'Until the Last Dog Barks': Portsmouth Utilities Vow Uninterrupted Service
Thursday, January 21, 1937
PORTSMOUTH, OHIO — Local utility companies promised “uninterrupted service” if a flood submerged the city’s lower sections. Officials said today that electricity, water, telephone and gas services would continue if, or when, water entered Portsmouth.
The Portsmouth Gas Company offered a caveat: gas would be supplied up to a river stage of 65 feet. Other utilities also advised about potential impacts should the Ohio rise to unexpected heights. But a can-do attitude prevailed in the face of an imminent disaster.
Thanks to the large reservoir in the Hilltop section of Portsmouth, the city’s water supply was secure for four to six weeks, according to city manager Frank Sheehan.
“There is no need to worry about the drinking water supply,” Sheehan said. “Water will continue to be supplied as usual to all residences.”
Residents were encouraged to relocate stoves and heaters to upper floors to prevent water damage. A warning in all capital letters accompanied the power company’s guidance in today’s newspaper:
IN DOING THIS, HOWEVER, IT WAS ANNOUNCED THEY SHOULD BE CERTAIN TO CAP THE GAS PIPE SECURELY.
The distribution station of United Fuel Company located in New Boston would remain dry up to 65 feet, according to local manager R. G. Gilmore. He said gas would continue to flow into the Portsmouth and New Boston gas mains, unless the distribution station floods.
“There appeared little likelihood today that the river would rise to that high a level,” reported The Portsmouth Times.
The Ohio Power Company would maintain service to all parts of the city, except for some very low sections where main lines will be disconnected, commented division manager H. C. Doughty. This step could prevent the hazard of touching a live high-tension wire from a boat. Otherwise “service will go on as usual.”
Doughty was confident based on his recent experience up the Ohio River.
“Bellaire had the worst flood in its history last spring. The water exceeded that of 1884 and 1913 there. And yet we were able to continue 100 percent electric service.”
Even a handful of streetlights just a couple feet above the water kept burning, he added.
Doughty acknowledged that some power meters would be damaged in a flood. But the power company would accept that risk to keep the current flowing.
“Our lines all are in very excellent shape. We have spare circuits and duplication of service that will enable us to keep supplying current to all parts of the city, except those isolated cases where the water rises so high as to make it dangerous.”
Manager Harry Berlin of the Portsmouth Home Telephone Company said service would carry on “until the last dog barks.” An estimated 1,500 telephones in low areas would be disrupted by a flood, but service would continue elsewhere as provided by the switchboard at the main office.
The telephone company could operate up to a river stage of 65 feet, according to Berlin.
The main railroads — the Norfolk & Western, Baltimore & Ohio and Chesapeake & Ohio — would maintain service into Portsmouth at water levels of 62 to 65 feet.
“The Chesapeake & Ohio’s main line across the river in Kentucky will withstand 65 feet of water,” noted The Portsmouth Times, “thus assuring a supply of food into the city.”
Community Activities
Despite the threat of a major flood, the normal rhythms of life continued in Portsmouth and the surrounding areas. They included social functions and other community events, as would be reported in Friday’s Portsmouth Times.
Thirty members of the Trinity Women’s Bible Class met at the home of Mrs. Morgan Rowland on Cypress Street on Tuesday afternoon. Mrs. Appel led the devotions and Mrs. Chandler presided over business.
After rehearsal for a play called “The Village Choir,” Miss Harriet Goodwin hosted 18 of the players and served refreshments. Sponsored by Trinity M. E. Church, the play was to be staged on Friday.
In Wheelersburg, Mrs. Edward Ferrell recently threw a surprise birthday party for her husband. The large dinner party was attended by several family members and friends.
Down the river from Portsmouth, Bettie Sue Brown hosted a doll club contest at her home in Manchester. All guests brought dolls to the gathering. First prize went to Shirley Demint. Tommy Bell won the prize for funniest doll.
The Goodwins, who lived on 28th Street in Portsmouth, were anticipating their trip to New York City. They planned to depart on January 30. Mr. Goodwin, a local manager for the Metropolitan Insurance Company, planned to attend the firm’s convention at the Hotel Astor. The trip would also include family visits in Baltimore and Ashtabula, Ohio.
Life carried on in Portsmouth as sandbags were filled and men reinforced barricades a short distance away. But the Goodwins’ plans — and the plans of thousands of others — were about to change.
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Really enjoying these, like a lens into a world that no longer exists.
Thanks Neil, guess it won't be long now till the last dog barks.