The+flood+of+1970b

MillertonAfter leaving Renous, the next place we stopped was Quarryville where there is another bridge spanning the river. While we were there, somebody shouted, "Hey look at that!"

There, coming down the river amid the ice was a whole building. Someone's camp had been swept from the shore and was being carried along with the rushing water and ice. As we watched we soon realized that with the water now almost touching the underside of the bridge, there was no place for the camp to go. It seems that time slowed down as we watched. The building came closer and closer to the bridge. And then there was the collison. Wood and bricks and glass were tossed in the air. It seems so strange to see it happen and yet not hear the collison. The roar of the water and the ice overwhelmed all other sound.



The bridge lifted enough to be noticeable but then settled back down on the abutments. Very little remained of the camp by the time it cleared the downriver side of the bridge, just pieces of debris not one could recognize as a camp.

To that point along the river, there had been no homes close to the shore. The banks were steep and high. But once we reached Millerton that changes. There is flat, low lying land between the road and the river and families have had homes there for years. Those few houses were now in danger. Surely their basements were filled with water but now the ice was actually pushing against the sides of the houses. My dad and other men helped load some furniture and special belongings unto waiting trucks which took their loads to higher ground.



Fortunately no one in this area lost their lives and the few homes affected were not complely destroyed. It was quite an evening and I remember getting back home late and going to bed thankful my family was all with me, that we and our neighbours were safe and warm as the rain continued to fall and the sound of the distant river rumbled me to sleep.