Losses from the Flood of 1909

LOSSES FROM THE CHELSEA FLOOD OF 1909

Newspaper account of the losses from the Sunday morning flood of December 26, 1909

The damage wrought by the recent flood appears to be much greater in many individual cases than some of the estimates first given. The business men of this section lost heavily and after having taken a careful inventory of their stock are able to figure their approximate losses.

While nobody has been completely put out of business the losses are in many cases severly felt and the good spirit shown by those whose interests were damaged and the spirit of cheerfulness with which many refer to their losses is indicative of the splendid innate courage of the people which is apparently strengthened by this additional catastrophe.

The two heaviest losers by the flood are the Boston Blacking Company and the Eastern Carbonic Gas and Acid Company on West Third Street. They estimate that they were damaged to the extent of $20,000 each, the latter firm losing two compressors, valued at $6,000. In addition their fires were put out of commission, their buildings damaged, their pumps rendered useless and a large quantity of calcite and other material ruined. Peter F. Tague, the superintendent, says it will be at least a month before they are able to begin work.

The Boston Blacking Company had two large naphtha tanks blown up, and the machinery and a large quanity of cement were badly damaged. They also will be unable to resume business within a month.

One of those who feels his loss severly is Benjamin Shure of 263 Second Street. He has been 26 years in this country and loses nearly everything. His house is condemned, his stables and sheds practically ruined and his henhouse overturned. He lost his horses and wagon, and his piano and furniture are worthless. He estimates his loss at $5000, at the least.

S. Feinberg of 211 Second Street has a loss to the extent of $10,000. The loss consists of three houses and a barn. The barn at 231 Second Street is condemned and the wall of the house at 213 Second Street has been undermined. The furniture in the houses are a total loss.

Abraham Lipson with his 8 children received a severe blow. One of the children is suffering with diphtheria while two others are confined with a touch of the grippe. They are all separated, staying with friends in nearby cities. His former house at 205 Second Street has been condemned and his furniture is ruined. In addition to this his barn and two shops are badly damaged. His loss is $6,000.

Forster & Wolf, dealers in woolen rags, of Pittsburg, PA., are losers to the extent of $10,000. They had a large quanity of woolen goods stored at 95 Auburn Street.

Rosenberg Brothers, located at the corner of Auburn and Maple Streets sustained a loss not less than $5,000 for goods stored in their basement.

The loss to M. Salter & Son, 67-75 Spruce Street, will not. in all probability, exceed $1,000. Though much of their stock received a thorough wetting according to a member of the firm, it can be carbonized so that the loss will not be severe.

Special Police Officer H. Goldstein suffered severly, his house at 230 Second Street and the shop and stable in the rear being badly damaged. About four tons of hemp, valued at 5 cents a pound, was soaked by the water. He estimates his loss at $3,500.

There are many cases where individuals have been helped by the relief committee, where the suffering and destitution are pitable and while it is not deemed expedient to print names, the following is an example: A certain man had his leg broken the day of the flood and had been unable to seek much needed relief. Upon hearing of the case Commissioner George H. Dunham visited the man and relieved his immediate wants at once.

Mrs. Bessie Armstein of 235 Second Street sustained damage to her property consisting of a stable and a shed. Her henhouse was destroyed and all her poultry were drowned. Her loss was $2,000.

There are from 10 to 15 houses and barns that have been weaked as a result of the flood, although they were not in good condition previous to the flood, and these have been condemned by Inspector of Buildings Frank Weymouth.

The firm of Cutler & Speck at 181-193 Second Street sustained a loss of $3,500.

S. Brimberg of 193 Second Street had his house and barn damaged to the extent of $1,000.

The storehouse of Jacob Barger at 243-244-265 Second Street and another on Carter Street contained goods, the wetting of which caused a loss of $3,000.

Samuel Weiner sustained a loss of $1,100 to his house and shop, the former at 236 Second Street, the latter at 204 Maple Street.

John J. Lawlor, whose residence is situated at the corner of Auburn and Maple Streets, estimates his loss at $1,500.

M. Lourie, proprietor of a small blacksmith shop at 217 Second Street lost about $300.

The stock of J. Gordon at 85-87 Auburn Street was damaged to the extent of $500.

The W. A. Snow Iron Works on West Third Street was forced to suspend operations for a week. Their loss is about $1,500.

The United States Paper Stock Company at 202 Second Street sustained a loss of $1,200 due to the wetting of their goods.

Gordon & Goose, dealers in cotton rags at 87 Summer Street suffered damage to the amount of $1,500.

D. Narwitz, hay and grain dealers at 162 Second Street had a quanity of hay stored at 177 Second Street which was damaged to the extent of $400.

David Fisher, cotton and woolen rag dealer at 81 Summer Street was damaged to the amount of $1,000.

Cutler & Brickman, dealers in burlap on Second Street, lost $1,500 as a result of the soaking of their stock.

The Colonial Bed Company at 289 Second Street was damaged about $1,500.

The loss to S. Rubin and sons whose places of business are located at 95 West Third Street, 85-87 Vale Street, 51 Elm Street, and 78 Summer Street is estimated to be $5,000.

The New England Furnishing Company at 86 Spruce Streetlost $2,000. Damage to stock, $1,000; machinery $500; Building, $500.

J. Lipsitz, 151 West Third Street, estimates his loss at $4,500.

M. Soway, dealer in bottles, at 270 Second Street, figures his loss at $8,000. If the building is damaged it may amount to a larger sum.

