The early breakup of the Missouri and Heart Rivers in March brought the highest watermark for flooding in the city since 1881, suspending mail and rail connections with the east.
Water overflowed 2 feet above the dykes and flooded the south side of the city, inluding the Syndicate section. The grandstand at the fairgrounds was snapped in two, and the judges stand floated off into the woods.
Large floating chunks of ice snapped electric light and telegraph and telephone poles. Electricity was partially restored by tying into the electrical power from the NP roundhouse.
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A large crowd of people lined the dykes to watch a work crew of 900 men clear the ice jams off the NP tracks. In some areas between downtown and the river bridge, ice piled to heights from six to 10 feet high.
Many of the ice cakes were 30 feet long. Dynamite was often used to dislodge and crumble the masses of ice.
The MHSoc's museum and office is located at 3827 30th Avenue NW; Mandan, ND 58554 Contact us at info@mandanhistory.org
