by Kristine Schmucker, HCHM Curator
Looking through HCHM’s photo collection for flood photos, there seemed to be a number of the Ash Street Bridge over time. Sand Creek has flooded multiple times in Newton’s history, and the Ash Street bridge over the Sand Creek has been damage many times. The old bridge was completely replaced following the flood of June 1965.
Sand Creek on a Tear! the Ash Street Bridge
May 1899 Flood
Evening Kansan Republican, 23 May 1899.
May 1902 Flood
Evening Kansan Republican, 22 May 1902.
June 1904 Flood
The devastation following the June 1904 flood was overwhelming to Harvey County residents. The Evening Kansan Republican (June 3, 1904) noted;
“Sand Creek, the despise and ridiculed, spread over its banks and overflowed the north end, for once a raging, destruction-dealing current.”
To read stories about the impact county-wide follow the link – Sand Creek Flood 1904.
Flood of June 1904
The Flood of June 1904 was particularly hard on Newton’s bridges.
Evening Kansan Republican, June 3, 1904
At the July 8, 1904 meeting of the city commissioners it was reported that
“the West First, West Broadway and West Twelfth street bridges are now in good shape . . . work on the Ash Street bridge will be commenced by Contractor Lewelled and his men as soon as the weather will permit.”
June 6, 1916 Flood
Alarming, but did not reach the “former record.”
Evening Kansan Republican, June 6, 1916
July 10, 1929 Flood
Ash Street Bridge, Newton, Ks, July 10, 1929. Note on the back reads “Just 10 minutes later the water was 3 feet over the top of the bridge.”
The Ash Street Bridge – 1954 & 1965
Ash Street Bridge, 1954. Photographer is looking south.
Ash Street Bridge destroyed by flood, June 1965. Photographer is looking south.
June 1965 Flood
Ash Street Bridge, June 1965.
Ash Street Bridge, June 1965.
Ash Street Bridge, June 1965 Flood. The bridge came to rest against the W. Broadway Bridge.
Debris from the Ash Street Bridge resting against the W. Broadway Bridge, June 1965.
Viewing the damage, Ash Street Bridge, June 1965.
Construction, Ash Street Bridge, 1967
Photo taken from 9th St.
New Ash Street Bridge, 1966.
Reconstruction of Ash Street Bridge, October 2012.