E. Kosnof, who conducts a grocery business at 266 Second Street, estimates his loss at $1,100.

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*Newspaper account of the losses from the Sunday morning flood of December 26, 1909*
The damage wrought by the recent flood appears to be much greater in many individual cases than some of the estimates first given. The business men of this section lost heavily and after having taken a careful inventory of their stock are able to figure their approximate losses. While nobody has been completely put out of business the losses are in many cases severly felt and the good spirit shown by those whose interests were damaged and the spirit of cheerfulness with which many refer to their losses is indicative of the splendid innate courage of the people which is apparently strengthened by this additional catastrophe. The two heaviest losers by the flood are the Boston Blacking Company and the Eastern Carbonic Gas and Acid Company on West Third Street. They estimate that they were damaged to the extent of $20,000 each, the latter firm losing two compressors, valued at $6,000. In addition their fires were put out of commission, their buildings damaged, their pumps rendered useless and a large quantity of calcite and other material ruined. Peter F. Tague, the superintendent, says it will be at least a month before they are able to begin work. The Boston Blacking Company had two large naphtha tanks blown up, and the machinery and a large quanity of cement were badly damaged. They also will be unable to resume business within a month. One of those who feels his loss severly is Benjamin Shure of 263 Second Street. He has been 26 years in this country and loses nearly everything. His house is condemned, his stables and sheds practically ruined and his henhouse overturned. He lost his horses and wagon, and his piano and furniture are worthless. He estimates his loss at $5000, at the least. S. Feinberg of 211 Second Street has a loss to the extent of $10,000. The loss consists of three houses and a barn. The barn at 231 Second Street is condemned and the wall of the house at 213 Second Street has been undermined. The furniture in the houses are a total loss. Abraham Lipson with his 8 children received a severe blow. One of the children is suffering with diphtheria while two others are confined with a touch of the grippe. They are all separated, staying with friends in nearby cities. His former house at 205 Second Street has been condemned and his furniture is ruined. In addition to this his barn and two shops are badly damaged. His loss is $6,000. Forster & Wolf, dealers in woolen rags, of Pittsburg, PA., are losers to the extent of $10,000. They had a large quanity of woolen goods stored at 95 Auburn Street. Rosenberg Brothers, located at the corner of Auburn and Maple Streets sustained a loss not less than $5,000 for goods stored in their basement. The loss to M. Salter & Son, 67-75 Spruce Street, will not. in all probability, exceed $1,000. Though much of their stock received a thorough wetting according to a member of the firm, it can be carbonized so that the loss will not be severe. Special Police Officer H. Goldstein suffered severly, his house at 230 Second Street and the shop and stable in the rear being badly damaged. About four tons of hemp, valued at 5 cents a pound, was soaked by the water. He estimates his loss at $3,500. There are many cases where individuals have been helped by the relief committee, where the suffering and destitution are pitable and while it is not deemed expedient to print names, the following is an example: A certain man had his leg broken the day of the flood and had been unable to seek much needed relief. Upon hearing of the case Commissioner George H. Dunham visited the man and relieved his immediate wants at once. Mrs. Bessie Armstein of 235 Second Street sustained damage to her property consisting of a stable and a shed. Her henhouse was destroyed and all her poultry were drowned. Her loss was $2,000. There are from 10 to 15 houses and barns that have been weaked as a result of the flood, although they were not in good condition previous to the flood, and these have been condemned by Inspector of Buildings Frank Weymouth. The firm of Cutler & Speck at 181-193 Second Street sustained a loss of $3,500. S. Brimberg of 193 Second Street had his house and barn damaged to the extent of $1,000. The storehouse of Jacob Barger at 243-244-265 Second Street and another on Carter Street contained goods, the wetting of which caused a loss of $3,000. Samuel Weiner sustained a loss of $1,100 to his house and shop, the former at 236 Second Street, the latter at 204 Maple Street. John J. Lawlor, whose residence is situated at the corner of Auburn and Maple Streets, estimates his loss at $1,500. M. Lourie, proprietor of a small blacksmith shop at 217 Second Street lost about $300. The stock of J. Gordon at 85-87 Auburn Street was damaged to the extent of $500. The W. A. Snow Iron Works on West Third Street was forced to suspend operations for a week. Their loss is about $1,500. The United States Paper Stock Company at 202 Second Street sustained a loss of $1,200 due to the wetting of their goods. Gordon & Goose, dealers in cotton rags at 87 Summer Street suffered damage to the amount of $1,500. D. Narwitz, hay and grain dealers at 162 Second Street had a quanity of hay stored at 177 Second Street which was damaged to the extent of $400. David Fisher, cotton and woolen rag dealer at 81 Summer Street was damaged to the amount of $1,000. Cutler & Brickman, dealers in burlap on Second Street, lost $1,500 as a result of the soaking of their stock. The Colonial Bed Company at 289 Second Street was damaged about $1,500. The loss to S. Rubin and sons whose places of business are located at 95 West Third Street, 85-87 Vale Street, 51 Elm Street, and 78 Summer Street is estimated to be $5,000. The New England Furnishing Company at 86 Spruce Streetlost $2,000. Damage to stock, $1,000; machinery $500; Building, $500. J. Lipsitz, 151 West Third Street, estimates his loss at $4,500. M. Soway, dealer in bottles, at 270 Second Street, figures his loss at $8,000. If the building is damaged it may amount to a larger sum. E. Kosnof, who conducts a grocery business at 266 Second Street, estimates his loss at $1,100.
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