The Great Freshet of January 8, 1841 – Hudson, New York Commemorative Silver Half Dollar Coin

Today, the Hudson, New York Commemorative Silver Half Dollar Coin remembers the flooding and damage to the area above the Hudson River 175 years ago.

In his book, The Water Supply of the City of New York, 1658-1895, published in 1896, Edward Wegmann included an article from the “Hudson River Chronicle” published just a few days after the freshet did the damage in 1841.

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The rains which commenced in this section of the country on Tuesday of last week continued with but little intermission until Thursday night last.

At the time the storm commenced the snow lay upon the earth to the depth of eighteen inches. The melting of this large body of snow, together with the heavy rains, produced the largest freshet that has been witnessed in this part of the country for very many years.

The swelling of the Croton by the numerous streams running into it from the surrounding country became so great that fears began to be entertained on the evening of Thursday that the dam across it for the Croton Aqueduct would not withstand the pressure of the accumulated waters.

That part of the dam over which it was designed the surplus waters should flow was constructed of solid masonry.

Beyond this on the left bank of the river as you ascend it an embankment of earth, with a protection wall of massive stones, was constructed rising twelve feet above the tumble, as it is called (the space left for the surplus waters to pass off over the mason-work), leaving a passage for the surplus water of ninety feet in width by twelve in height.

It was calculated that an opening of such dimensions would be more than sufficient to carry off the waters of the Croton when swelled to a much greater magnitude than they had ever been known to reach.

But during the latter part of the freshet of last week the water above the dam, covering a space of about 600 acres, continued to rise at the rate of about one foot an hour, until it reached the astonishing height of seventeen feet above the tumble or fall of the dam and running over the top of the embankment of earth and protection wall to the depth of five feet.

The design of the dam was that the water should never reach the top of this embankment, which was raised twelve feet above the tumble, or that part of the dam over which it was designed the water should flow; and when the water reached the height above mentioned, it was at once seen that the embankment must soon give way.

But notwithstanding this immense pressure and rushing of water over the embankment it stood for several hours, during which every effort was made to save it by raising a dike on the top of it to a height of three or four feet during the storm.

But it was discovered about one or two o’clock on Friday morning that it must soon give way, and messengers were immediately dispatched from the dam to warn the people living below, on the banks of the Croton, of their danger.

As was apprehended, about four o’clock on Friday morning the embankment gave way, and the Croton, below the dam already swelled to an unprecedented height, immediately rose, by means of the mighty rush of waters from above the dam, ten to fifteen feet higher, and rushed down its course with resistless force.

It first encountered the mills and dwelling house of Mr. Solomon Tompkins, which it swept away almost in a moment, and Mr. Tompkins, an aged and infirm man, had barely time to escape with the assistance of his family from his house.

Passing on, and tearing up in its course earth, stones, and trees, it next reached the extensive rolling mills and wire factory of the Messrs. Bailey, situated on the banks of the Croton, which it instantly carried away, together with their dwelling houses, tenant houses, etc. — making altogether twelve buildings — and all their machinery, stock, furniture, goods, etc.

This was an extensive establishment and employed about fifty men, and was situated about two miles from the dam.

They were busily engaged in endeavoring to preserve their property from destruction by the water before the dam gave way.

While thus engaged they heard the roaring of the waters as they came rushing down, and fled instantly for the higher grounds in the neighborhood; but so rapid was the approach of the water that some ten or fifteen individuals were overtaken and, to save themselves, were obliged to ascend the surrounding trees for safety.

Among them were Mr. Joseph Bailey, Mrs. Mitchell, and a number of women with infant children. In this situation they were obliged to remain for about two hours, until the water in some measure subsided, when they were taken off with the exception of William Evans and Robert Smith, who, overtaken in their flight, were obliged to ascend a cedar of smaller size, which was borne down by the water, ice, and floating timber into the current, and they were carried away amid their unavailing cries for assistance.

Their bodies have not yet been found.

From this place the accumulated waters dashed furiously onward along the valley of the Croton to its mouth, a distance of about three miles, carrying away in its course Quaker Bridge, Holman’s mills, and the old piers of the old Croton Bridge, and fences, timber, portions of orchards, soil, and roads along the banks of the Croton.

The damage sustained by the landowners below the dam is variously estimated at from one to two hundred thousand dollars.

Among the sufferers are the Messrs. Bailey, Solomon Tompkins, the owners of the Van Courtlandt estate, and Mr. Talbot.

All the bridges below the dam were carried away, and above the dam Pine’s Bridge, and we are informed Wood’s Bridge also, leaving no bridge over the Croton from its mouth to Golden’s Bridge, a distance of twelve to sixteen miles.

This we were apprehensive would be productive of very great inconvenience and loss to the community; but we are happy to learn that the Water Commissioners, with a promptitude that reflects credit upon them, have already commenced laying a new bridge upon the abutments and piers of the old Pine’s Bridge which remain uninjured, so that the bridge will probably be ready for travel in ten or twelve days.

We are informed that the damage done to the dam is much less than was at first supposed, the mason-work, the most expensive part of it, being but slightly injured, and that the total damage to the dam will not much exceed $40,000.

A number of individuals above the dam have suffered much inconvenience and loss by the rapid rise of the waters of the reservoir.

Doctor Gedney, we understand, was driven from the principal story of his house in which the water rose to the depth of six or eight feet to the second story, when his situation was somewhat dangerous, until the dam gave way, when the water settled off so rapidly that his dwelling was entirely freed from it in a few minutes.

It is fortunate that this disaster has been attended with no greater loss of life. But one individual in addition to the two mentioned above lost his life, and he was a laborer at dam, of the name of Michael Burke, who was in a shanty below the dam and was carried off in the flood; his body was found on Saturday last, three miles below the dam, much bruised and his clothing nearly all torn off.

We learn that much damage has been done by the freshet in different parts of the country to roads, bridges, etc., the particulars of which we will lay before our readers next week.

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The Hudson, New York Commemorative Silver Half Dollar Coin shows with an artist’s image of Croton’s Dam, circa 1842.

Hudson, New York Commemorative Silver Half Dollar Coin