1
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533
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Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
A name given to the resource
Written Memories
Subject
The topic of the resource
Each item in this collection is an individual's story or memory about the night of June 9, 1972 and the following recovery efforts. These memories have been collected by the Rapid City Public library at various memorial events and through online submission by community members. If you have a memory you would like to submit, please do so on the <a href="https://1972flood.omeka.net/contribution">Contribute an Item</a> page.<br /><br /><span>Below is a map of all the interviews and written memories we have conducted and gathered to help you visualize the impact of the 1972 Flood and explore stories.<br /></span><br /><iframe width="640" height="480" src="https://www.google.com/maps/d/u/0/embed?mid=1KzeKQJ4R89Riq5B9FguZdJzj6c0&ll=44.0744389777805%2C-103.24796692260742&z=13"></iframe>
Description
An account of the resource
Stories and memories of the flood submitted by community members and shared with Rapid City Public Library.
Text
A resource consisting primarily of words for reading. Examples include books, letters, dissertations, poems, newspapers, articles, archives of mailing lists. Note that facsimiles or images of texts are still of the genre Text.
Text
Any textual data included in the document
It started raining in the early afternoon. That wasn’t unusual and for the tourist shops that lined the road to Mount Rushmore on the “strip”, it meant more business as campers left their tents to escape the rain.
By 7:00 that night, the Keystone House was packed and the player piano in the back of the restaurant was cranking out honkey-tonk music. By 7:00, it was raining hard and this wasn’t our usual summertime shower. Rena, my wife, wanted me to go home and bring our three year old son and her sister to Keystone House. Ester, her 16 year old sister, just arrived from Pennsylvania that day and she didn’t think she should spend her first night in a heavy rainstorm. I didn’t want to venture out into the rain, but I agreed to go…reluctantly.
When I returned, Abner Hunter George, a local radio announcer, called to ask how Keystone was faring the storm. Minor flooding started in Rapid City. Thing were still normal in Keystone, but that changed about 9:00. We noticed red flashing lights outside our door and saw a Highway Patrol car moving slowly south down the strip. Battle Creek, near the 1880 Train, was flooding and out of its banks and the main road across the bridge was closed.
Keystone sits on Battle Creek and Grizzly creek and campgrounds line the creeks, just as campgrounds should. Battle Creek was the larger creek and Grizzly was shallow and only 3-4 feet wide as it flowed through the strip. Grizzly Creek was still in its banks about 10:00, but Battle Creek now flooded all the tourist shops on the strip.
I went downstairs to the basement with my dad, Tom McKiernan, and a couple customers to move merchandise to higher shelves because the basement was flooding through the sidewalk entryway we used for deliveries. We weren’t down there very long when Rena called down to tell us to get upstairs, “Water is coming through the doors and the store is being flooded.”
We hurried upstairs to the main floor and looked outside. The water outside was three feet high. Grizzly Creek had become a raging torrent and the little creek now stretched across the narrow valley containing the strip. Water was moving rapidly.
Suddenly, the Keystone House trembled. The basement delivery doors collapsed under the weight of the water and the basement flooded instantly as the water poured in just like water being flushed down a toilet. The entire portion of the Keystone House heaved as water slammed into the center building supports and raised the floor over 12 inches. Electric power went out.
We quickly herded the employees and customers upstairs to our second floor apartment. The first floor quickly flooded, but the building was holding. We didn’t know how long it would last and looked for escape routes to higher ground. We could escape over the Opry House rooftop and climb the hill behind the store. But, we didn’t want to leave before we had to.
Looking out the front window, we saw the flood at its full fury. Cars, tents with tourists screaming for help, debris and water swept downstream on the main road. There was nothing we could do to save them. The memory of tourists being swept downstream haunted us for years and we used to carry 100 feet of rope in our car for years afterwards to prevent the feeling of being helpless.
We survived, but the Keystone House was wrecked. So was my trailer located on Grizzly Creek. It was destroyed. If I hadn’t gone home to bring Ester and Curt to the Keystone House, they would both be dead. It appears a slag pile upstream on Grizzly Creek contained flood water, but finally failed and released a wall of water that wiped out the tourist campers along Grizzly Creek…and my home.
