'People Are Greatly Alarmed'
Thursday, January 21, 1937
Indiana National Guard Telephone Log
A.M. - Authority granted to Captain Henry Fleischer, New Albany, to call out 50 men and 3 officers for Guard duty.
NEW ALBANY, INDIANA — The official word came from Deputy Sheriff Ray Jaegers. All roads between New Albany and Jeffersonville were flooded. The only way to travel from one to the other was by way of Louisville, crossing and recrossing the river. At the end of this day there would be no Indiana roads allowing travel of more than 20 miles beyond New Albany.
Silver Creek, which emptied into the Ohio River between New Albany and Jeffersonville, was rising to record levels and forced WGRC Radio off the air when it flooded the transmitter.
Hundreds of Works Progress Administration workers, city and county employees, Coast Guard personnel and volunteers rescued flood victims throughout the day.
More than 250 families had abandoned flooded homes in the past 48 hours.
Sick people were taken by ambulance and boat to St. Edward’s Hospital in New Albany. An emergency station was established at Spring and East 3rd streets.
“Food and medical committees of the New Albany Red Cross began to function early on Thursday,” the Courier-Journal reported.
Droves of people rushed to New Albany stores to buy oil lamps and candles after a rumor circulated that electricity would be shut off. (Candles sold out quickly.) However, G.H. Barr of the Public Service Company of Indiana said the power plant at 8th and Water streets could withstand six more feet of water before service would be jeopardized.
Indiana National Guard Telephone Log
P.M. - Alldredge at Mt. Vernon and Fleischer at New Albany have been authorized to feed their men at restaurants for an amount not to exceed 40 cents each.
Marion Groh, East Elm Street, New Albany
Flooding on Reno Avenue forced holdouts Roger and Julia Murr from their home.
“Julia and Rog had to move here last night,” Marion Groh wrote in her diary, “and brought just a few clothes in hopes the water will be down in a few days.”
Repeating a Wednesday activity, the Groh family took a car ride to explore the area. Things were worse.
“We drove to Jeff today and could hardly get through, the water being over the hubs of the car at the underpass of the Penn. R.R. and at Spring and Tenth. It also covered Indiana Avenue as far as visible from intersection at Spring Street.”
Marion added, “The situation is dangerous and people are greatly alarmed. The water is rising steadily and reports indicate much higher water.”
There was another reason for the trip to Jeffersonville. The family was concerned about the welfare of Marion’s brother, who worked near the Ohio River.
“We went to Falls City Transfer Co to see Albert. His car was stalled and he had no idea whether by nightfall he could get home or not. [He telephoned] about 12 P.M. and said he had sent for clothes and that he had no idea as to what he would do but not to worry.”
Whatever Albert might say, he couldn’t stop his mother or other family members from worrying about him stranded in Jeffersonville. They sent a brother to get Albert.
Marion wrote, “Louie went up in the truck to bring him home, but [Albert] stayed at his work.”
(Louis Groh and his wife, Eva, lived at 128 West Spring Street in New Albany.)
Marion’s final words in her Thursday entry signaled a new stage in the ordeal. There would be no more drives to Jeffersonville — or perhaps anywhere.
“All roads between Jeff and N.A. [New Albany] closed by water. National Guards called out. RAIN!”
Indiana National Guard Telephone Log
9:15 p.m. - Captain Fleischer, New Albany, still in need of 500 cots and 2000 blankets. Jeffersonville has three school buildings and one warehouse for housing. No looting at the present time. 2 Officers and 45 men out. Authority granted to put on more men.
Thank you for reading. If you liked this installment, please click the 🤍. Access the archives for the full chronology of The 1937 Flood Journal.
Thanks for another chapter. Look forward to the next.