Clarksburg flood of January 1957

The photos I am sharing today are part of the Ralph Murphy photo archive, which my husband received from his Aunt Jean in 2012 and I digitized in 2015. This extensive collection includes 21 boxes of slides, totaling thousands, all captured by Uncle Ralph. The images span the years from 1947 to 1984 and feature scenic shots from their travels across the United States, glimpses of family members, and candid moments with friends and co-workers.

Within each box of slides lies an index, with cryptic notes written by Ralph and Jean. These notes offer glimpses into the people, places, and moments captured in the photographs. Fortunately, the box housing the images shown below bears a label: ‘High Water Clarksburg 1957.’ It resides between Christmas 1956 photos and those taken from March 1957 onward. A search of historical newspapers corroborates this context.

In late January 1957, northern West Virginia experienced nearly three inches of rain within a 24-hour period. This intense rainfall caused the upper Monongahela River and its tributaries—the Cheat, Tygart, and West Fork rivers—to surge higher than they had in six years. Clarksburg, situated along the West Fork River, witnessed waters rising five feet above flood stage. The resulting floods affected lowlands, basements, and even blocked U.S. Route 19 at multiple locations in the Clarksburg area. As he did during the June 1950 Clarksburg flood, Ralph Murphy, a resident of Nutter Fort, captured images of the event.

Residents received sufficient warning of the impending floods, allowing them to evacuate to safety. Boats were used to evacuate 100 families in Clarksburg after Elk Creek reached its highest point in 41 years. Moving vans were brought in so families in low-lying sections of Clarksburg could move their furniture to safety. Extensive damage was reported in Clarksburg.

Nearby communities, including Weston and Philippi, grappled with significant water surges—reaching five and four feet respectively. Further south, the Kanawha River in West Virginia surged to eight feet above flood stage. Tragically, several deaths occurred during the southern West Virginia floods. Additionally, minor flooding affected Western Pennsylvania, while parts of Ohio experienced flash flooding as water levels neared flood stage. Once the rains subsided, flood victims faced the additional challenge of freezing temperatures settling over the state.

In the photograph below, you can see Tarantino’s Dairy King, a cherished establishment in Clarksburg. Joseph Tarantino and his brother John owned it for 40 years, gaining fame for their original raspberry ice cream recipe. Besides the Dairy King, they also owned a laundromat and dry cleaners. Meanwhile, a man walks away from the building, perhaps assessing the damage. And in the background, the Coca-Cola sign declares: “Sip Sip Hooray!”

Tarantino’s Dairy King (original location), West End

The next photo is just past the Dairy King. You can see the same Coca-Cola sign on the left.

In the next photo, you can see the West End bridge, located near Wendy’s today. This bridge spans Elk Creek at Pike Street, where the West Fork meets Elk Creek. On the left side of the photo, the word ‘Concrete’ appears across the top of a building. Beside that building stands the Consolidated Supply Company, while on the right, we find Altman’s Cash Feed Store. Notably, this used to be the Clarksburg Ice Company before its transformation to Altman’s. If you look closely at the side of the building, you will notice they sold feed, poultry supplies, and flour. Unfortunately, in 1923, it burned down due to walls filled with sawdust. Today, the area behind the bridge has become Nicholson Junk Yard.

Consolidated Supply Company and Altman’s Cash Feed Store

The next photo captures the view from the Stealey side of Elk Creek, looking across from Hart Street toward the old S&S Chevrolet. The buildings in the frame line River Road.

The next photo captures the Swinging Foot Bridge, connecting Stealey to Adamston. It stretched from Hart Street to River Road, spanning Elk Creek. Unfortunately, the bridge is no longer in existence, the exact date of its removal unknown.

Swinging Foot Bridge

The next photo offers a bird’s-eye view of River Road, likely taken from a rooftop in Stealey. In the parking lot of S&S Chevrolet, new Chevy cars and trucks are neatly lined up. Meanwhile, in the back right corner, a plume of smoke rises—a telltale sign of a passing train.

In the zoomed-in views below from the above photo, you can see people standing on the front porch and at the back of the house. Additionally, you get a closer look at the multiple cars and trucks parked at S&S Chevrolet.

The next photo captures a view from Stealey, looking down onto West End. The building with the painted checkerboard is the Purina Plant (shown in the second photo below—zoomed in).

Purina Plant (white/checkerboard building)

Zoomed in view of the Purina Plant

The next photo captures the swollen West Fork at River Bend or VA Park, facing Milford Street (also known as Route 19). The white garage in the frame belonged to Archie Mackey, who specialized in selling Mercury boats and motors.

The next photo captures Kelly Miller High School and Mt. Zion Missionary Baptist Church on what was then named Water Street, now Monticello Avenue.

Kelly Miller High School and Mt. Zion Missionary Baptist Church

In the next photo, we see another view of Water Street, now known as Monticello Avenue. On the left side stands a Buick dealership, while the right side of Water Street (specifically at 210) is occupied by the Home Roofing and Metal Company, operated by Frank Sanchez in 1957.

Buick dealership and Home Roofing and Metal Company on Water Street

In the next photo, we see a row of houses along either River Road (referred to as Point Comfort) or Hart Street across the West Fork in Stealey. There appears to be a washing machine on the front porch of the front center house.

You can clearly see a washing machine on the front porch in the next photo. I wonder if it was common to have a washing machine there instead of inside the house.

My thanks to Beth Gain and Pete Secret at the Clarksburg History Museum for their invaluable assistance in identifying the locations and buildings captured in Ralph’s photos. I hope you enjoyed these photos from Ralph’s archives. To see others from his collection, click here.

References

• Clarksburg, West Virginia, City Directory, 1957.
• Creeks Overflow in West Virginia, Lodi News-Sentinel, Lodi, California, Feb 11, 1957.
• Hundreds Homeless as Floods Deluge State, The Raleigh Register, Raleigh, North Carolina, January 30, 1957.
• Joseph Tarantino, Amos Carvelli Funeral Home, Obituaries, December 2016; https://amoscarvelli.com/funerals/obituaries/joseph-tarantino/199/.
• Many Areas Hit Hart by Flood Waters, The Washington Reporter, Washington, Pennsylvania, Feb 11, 1957.
• Rainfall Brings Flooding to Ohio and West Virginia, St. Joseph Gazette, St. Joseph, Missouri, Feb 11, 1957.