It’s been reported people found recording tape from our reel-to-reel tape collection over 10 feet high in the trees below Keystone.
By the next day, the storm was gone, but Keystone was destroyed. Old Keystone received the brunt of both Battle and Grizzly Creeks. Everything was buried in a thick cover of mud and clean-up took over a year. But, thanks to the Mennonite Disaster Relief group, the Red Cross, and many other organizations, lives were brought back to normal.
A lot of people died during the second worse flood in American history. For those of us that have lived it, these words don’t adequately describe the terror, heroism and resolve of those involved. I would say to those that read this: “Cherish life and live it as best. Events happen that will change your life, but accept them to make you better and stronger.” The 1972 flood will never be forgotten, but it has made us better and stronger. We wish you the best.
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
A name given to the resource
A NIGHT TO REMEMBER
Description
An account of the resource
Written Memory
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https://d1y502jg6fpugt.cloudfront.net/38396/archive/files/948be083e5a683f68d87d56632805a36.pdf?Expires=1712793600&Signature=oGeFDBuQksjxR5mQ8VbvIjqVP7Qc0ubLuphBO34SfKB9%7EWHE1vOag1ah4KWhGGe%7EEujVY66qmbXUC4smJJymotQFzz5iTNTngky7W1CJhD1vl6bhsepCwZe1j0XTcZvrE%7EYhxQtNju3FkB4BQ3Py61399HA508jZYDwL7y%7EdKX38qtYaLlvImpo2Dfpzjzg1C13xe8y433JK9NN4ebC2QY5UVQOU2Vdon9QEs5Ea7gzTAa00whZ2SNuXNA915041Q-2QcYO7JPKBkCR%7EvXF%7ECBR2ROyb3P-Zz9g42mP2e8N14AVPEuLETLpx8ZWF2gzuBYLXTSHVR2wuy8qpzMePFg__&Key-Pair-Id=K6UGZS9ZTDSZM
8b257f6069bd3cffc971a1fce46a6105
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
A name given to the resource
SD Oral History Center Interviews
Subject
The topic of the resource
In the aftermath of the 1972 Black Hills Flood, the South Dakota Oral History Center conducted a series of interviews with flood victims in Rapid City and the surrounding areas. Around 250 people were interviewed in the month following the disaster, and a series of aftermath interviews were also conducted in the summer of 1973. These interviews were recorded on reel-to-reel tapes, and are currently available at the <a href="https://www.usd.edu/library/sdohc" title="USD Oral History Center website">University of South Dakota</a> in Vermillion.<br /><br />The Rapid City Public Library has recently reached an agreement with the South Dakota Oral History Center that will allow us to digitize these interviews and make them available on our website provided we get retro-active release forms signed by the interviewees (or their next of kin). Release forms were not gathered at the time the interviews were conducted, as no one anticipated the legal restrictions that we now have to work with. <br /><br />We have managed to track down a number of the interviewees already, but have an even longer <a href="http://1972flood.omeka.net/add_sdoc">list of people</a> we're still looking for. We would love to get the public's help on this project, as these interviews tell an important part of our city's history and we would like to see them reach a wider audience. <br /><br />If you have any information that may help us contact the people we're looking for, please see the <a href="http://1972flood.omeka.net/contact">Contact Us</a> page for more information.
Description
An account of the resource
Interviews with flood victims conducted by the SD Oral History Center in 1972-1973.
Creator
An entity primarily responsible for making the resource
<a href="https://www.usd.edu/library/sdohc" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">South Dakota Oral History Center</a>
Date
A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource
1972-1973
Oral History Video
Embedded oral history interview video hosted by Vimeo.
