It had been raining for days, saturating the soil and filling ditches and rivers to capacity, when the remnants of Hurricane Hazel blew into southern Ontario on Oct. 15, 1954.
In the low-lying Holland Marsh, the pumps were unable to keep up with the torrential rains and rising water levels. The dyke was breached west of Highway 400, sending the floodwaters into the marsh, rather like filling a bathtub. Fields, crops and homes were submerged.
These photos show the partially submerged home of Sjoerd van der Kooi, immediately after Hazel hit, and the onions, pallets and crates that were washed up on the highway.
About 3,000 people were displaced by the flooding, leaving property and possessions behind.
Some were able to flee before the rising waters cut off access; other flood victims were rescued by boat. According to the Bradford Witness, only one life was lost.
The “refugees” found shelter in Bradford and West Gwillimbury and surrounding areas. The old Town Hall on Holland Street East in Bradford became a disaster centre, serving up free meals; a tent city was established at Bradford Community Centre.
Work on pumping down the floodwaters and repairing the dykes began almost immediately.
The Marsh was dry by Nov. 13, but the clean-up continued, dealing with ruined crops and homes made uninhabitable by the flooding.
Details from the Archives at the BWG Public Library.
