references to these terrible floods in NY
in 1809?
It is very reminiscent of the accounts of the Great Spring
Freshet that destroyed much of the infrastructure and property across upstate
NY in
1865.
Dan
W.
Here is the 1809 account:
From THE PILOT,
Cazenovia NY, Wednesday, July 19, 1809:
“Our country is inundated to a
degree never before witnessed. The person who carries the branch mail
from this place to the Seneca turnpike was obliged to return without any
information of the Eastern mail, owing to the destruction of the
bridges. From every quarter as far as we have been able to learn, the
most dismal accounts are given of the destruction of Mill-dams, mills,
bridges, dwelling houses, barns, fences and property of every kind. – The rain
has continued to come down in torrents, accompanied with a strong east wind,
with but little cessation since Sunday (7/16/1809) evening last. – How
far the destruction is spread, is yet unknown.”