Interviewer
The person(s) performing the interview
John Watterson
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
A name given to the resource
A.L. Riemenschneider
Subject
The topic of the resource
<iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://player.vimeo.com/video/86032547" frameborder="0"></iframe>
Description
An account of the resource
[Northwest quarter, southeast quarter, section 3, township 1 north, range 7 east] Rapid rise of water about 11 p.m.; Flooding of home; Spent 1 1/2 hours in boat outside home; Water coming from down Woodland Drive toward creek; Damage to home; Thoughts on flood warnings; Thoughts on future building in flood plain; Observation of water and debris.
Creator
An entity primarily responsible for making the resource
SD Oral History Center
Date
A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource
July 11, 1972
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Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
A name given to the resource
Written Memories
Subject
The topic of the resource
Each item in this collection is an individual's story or memory about the night of June 9, 1972 and the following recovery efforts. These memories have been collected by the Rapid City Public library at various memorial events and through online submission by community members. If you have a memory you would like to submit, please do so on the <a href="https://1972flood.omeka.net/contribution">Contribute an Item</a> page.<br /><br /><span>Below is a map of all the interviews and written memories we have conducted and gathered to help you visualize the impact of the 1972 Flood and explore stories.<br /></span><br /><iframe width="640" height="480" src="https://www.google.com/maps/d/u/0/embed?mid=1KzeKQJ4R89Riq5B9FguZdJzj6c0&ll=44.0744389777805%2C-103.24796692260742&z=13"></iframe>
Description
An account of the resource
Stories and memories of the flood submitted by community members and shared with Rapid City Public Library.
Text
A resource consisting primarily of words for reading. Examples include books, letters, dissertations, poems, newspapers, articles, archives of mailing lists. Note that facsimiles or images of texts are still of the genre Text.
Text
Any textual data included in the document
As I had just graduated in '72 with my MS in Chemical Engineering, and Dow Chemical did not offer much in vacation for new employees, I took a road trip to the University of California at Davis to visit a friend before traveling to Michigan to start my new job. As I had no money, I took another recent graduate with me to pay for the trip as he had some business in California. While in California we heard on the news about the flood and my traveling friend was worried by the safety of his wife who we had left in Rapid. He could not contact his wife as most of the phone lines had been designated for out bound calls only (no cell phones then). So we immediately, like 2 am, left Davis and headed for Rapid. We arrived early in the morning (2:00 am), we could smell the death as we approached Rapid and we promptly met by the police (we weren't aware of the curfew). They escorted us to his house, up on Star Hill, where his wife was soundly sleeping, as she had spent the day working with the police to tally the victim’s names.
I wondered what happened to my Master's Thesis, as it was stored in the basement of the library which was totally flooded, destroying all the old mining journals that went back to the 1800s and other books and materials. And when I went by, they were shoveling out the muddy remains of those materials and dumping the muddy trash into a dump truck. Fortunately my Thesis (no electronic copies back then) was in a plastic bag, on a wooden table, in the AV room that merely filled with water (i.e. the walls did not collapse), and when they pumped out the basement, the table floated back down, so the my Thesis survived with very little water damage.
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
A name given to the resource
Al Clark
Date
A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource
September 16, 2009
Description
An account of the resource
Written Memory
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868d3491a1ed3e62a74a35dfa97133c4
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
A name given to the resource
Lives Lost
Subject
The topic of the resource
The Rapid City Flood Memorial, located within Memorial Park, stands as a tribute to those who lost their lives in the tragic flood June 9, 1972. Each name listed on the memorial is recorded here, along with a brief description and a photo if available.<br /><br />The total number of people who perished in the flood was 238, including 5 missing. That number also includes three National Guardsmen, three firefighters, seven airmen from Ellsworth Air Force Base, one police reserve officer, and other rescuers.<br /><br />We need your help - we would like to have a photo of each flood victim. If you have one available for digitization please see the <a href="http://1972flood.omeka.net/contact">Contact Us</a> page for more information.
Description
An account of the resource
Digital Memorial Wall for those lost in the 1972 flood.
Text
A resource consisting primarily of words for reading. Examples include books, letters, dissertations, poems, newspapers, articles, archives of mailing lists. Note that facsimiles or images of texts are still of the genre Text.
