I had heard about the famous johnstown flood, probably from a short paragraph in a stale history book along time ago, but i really new nothing about it. Memphis reads the johnstown flood by david mccullough. The johnstown flood audiobook, by david mccullough. Great listen with excellent narration i have listened to many of david mccllough books, actually my first audible book was his novel 1776. Historian david mccullough, in his book the johnstown flood, summed up the disaster by writing, so while there is no question that an act of god the storm of the night of may 3031 brought on the disaster, there is also no question that it was, in.
The dam broke after several days of extremely heavy rainfall. It is the principal city of the johnstown, pennsylvania, metropolitan statistical area, which includes cambria county. One of the first attempts to write an objective, commercial narrative history of the flood was by the late richard oconnor. Although nonfiction it reads more like a novel with an excellent description of the devastation created by the johnstown flood. The history of civil engineering may sound boring, but in david mcculloughs hands it is. If you like american history this is a must listen. It was the result of the catastrophic failure of the south fork dam situated on the little conemaugh river 14 miles 23 km upstream of the town of johnstown, pennsylvania, usa, made worse by several days of extremely heavy rainfall. The great johnstown flood by lisa norby, 1999, mcmillion, mcgraw, hill edition, the great johnstown flood 1999 edition open library. The johnstown flood locally, the great flood of 1889 occurred on may 31, 1889, after the catastrophic failure of the south fork dam, located on the south fork of the little conemaugh river, 14 miles 23 km upstream of the town of johnstown, pennsylvania. Text is well researched and presented, and the illustrations are expertly chosen. I read david mcculloughs book and was glad to read more about this tragedy as the anniversary of the johnstown flood approaches. Caras and a great selection of related books, art and collectibles available now at.
Mcculloughs research into all the events surrounding this great tragedy helped me realize how the complexities of american social life played a major role in hundreds of people losing their lives. Before listening to this i didnt know much about the johnstown flood. The great johnstown flood 1999 edition open library. Here is a list of some of the most descriptive facts about the johnstown flood. Nearly twelve inches 300 mm of rain fell in twentyfour hours, when a thunder storm stalled. In 1889, johnstown was an important booming city in america. When new york author mary hogan first heard about johnstowns 1889 flood. There are a few errors, but overall it is not a bad source. David mccullough in this, his first book, describes in excellent detail the background and consequences of the ensuing inundation that became known as the johnstown flood as it was that township that suffered the greatest loss of life and property. The great johnstown flood pennsylvania center for the book.
Looking back, he calls the time spent working on his book about the flood a great interlude in my life. It was also known as the great flood of 1889 to the local population. On may 31, 1889, a flood of enormous proportions took the lives of more than 2,000 people in johnstown, pa. Use features like bookmarks, note taking and highlighting while reading david mccullough great moments in history e book. Johnstown, located at the confluence of the little conemaugh river and stony creek, was 14 miles downstream from lake conemaugh. On may 31, 1889 disaster struck johnstown, pennsylvania when a manmade dam gave way on a mountain top. Suggested reading johnstown flood national memorial u. The novel, written by mary hogan, right, connects a presentday woman to a relative who was in johnstown for the 1889 flood. Johnstown flood the history, videos, and pictures from.
The 1889 johnstown flood is a story that is frequently difficult to tell to children, but with this book, mr. His first book, mccullough spent time speaking with individuals who lived through the flood on top of his other research in preparation for writing. Princeton has made the title available in its online archive, and it is downloadable in a variety of formats suitable for ereaders and tablets. The johnstown flood or great flood of 1889 as it became known locally occurred on may 31, 1889. The incredible story behind one of the most devastating disasters america has ever known is a 1968 book written by popular historian. David mccullough great moments in history e book box set. On may 31, 1889 disaster struck johnstown, pennsylvania when a manmade dam gave way on a mountain top, fourteen miles above the city, spilling the more than twentyfive millions tons of water from the lake. Mccullough, anton myrer, barbara michaels, rumer godden, roger a. Johnstown flood by david mccullough, paperback barnes. The johnstown flood occurred on may 31, 1889, after the failure of the south fork dam, which is located on the south fork of the little conemaugh river, 14 miles upstream of the town of johnstown, pennsylvania. The johnstown floodonce an eagleammie, come homegone. Facts about the 1889 flood johnstown area heritage.
