Springfield, VT Freshet, 1869

In the summer of 1869 a sudden rise of Black River, caused by a shower, carried out the bulkhead of the dam just built by the Novelty Works Company, and the north end of the new stone building, not yet occupied. The great freshet, in the autumn of 1869, carried out the dam and stone buildings next to the river, just built by Ellis, Britton & Eaton. The grist mill of Henry Safford was swept away, and the residence of Joseph Smart. Mike Tully's house (the first frame house built in the village) went off, and several houses below the lower bridge were undermined and turned upon their sides. The new iron bridge across the falls went off, with a mand named Morsey, who was drowned; and every other bridge across the river except the covered bridge at the lower end of Main Street, and the Nathan White bridge was swept away.

History of the Town of Springfield, Vermont, 1895, page 160
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Transcribed by Linda Horton. Thank you, Linda!