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
A name given to the resource
Albers, William
Description
An account of the resource
William Albers, 54. Employed by the Black Hills Pack Plant at the time of his death. He was survived by his wife and four children. Buried in the Black Hills National Cemetery.
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Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
A name given to the resource
Written Memories
Subject
The topic of the resource
Each item in this collection is an individual's story or memory about the night of June 9, 1972 and the following recovery efforts. These memories have been collected by the Rapid City Public library at various memorial events and through online submission by community members. If you have a memory you would like to submit, please do so on the <a href="https://1972flood.omeka.net/contribution">Contribute an Item</a> page.<br /><br /><span>Below is a map of all the interviews and written memories we have conducted and gathered to help you visualize the impact of the 1972 Flood and explore stories.<br /></span><br /><iframe width="640" height="480" src="https://www.google.com/maps/d/u/0/embed?mid=1KzeKQJ4R89Riq5B9FguZdJzj6c0&ll=44.0744389777805%2C-103.24796692260742&z=13"></iframe>
Description
An account of the resource
Stories and memories of the flood submitted by community members and shared with Rapid City Public Library.
Text
A resource consisting primarily of words for reading. Examples include books, letters, dissertations, poems, newspapers, articles, archives of mailing lists. Note that facsimiles or images of texts are still of the genre Text.
Text
Any textual data included in the document
My family and I lived in Nemo Canyon. The night of the storm my mother asked my brothers and I to help get some of our animals to higher ground as the creek bed behind our house was flooding. My father out of town, my oldest sister in Rapid City with a friend and my dear mother trying to save everything and keep us safe. I got bound up in fencing and went with the rising water until I could get to land 1/2 mile later. "Billy" my brother told me to go to the neighbor's house as I was on the other side of the water and he went after my youngest brother Michael. Billy was able to swim to mike and push him farther up into a tree, but lost his grip in the push. His body was found days later under a bridge in Rapid City. He was given his Eagle Scout badge posthumously but deserved so much more. This was also the time I realized my father was "human" when I saw him cry at his funeral. We will never forget you Billy, nor your love of the outdoors and scouting. Yes--bad storms still bring back that night, but not my dear brother. To William Dean Albright- a very missed and much loved member of our family.
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
A name given to the resource
Albright
Description
An account of the resource
Written Memory
Date
A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource
February 14, 2011
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44d9e4006fa762757dfc273da55b5753
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
A name given to the resource
Lives Lost
Subject
The topic of the resource
The Rapid City Flood Memorial, located within Memorial Park, stands as a tribute to those who lost their lives in the tragic flood June 9, 1972. Each name listed on the memorial is recorded here, along with a brief description and a photo if available.<br /><br />The total number of people who perished in the flood was 238, including 5 missing. That number also includes three National Guardsmen, three firefighters, seven airmen from Ellsworth Air Force Base, one police reserve officer, and other rescuers.<br /><br />We need your help - we would like to have a photo of each flood victim. If you have one available for digitization please see the <a href="http://1972flood.omeka.net/contact">Contact Us</a> page for more information.
Description
An account of the resource
Digital Memorial Wall for those lost in the 1972 flood.
Text
A resource consisting primarily of words for reading. Examples include books, letters, dissertations, poems, newspapers, articles, archives of mailing lists. Note that facsimiles or images of texts are still of the genre Text.
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
A name given to the resource
Albright, William Dean
Description
An account of the resource
William Dean Albright, 13. A student from West Junior High School. He was survived by his parents, two brothers and four sisters. Buried in the Mountain View Cemetery.
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420ec2f287789c274f3d89f67303f0ab
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
A name given to the resource
Lives Lost
Subject
The topic of the resource
The Rapid City Flood Memorial, located within Memorial Park, stands as a tribute to those who lost their lives in the tragic flood June 9, 1972. Each name listed on the memorial is recorded here, along with a brief description and a photo if available.<br /><br />The total number of people who perished in the flood was 238, including 5 missing. That number also includes three National Guardsmen, three firefighters, seven airmen from Ellsworth Air Force Base, one police reserve officer, and other rescuers.<br /><br />We need your help - we would like to have a photo of each flood victim. If you have one available for digitization please see the <a href="http://1972flood.omeka.net/contact">Contact Us</a> page for more information.
