Cuyahoga River

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Revision as of 21:10, 8 December 2006

A winding river separating the east and west sides of Cleveland, Ohio. The word "Cuyahoga" is a native American term for "crooked river". The many swamps and thickets along both sides of the river were a stumbling block for early settlers making their way west from Connecticut with oxen drawn wagons. Adding to their woes was the threat of malaria.

The industrial complex has been in place for so long in the valley that it is difficult to imagine it in a more pristine state. Was it heavily wooded, or open grasslands? We know parts were marshy, but that was probably just the areas closest to the river or parts with poor drainage.

How deep was the river in the early 1800's? Because of the deep dredging of the river to allow large ships to enter the various ports, it's possible the water level was much different before these major alterations. In fact, it was written in the 1902 book, "Reminiscences" by O.J. Hodge, that there were originally three outlets to Lake Erie and that in dry seasons it was possible to cross the river on foot. So perhaps the pioneers might not have had as much difficulty crossing as it would seem. at least in some areas close to Lake Erie.

About 1831, a whiskey distillery was built on what is now aptly called "Whiskey Island".

An 1896 book, Centennial history of Cleveland, bemoans the fact that the "blue, crystal waters" were a thing of the past. Pollution had apparently already taken it's toll. It's hard to see the Cuyahoga ever having blue clear water because of the mud riverbase.

Flora and Fauna

Prior to the industrialization of the Cuyahoga Valley, the area abounded with otter, muskrats, turkeys, raccoons, wolves, elk, panthers, and bears. Many areas along the river were nothing more than swamps filled with bullrushes and mosquitos.

Fishing, prior to the industrialization of the valley, provided an interesting assortment of choices. Bass, catfish, bullhead, shad, redhorse mullet (A bottom-feeder, feeding on mussels, snails, crustaceans and immature aquatic insects), and sturgeon were found in great numbers.

In 1836, a traveler named Oren Wiley described Ohio City as being situated on an high, dry, barren plain covered in white oak shrubs. What hemlocks there were, were found near swamps and ponds.

Flooding

There is speculation that during a flood in the Cuyahoga Valley, a boat capsized killing all 36 aboard. The victims were said to all be buried in a single grave at the Brainard / Broadview Cemetery in Brooklyn, Ohio (next to 2044 Broadview Ave.) If there was ever a grave marker, it is long since disappeared and the names of the victims are unknown. Here are some of the more likely floods that might have been responsible for these deaths.

June 23, 1882 - Not exactly a flood in the usual sense of the word, but rather the results of a devastating "tidal wave" that reached 12-15' in height that occurred at about 6:30 a.m. Tidal waves of this nature are called a "seiche" and are caused by atmospheric conditions. Source: All about Cleveland : a city cyclopedia, the Cleveland cicerone. Cleveland, Ohio: Whitworth Bros. Co., 1908, 225 pgs (see page 43)

Early February 1883 - A great flood caused by a steady rain that melted the ice and snow. The flooding extended about three miles in distance from the mouth of the Cuyahoga. Scranton Road was covered by about 3 to 4 feet of water. When the flood waters reached leaking oil at the Standard Oil Works, it carried the oil downstream right into the flames of a boiler room of the Great Western Works. The resulting floating fire and explosions created quite a destructive spectacle. This incident predates the more modern and infamous "Burning River" event that made Cleveland a laughing stock. Source: "The World's" history of Cleveland : commemorating the city's centennial anniversary. Cleveland, Ohio: Cleveland World, 1896, 445 pgs.

"A great flood in the Cuyahoga Valley, accompanied by fire, was also among the events of importance in 1883. Heavy rains in early February had swollen the river to many times its usual size, and a rise of ten feet in near twice that many hours caught many unawares, and almost at one sweep lumber, to the value of three hundred thousand dollars, was swept out into the lake. Damage was done all over the Flats, bridges carried away, railroad embankments washed out, vessels wrecked, and, finally, damage by fire. A tank of five thousand barrels of oil blew up in the Great Western Oil Works, and the burning oil spread over the rushing waters. Next below were the paraffine woks of Meriam & Morgan, which were set on fire by the burning oil; and the destruction of the immense works of the Standard Oil Company seemed imminent. Some of the outworks were burned, and only a culvert that had become gorged with lumber saved the many acres of stills and buildings from entire destruction. It was a scene that will never be forgotten, by the thousands who gazed upon it—the valley under water and the whole expanse lighted up by the burning of acres of oil spread out upon the waters. The loss, from flood and fire, reached nearly three quarters of a million dollars."

Source: A History of the City of Cleveland, by James Harrison Kennedy, 1896

Spring of 1893

"On April 1, 1893, he was appointed by the government as keeper or captain of the Cleveland life-saving station, vice Capt. C.C. Goodwin, deceased. During the flood which occurred in the Cuyahoga River in the spring of 1893, while the lifeboat crew were going to a rescue, the boat capsized and four of the surfmen were drowned. Captain Distel on this occasion came nearly losing his life, and was in the icy waters two hours almost unconscious before he was rescued. After a long and serious illness which resulted from the above exposure and other permanent injuries received in the life-saving service, in the line of duty, he found that his health had been so impaired that it became necessary the following spring for him to resign his position as keeper of the station. "

Source: History of the Great Lakes, Vol. 2 by J.B. Mansfield; Captains, Shipping, Lighthouse Keepers and Marine Biographies http://www.linkstothepast.com/marine/captainsD.html

September 1895

"A tidal wave visited the harbor Thursday morning. The water suddenly began to fall and before the movement stopped it had gone down 30 inches, leaving some of the skiffs and sail boats in the inner harbor high and dry. Luckily no large vessel was at that time moving in or out of the river. In twenty minutes the water came back in one big wave, which spent itself on the breakwater and the beach. A peculiar black cloud hung over the lake to the northeast at the time."

Source: Brooklyn Daily Eagle, NY. Sep 21, 1895