Flood+of+1903

On October 8th 1903, the Ramapo Valley area suffered a terrible rainstorm that lasted 30 hours. This huge amount of rain caused the banks of the Negra Pond, now known as Potague Lake, to overflow and gush down the Ramapo Mountain into Cranberry Pond. The Cranberry Pond overflowed which forced the Cranberry Pond Dam to burst. The water gushed down into the Ramapo Valley with a crushing force. This rushing floodwater carved a gorge 100 feet wide and 120 feet deep through the valley. The floodwaters smashed into the Ramapo Valley destroying everything in its path. The force of the water destroyed many Sloatsburg homes and flattened an area of Sloatsburg now known as the “Flats”. When the rain stopped, 10.05 inches had fallen. The flood involved a 10 to 12 mile area and floodwaters measured 15 to 20 feet high in some areas. All bridges and dams between Tuxedo and Mahwah were destroyed except for the Kellogg-Maurice Bridge also known as the Black Bridge. This bridge is located near the village of Hillburn. Railroad officials rolled freight cars onto the bridge and weighed it down with rocks. This was the only bridge to be saved during the flood. Miles of railroad ties were crushed and tracks were twisted. Telephone and telegraph poles were forced down. Many farm animals were killed and carried away by the raging flood. Most of the shops and businesses built along the Ramapo River were also destroyed. Two men who worked on the Harriman Estate were traveling through the valley when the Cranberry Dam broke. They were killed by the crushing water and found downstream two days later. These are the only two deaths recorded due to this flood. A close call happened when two elderly residents in their 70’s living near Cranberry Dam were caught in the path of the floodwaters after the dam broke. Their house was forced on its side with them inside. They both managed to hang on to the side of the house and were rescued the next day. Passengers traveling south by train became trapped in their cars but survived. The next day, many of the area residents were homeless and in need of food and shelter. Many wealthy Tuxedo Park residents provided food and clothing. E.F. Pierson opened his mansion for area residents. The Ramapo Town Board met to plan the clean up and how to rebuild the area. The Erie Railroad sent many men to rebuild the railroad tracks and bridges. It took weeks before train service was available. One thousand area workers were out of work for over three weeks following the flood.