Description
An account of the resource
Digital Memorial Wall for those lost in the 1972 flood.
Text
A resource consisting primarily of words for reading. Examples include books, letters, dissertations, poems, newspapers, articles, archives of mailing lists. Note that facsimiles or images of texts are still of the genre Text.
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
A name given to the resource
Alcott, Russell W.
Description
An account of the resource
Russell W. Alcott, 9. He was survived by his mother and one brother. Buried in the Mountain View Cemetery.
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87341bab1ae61a37ccb179ccfeff206d
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
A name given to the resource
Lives Lost
Subject
The topic of the resource
The Rapid City Flood Memorial, located within Memorial Park, stands as a tribute to those who lost their lives in the tragic flood June 9, 1972. Each name listed on the memorial is recorded here, along with a brief description and a photo if available.<br /><br />The total number of people who perished in the flood was 238, including 5 missing. That number also includes three National Guardsmen, three firefighters, seven airmen from Ellsworth Air Force Base, one police reserve officer, and other rescuers.<br /><br />We need your help - we would like to have a photo of each flood victim. If you have one available for digitization please see the <a href="http://1972flood.omeka.net/contact">Contact Us</a> page for more information.
Description
An account of the resource
Digital Memorial Wall for those lost in the 1972 flood.
Text
A resource consisting primarily of words for reading. Examples include books, letters, dissertations, poems, newspapers, articles, archives of mailing lists. Note that facsimiles or images of texts are still of the genre Text.
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
A name given to the resource
Allen, Susan Carol Williamson
Description
An account of the resource
Susan Carol Allen, 22. New Underwood, SD. She was survived by her husband and a one-year-old daughter. Buried in the Black Hills National Cemetery.
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Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
A name given to the resource
RCPL Oral History Interviews
Description
An account of the resource
Members of the Rapid City community share their memories of the flood in interviews conducted by the Rapid City Public Library.
Creator
An entity primarily responsible for making the resource
Rapid City Public Library
Subject
The topic of the resource
The Rapid City Public Library has recorded on film individuals who tell about their personal experiences of the events of June 9, 1972. If you would like to be interviewed, please see the <a href="http://1972flood.omeka.net/contact">Contact Us</a> page for more information.
Oral History Video
Embedded oral history interview video hosted by Vimeo.
Interviewer
The person(s) performing the interview
Heide Noblitt
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
A name given to the resource
Ann Trask
Subject
The topic of the resource
<br /><iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://player.vimeo.com/video/50385360" frameborder="0"></iframe>
Description
An account of the resource
Ann was in Piedmont the evening of the Flood. When she tried to drive back from Rapid City the bridge at Deadwood Avenue collapsed. She remained stranded in Black Hawk for two days until her father was able to come and get her.
Creator
An entity primarily responsible for making the resource
Rapid City Public Library
Date
A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource
April 4, 2012
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Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
A name given to the resource
Written Memories
Subject
The topic of the resource
Each item in this collection is an individual's story or memory about the night of June 9, 1972 and the following recovery efforts. These memories have been collected by the Rapid City Public library at various memorial events and through online submission by community members. If you have a memory you would like to submit, please do so on the <a href="https://1972flood.omeka.net/contribution">Contribute an Item</a> page.<br /><br /><span>Below is a map of all the interviews and written memories we have conducted and gathered to help you visualize the impact of the 1972 Flood and explore stories.<br /></span><br /><iframe width="640" height="480" src="https://www.google.com/maps/d/u/0/embed?mid=1KzeKQJ4R89Riq5B9FguZdJzj6c0&ll=44.0744389777805%2C-103.24796692260742&z=13"></iframe>
Description
An account of the resource
Stories and memories of the flood submitted by community members and shared with Rapid City Public Library.
