At the time of this writing the city of Midland, Michigan and other towns along the Tittabawassee River are experiencing devastating flood conditions. After heavy rains two main dams were breached by floodwaters, forcing the evacuation of 10,000 people. Complicating recovery efforts is the ongoing months long Covid-19 coronavirus pandemic.
About 60 miles southeast, and almost 75 years earlier, the city of Flint, Michigan suffered similar catastrophic flooding.
These are the personal photographs of my great grandfather, Michael John Hanley (1890-1964), of the Flint flooding of 1947. Some of the information in the notes were provided by my great aunt, Michael’s daughter, Beverly Hanley Mansour (1929-2009).
According to this article, in the spring of 1947, “a huge storm pounded mid-Michigan with snow and ice, followed by a quick, early thaw that choked the Flint River and caused it to surge over the banks and into the streets and nearby neighborhoods.”
Here are two photos outside of the Baker St. home where my family lived at the time. According to my aunt Bev, about 18 at the time, “This snow storm caused the worst flood ever in downtown Flint, 1947.”
1947 Baker St, Flint, MI
1947 Baker St., Flint, MI
Here are a two of photos of the Industrial Mutual Association Auditorium after the snow melted and the flooding began.
According to Aunt Bev, the Buick Fire Department (where my great grandfather worked):
“worked around the clock pumping water out of IMA; trying to save the parquet dance floor. They were successful. Grampa Hanley worked on this. Fred’s (Mansour) father had a meat and grocery store downtown Flint (Citizen’s Market). Fred said he and others were wearing hip boots and all the boxes of food were floating around them. The store was very close to the Flint River. (What a mess)”
Here are some more of my great grandfather’s photos of the downtown Flint area.
And some more of Aunt Bev’s notes about them:
“Saginaw St. downtown. Notice the street light. Some of the other photos may have been taken at Hamilton St. There was a bridge that over flowed by Buick. Hamilton St. was four blocks from our house but this part of Hamilton was several blocks south on Hamilton.
You can view them all on one scrolling gallery here:
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In May of 2020 I challenged myself and others to write every day for a month about a family heirloom or artifact. Here are 10 lessons I learned from this genealogy writing experience.