Vermonters are tough, that’s a fact. When tragedy strikes, we always come together to help out neighbors and community members to rebuild and come back stronger than ever. This was certainly the case when one of the worst disasters in VT happened and the Great Vermont Flood of 1927 devastated much of the state.

After an extremely wet October, record levels of rainfall were reached when the flooding occurred from November 2–4, 1927.
Flickr/NOAA Photo Library
Pictured here is a cement bridge in Enosburg Falls which was partially dissolved in the flood.
An estimated 53% of the state received more than six inches of rain, the greatest recorded amount being 9.86 inches in Somerset.
Flickr/NOAA Photo Library
Pictured is the Central Vermont Railroad, Montpelier Junction.
The Hammond Covered Bridge in Pittsford (circa 1842) is famous for being washed away during the flood and floating a mile downstream.
Flickr/James Walsh
Later that year it was towed on barrels back to it's original site.
Flickr/James Walsh
It continued to have thru traffic until 1995 when it was bypassed with a steel and concrete bridge. It was later deemed unsafe even for pedestrians, but enough work was done so people and small vehicles such as snow mobiles to cross.

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Here is a picture of the concrete road construction in Bolton Flats the day before the storm.
Flickr/Vermont Historical Society
And here it is after the storm.
Flickr/Vermont Historical Society
The flood destroyed 1,285 bridges, killed at least eighty four people, and destroyed many buildings.
Flickr/Vermont Historical Society
One of the casualties from the Great Vermont Flood of 1927 was S. Hollister Jackson, the Vermont Lieutenant Governor. He was killed while trying to escape his flooded car.
Wikipedia.org
This painting was made during the year 1927 shortly before his death.

While this may be the worst disaster in VT, the devastation from Tropical Storm Irene and what it did to our beautiful state won’t soon be forgotten.

 

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