Posted: May 29, 2025 1:49 pm
At the time of the 1889 flood, Johnstown’s population was about 30,000 people, and 2,209 died in the disaster. Whether you survived or not was largely determined by where you were at the time the flood hit, and sometimes sheer luck. But every family had a story. As the flood anniversary approaches, Amy Regan of Heritage Johnstown is sharing stories from our new exhibition, “Relic Tales of the Johnstown Floods.” Here, she shares the story of the Pritchard family and the flood relic from their family that’s part of the exhibition.
Henry Pritchard, an immigrant from Wales, and his family lived at 137 Market Street in Johnstown in 1889. In the 1889 City Directory, he is listed as a grocer. Grocer was more of a catch-all term than we know it today, with stores that often sold much more than food items — often referred to as more of a General Store. In this photo, Henry Pritchard stands in front of ‘Henry Pritchard Japan Tea Store’ with several advertisements for Tulip Soap, Colman’s, Star Paste Stove Polish, Wheat Gum, Irish Soap, and more.
Jane Howells married Henry on March 12, 1878. They had their first child, William Henry Pritchard, on February 3, 1879. Howell was born in 1880, Alice in 1884, and Rachel in 1886.
On May 31, 1889, when the flood water rushed into East Conemaugh, it picked up a freight train along the flood path. That train, Pennsylvania Railroad Engine No. 229, struck several houses on Market Street, demolishing them. The Prichards’home at 137 Market Street was one of the houses destroyed by the train within the flood debris.
At the time of the flood, the eldest son, William Henry (aged 10), was visiting his mother’s family. However, Henry (62), Jane (48), Howell (9), Alice (5), and Rachel (3) were all in the house at the time of the flood and perished.
Henry Pritchard’s body was found and had an “open faced gold watch. Two pocket-knives. Three bunches of keys. Three door keys. Pocket-book, containing $1 in paper and $1.30 in silver. (Beale)”
Henry’s pocket watch and Alice’s ring are on display in “Relic Tales of the Johnstown Floods,” located on the second floor of the Heritage Discovery Center.
After the flood, William Henry claimed $16,300 in damages, and he received $300. He moved in with his mother’s family, the Howells, whom he was visiting at the time of the flood. He stayed with them in Kane, PA, where he graduated from high school. He went to Oberlin College and graduated as an attorney. Not long after that, in 1909, he went up to his room before dinner and did not come back down. His family went to look for him and found him dead. The cause was noted as a ‘sinking spell’.
Heritage Johnstown recently received this amazing 1889 Johnstown flood collection from the Pritchard and Howells families in May 2025. This collection is extraordinary and uncommon for Heritage Johnstown to receive in several ways. The discovery of new artifacts known to have gone through the flood, along with a detailed family history, is rare — what’s more, the family provided portraits of all the family members, victims and survivors alike. More often than not, old photographs are unlabeled with no person, place, or date on them.
Here are the pictures of each family member who perished and the lone survivor from the family in the 1889 Johnstown Flood.
Alice and Rachel Pritchard
Howell Pritchard (left) and William Pritchard
William Pritchard, 1879
Jane Howells Pritchard
William Pritchard, aged 10, with Rex the St. Bernard.
Bibliography
Beale, David J., Through the Johnstown Flood. Edgewood Publishing Company, 1890. http://library.logcollegepress.com/Beale%2C+Sr.%2C+David+Joshua%2C+Through+the+Johnstown+Flood.pdf
Benshoff, Harry M. The World’s Charity to Conemaugh Valley Sufferers and Who Received It. Johnstown Pa: Harry M. Benshoff, 1890.
Clark, Charles B., C. B. Clark’s Johnstown Directory and Citizens Register. Altoona, Pa: N.C. Barclay & Sons, 1889. https://digital.libraries.psu.edu/digital/collection/digitalbks2/id/14887
McLaurin, J. J., The Story of Johnstown. Harrisburg Pa: James M. Place, 1890. http://www.johnstowncafe.com/johnstownarchivebook1889floodthestoryofjohnstown.pdf
