These artifacts, in the collection of the Johnstown Flood Museum, were swept along in the flood waters, just as their owners were. Some have stories that have been passed down to us. Others’ stories were lost in flood with their owners. If only they could talk, what stories they could tell before, after, but mostly during the Flood!
Handkerchief found in trouser pocket of C.T. Schubert, whose body was recovered several days after the flood.
Blue-and-white ceramic pitcher found in the flood debris.
Photo album belonging to Hettie Lininger.
Silver teaspoon found in the flood debris.
Child’s leather shoe from the debris.
Toolchest, with all its tools intact, found on the outskirts of Pittsburgh. Since all the telegraph lines were down, debris floating down the river gave the outside world its first clues that a disaster had occurred upstream at Johnstown.
The flood debris contained thousands of buttons and other small objects.
This medical kit belonged to Dr. Joseph Campbell Wakefield, a Johnstown doctor, who began giving medical aid immediately after the flood although his office had been destroyed. He was soon joined by dozens of outside physicians who took part in the medical relief effort following the flood.
Oar used to rescue people during the flood.
Armchair found in the flood debris.
Hettie Ogle’s keys, found in the debris at the Stone Bridge. Hettie Ogle was the telegraph operator on duty in Johnstown on the day of the flood.
Ceramic cream pitcher, bottle, and binoculars found in the flood debris.
Child’s dress, leather shoe, and family portrait of the Waters family, who survived the flood.
Ceramic pitcher owned by the Wesner family. Their house on Morrell Place was severely damaged.
The contents of homes piled up with equipment from factories in the great heaps of muddy junk. The shuttle is from the Woodvale woolen mill.
The flood debris contained thousands of buttons and other small objects.
Undershirt worn by 6-year-old Daisey Heslop during the flood.
Coffee pot recovered in the flood debris.
Religious artifact from St. John’s Roman Catholic Church, which was destroyed in the flood.
39-star flag tucked in Stewart Kinkead’s pocket for the duration of the flood. Kinkead nearly drowned when the flood demolished the porch on which he was standing at the Merchant’s Hotel.
Wood flute and ceramic plate found in the flood debris.
Leather change purse found after the flood.
Cat figurine found in the flood debris.
Industrial artifact found in the flood debris.
Hand bell used by rescuers in Kernville to alert survivors trapped in the flood’s wreckage.
