By Mike Davis

BHS Assistant Executive Director

Hello neighbors!

As we find ourselves together facing a spreading pandemic, and all the newfound troubles which go along with it, I wanted to take this space to reflect on our past, and on the perils which we as a community have faced down and overcome; perils which have threatened the fabric of our town and the very lives of our people. As a local historian, I ask myself; what do we do in times like this? Well, I want to say to you, we may all count ourselves lucky that we here in Bridgton, a town where one can rely on his neighbors, and the strength of a community spirit which remains unbroken and uncowed against all odds. 

On this day, almost 70 years ago, Bridgton awoke to a natural disaster which, at its peak, threatened to wash the whole of Main Street’s downtown district off the map. Let us go now to the March 2, 1953, and see how Bridgton weathered the storm.

“Bridgton and Surrounding Towns Busy Recovering from Worst Flood since 1936

A combination of heavy rains and melting snow and ice the latter part of last week brought flood conditions to this area which were the most severe since 1936.  Starting with a steady downpour on Tuesday of last week streams began to rise and with a second heavy rainstorm last Thursday, conditions really became serious on Thursday night.

As of this writing, streams and rivers with the exception of the Saco have subsided, but high water around the many lakes in the area still keeps some roads closed or open only to essential traffic.

Undoubtedly the greatest loss suffered from the flood situation here in Bridgton was at the H.H. Bisbee Lumber Co., where the center of the dam there broke away under the heavy pounding from Stevens Brook. At approximately the same time, the dam between the machine shop owned by Azel Faunce and the building owned by E.K. Berg, just below the Bisbee mill also went out. The breaking away of the Bisbee mill dam actually brought relief to residents of Mill Street as water had been coursing around the dam and pouring down Mill Street, compelling familiars to evacuate their homes and seek refuge with friends.

Businessmen in Post Office Square started moving merchandise to higher levels Thursday night as Corn Shop Brook rose rapidly and many worked all through the night to protect stock from the water. By early Friday, there was a foot to two feet of water in the line of stores from Sam Gallinari’s Appliance Store down to the Sportsmen’s Exchange. The water level continued to rise until Friday evening at which time there was 2 ½ to 3 feet of water in Post Office Square and hip-boots and rowboats were in use.  Depot Street was flooded but was kept open to traffic after Main Street was closed, bit it eventually became necessary to close that route as well.

The bridge at Portland Street was deemed unsafe for traffic and travel form the Upper Village to Portland Street was routed through South Bridgton, and Lower Main Street residents had to get home from the square by way of North Bridgton.

Normally peaceful Steven’s Brook was a raging giant all the way down from the foot of Highland Lake and the water level there even now has not dropped much.  Sandbags were put in place along Highland Road and are still in use. The cottages belonging to Stan Kramer have been taking punishment ever since Friday and are still partially under water. At the height of the flood, water was pouring over the dam there and backing up around the culvert, and the bridge is still closed to traffic.

Further down the brook at Tannery Bridge, water was running over the wall that parallels the Casco Bank & Trust Co. and sandbags were built up along this section. The stream was pounding the sides of the bridge and the channel was filled nearly to the highest possible level.

Conditions began to improve early Saturday in the business section of town and by Sunday the Square was practically dry, and merchants were setting about to clean up the debris and put their stores in order. It would be difficult to assess the amount of damage caused by the flood waters, since the effects of the soaking and undermining will not be immediately apparent. Streets and highways took a terrific pounding in many places and road washouts were innumerable. The bridge at one end of Smith Avenue was badly washed out and many sections of pavement around town either caved in or washed away.

Most residents around town had flooded basements and sump pumps were at a premium.  The town road crews performed yeoman service all through the critical period, handling the heavy work of sandbagging and road repair. One of the ironic sidelights of the situation was that in working around the clock to help others, town employees neglected to check their own situation at the Municipal Building and the basement there became flooded, extinguishing the oil burner.

Town Manager Vance Dearborn and Board of Selectmen members directed flood control and traffic routing problems. The Red Cross Disaster Relief Committee, of which Alex MacDonald is local chairman, opened headquarters at the Congregational Church and the Fire House. Flood control workers were fed there all during Friday and Friday night.  Dave Benjamin and Russ McDowell were in charge of the kitchen at the Congregational Church and Mrs. Clyde Small and Mrs. Harold Emerson operated the facilities at the Fire House.  Better than 200 were served at the two locations.”

If my word means anything at all, I can promise you; we will get through this. Bridgton has endured much in our 250 years, and The News has been here to report on it for 150 of those years come this September. If there’s one thing I take from this story, and the countless others I have read from our history, it’s that Bridgton can take whatever life throws at us. We are a tough people, a determined people, and above all else, neighbors to the very last. 

Be safe out there, and look to see how you can help those around you. 

And as always, no matter what comes,

’Till next time!

Mike Davis is the Bridgton Historical Society’s assistant executive director. He is writing a weekly column looking back at The News’ 150 years of publishing.