Johnstown flood download ebook pdf, epub, tuebl, mobi. His other acclaimed books include the johnstown flood, the great bridge, brave companions, 1776, the greater journey, the american spirit, and the wright brothers. Graced by david mcculloughs distinctive current for writing richly textured, sympathetic social historic previous, the johnstown flood is an absorbing, primary portrait of life in nineteenthcentury america, of overweening confidence, of energy, and of tragedy. The johnstown flood is a 1968 book written by popular historian david mccullough about the great flood of 1889 which devastated the town of johnstown, pennsylvania. The history of civil engineering may sound boring, but in david mcculloughs hands it is, well, riveting. This book puts you right there before, during and after the flood even introducing to some of the actual residents of johnstown, some who survived and some who did not. This site is like a library, use search box in the widget to get ebook that you want. Buy a cheap copy of the johnstown flood book by david mccullough. It was the result of the failure of the south fork dam situated 14 miles 23 km upstream of the town of johnstown, pennsylvania, usa, made worse by. Great supplemental information for school essays and projects. It was more than just an unfortunate natural disaster. The book starts out slowly, but mccullough uses those pages to give an incredible backstory, covering everything from the people involved, to the time period, to the political situation, to the history of the town. It was a dark day in american history and yet could have been easily prevented. After countless hours of work, david mccullough released the johnstown flood, a book that went on national sale 50 years ago on march.
Aligned to common core standards and correlated to. Members of the potpourri book club gathered for their first meeting of 2018 in the lovely home of member joy loomis. David mccullough has written a thoroughly researched book accounting the johnstown flood in pennsylvania. Graced by david mccullough s remarkable gift for writing richly textured, sympathetic social history, the johnstown flood is an absorbing, classic portrait of life in nineteenthcentury america, of overweening confidence, of energy, and of tragedy. The johnstown flood is one of historys great tragedies.
Johnstown is a city in cambria county, pennsylvania, united states, westsouthwest of altoona and 67 miles 108 km east of pittsburgh. At the end of the last century, johnstown, pennsylvania, was. In reading the blog posts i am saddened anew by the personal remembrances of victims desendants or family. The johnstown flood book by david mccullough thriftbooks. Download it once and read it on your kindle device, pc, phones or tablets. A fortyfoot wall of water hit east conemaugh first. Among the survivors of the calamity, there was a scarcely an individual who had not lost a friend or relative in the johnstown flood. On may 31, 1889, a dam burst near johnstown, pennsylvania, sending a massive wall of water hurtling towards the thriving town.
A history of johnstown and the great flood of 1889. Statistics about the great disaster the scale of the johnstown flood of 1889 is difficult to visualize. Despite the great scale of the tragedy, reconstruction of the. Next woodvale, the area of the cambria iron mills, was hit. David beale published in 1890, this book is widely considered the best memoir of the flood by someone who experienced it. Summarizing the floods impact in statistics and facts is a quick way to convey the enormity of the event. This was a popular book at the time of its publication, and was featured in readers digest. Daily weather map for 8 am may 31, 1889, the day of the great johnstown flood of 1889. He proves the subject is still fresh and spectacular. A trio of short storiessarang readers digest condensed books, volume 4. Al roker writes about the deadliest flood in american.
Open library is an open, editable library catalog, building towards a web page for every book ever published. Carrie davis todd this book examines the scope of the johnstown flood disaster, its causes, and how people can keep a similar disaster from happening again. David mccullough has twice received the pulitzer prize, for truman and john adams, and twice received the national book award, for the path between the seas and mornings on horseback. Click download or read online button to get johnstown flood book now. Book world mccullough has resurrected the flood for a generation that may know it in name only. The tragedy of the conemaugh nonfiction histories of the flood for juveniles are few, but there are some excellent ones to be found. The johnstown flood but by far the most famous dam failure, and indeed one of the worst disasters in u. More than 2,200 people died in may of 1889 when 20 tons of turgid waters, teeming with debris of houses, trees and drowned animals. His other acclaimed books include the johnstown flood, the great bridge, brave companions, 1776, the greater journey, the american spirit, and the wright. After countless hours of work, david mccullough released the johnstown flood, a book that went on national sale 50 years ago on march 18, 1968.
Great book about the great johnstown flood one of the. Graced by david mcculloughs remarkable gift for writing richly textured, sympathetic social history, the johnstown flood is an absorbing, classic portrait of life in nineteenthcentury america, of overweening confidence, of energy, and of tragedy. Study questions, project ideas and discussion topics based on important themes running throughout the johnstown flood by david mccullough. In 1965, as part of the famous landmark series, hildegarde dolsons. A secondary low began to form over western virginia, slowing the advance of the cold front and reinforcing.
A flash flood hits johnstown, pennsylvania, on this day in 1977, killing 84 people and causing millions of dollars in damages. It was a great book even though it was written in the 30s. The stunning story of one of americas great disasters, a preventable tragedy of gilded. The population was 20,978 at the 2010 census and estimated to be 19,447 in 2018. The stunning story of one of americas great disasters, a preventable tragedy of gilded age america, brilliantly told by master historian david mccullough. Johnstown flood the johnstown flood took place on may 31, 1889 and was the result of a catastrophic failure of the south fork dam. At the end of the nineteenth century, johnstown, pennsylvania, was a booming coalandsteel town filled with hardworking families striving.
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