Disasters

Despite the many advantages of being a river town, Augusta was often the victim of the Savannah's raging waters. The main path of the rushing waters followed the old channel of the Beaver Dam Creek, which had flowed southeastwardly from the river about at the point of present day 11th Street. The Augusta Canal, completed in 1847, used sections of the old creek bed, and therefore, became a high water artery into the city. Spilling over the banks of this course, the floods spread into business and residential areas. Although the City Council discussed flood protection after an 1888 disaster which caused eleven deaths and $2 million in damage, Augusta officials procrastinated. A bond referendum for construction of a levee was sought only after the flood of 1908, which took eighteen lives and destroyed property valued at over $1.5 million. Even then, many Augustans bitterly opposed a city-wide bond issue of $1 million. Another severe flood in 1912 ended the dispute. A levee was built extending from the head gates of the Augusta Canal to Butler Creek. Work was completed in 1915 at a cost of $3 million. Flood control for the area was assured by the completion of the Clark's Hill Dam Project in the early 1950s.

Although the periodic submersion of the city had resulted in much loss of life and property over the years, the fire of 1916 was the worst disaster ever to befall Augusta. On March 22, 1916, at 6:20 pm, fire broke out in Kelly's Dry Goods store, located in the Dyer Building, which stood at the northwest corner of Broad and Jackson (8th) streets. Whipped on by high winds, the fire rapidly spread to other buildings on Broad and adjacent streets. In the wake of the flames, twenty-six city blocks were totally destroyed, and seven blocks partially destroyed. The destruction of 138 businesses and 526 homes left more than 3,000 homeless and caused losses totaling over $10 million. Among the buildings destroyed was historic Saint Paul's Episcopal Church, which was 135 years old at the time.

In November 1921, fire again struck the south side of Broad on the 700 block. The Harrison Building, J.B. White, the Chronicle building, the Albion Hotel, and the Stag were among the victim of the blaze that engulfed the buildings from Broad to Ellis streets and from the Monument to Jackson (Eighth) Street.

Provided by: Augusta Metropolitan Convention & Visitors Bureau