Text
A resource consisting primarily of words for reading. Examples include books, letters, dissertations, poems, newspapers, articles, archives of mailing lists. Note that facsimiles or images of texts are still of the genre Text.
Text
Any textual data included in the document
Location at Time of Flood: Hot Springs
Memory: It rained in sheets at an angle; very heavy and unusual.
Mike Modrick was on KOTA giving weather at 10:00.
Forecast was for heavy rain. He made the comment, “Tie your raft to the front door.” We will never forget that.
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
A name given to the resource
Anonymous
Description
An account of the resource
Written Memory
Date
A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource
June 2011
-
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
A name given to the resource
Written Memories
Subject
The topic of the resource
Each item in this collection is an individual's story or memory about the night of June 9, 1972 and the following recovery efforts. These memories have been collected by the Rapid City Public library at various memorial events and through online submission by community members. If you have a memory you would like to submit, please do so on the <a href="https://1972flood.omeka.net/contribution">Contribute an Item</a> page.<br /><br /><span>Below is a map of all the interviews and written memories we have conducted and gathered to help you visualize the impact of the 1972 Flood and explore stories.<br /></span><br /><iframe width="640" height="480" src="https://www.google.com/maps/d/u/0/embed?mid=1KzeKQJ4R89Riq5B9FguZdJzj6c0&ll=44.0744389777805%2C-103.24796692260742&z=13"></iframe>
Description
An account of the resource
Stories and memories of the flood submitted by community members and shared with Rapid City Public Library.
Text
A resource consisting primarily of words for reading. Examples include books, letters, dissertations, poems, newspapers, articles, archives of mailing lists. Note that facsimiles or images of texts are still of the genre Text.
Text
Any textual data included in the document
I grew up in Rapid and we had a very large extended family that all lived in town. I had moved to Hot Springs and we often went to visit my mom who lived right on Rapid Creek on Johnson Siding road. As we left it began raining very hard and I debated whether to continue to her place. When we got there the creek had risen up over the bridge. My mom was waving and I thought she was encouraging me to cross over. As I was on the bridge it began to "wobble" and as I drove off the end, the bridge broke loose and went down the creek! The water had risen to just below the doors and the engine stalled. I told my 3 sons that I was going to try to start the car and if it wouldn't go we would leave it. Thankfully it started, as I looked up the road a huge tree, roots and all, was coming but we escaped just in time! I called a local radio station and reported that I believed this was extremely serious and they sent a sherrif to check it out. We watched as the creek continued to rise until the home across the creek was underwater. All night long the radio station listed people that were reported missing. A couple of days later the National Guard sent a rescue truck. It was many days before a temporary crossing of a huge culvert covered with earth made it possible to go to town. Many members of my immediate family lost homes, cars, etc. and an aunt lost a tourist motel. My brother worked for MDU and had been sent to Canyon Lake Park to check out the gas line situation. The dam gave way and swept him away. He finally got the door open and was able to swim to land! There are many, many stories of that so called "hundred year" rainfall that affected my family. Many of my friends in South Canyon were killed. Whole neighborhoods no longer existed. Our family included the Ballingers, Freemans, Gheres, Zenors, and many more. I had 31 cousins that all lived in Rapid and they all had kids too. It was a devastating time in our lives.
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
A name given to the resource
Anonymous
Description
An account of the resource
Written Memory
-
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
A name given to the resource
Written Memories
Subject
The topic of the resource
Each item in this collection is an individual's story or memory about the night of June 9, 1972 and the following recovery efforts. These memories have been collected by the Rapid City Public library at various memorial events and through online submission by community members. If you have a memory you would like to submit, please do so on the <a href="https://1972flood.omeka.net/contribution">Contribute an Item</a> page.<br /><br /><span>Below is a map of all the interviews and written memories we have conducted and gathered to help you visualize the impact of the 1972 Flood and explore stories.<br /></span><br /><iframe width="640" height="480" src="https://www.google.com/maps/d/u/0/embed?mid=1KzeKQJ4R89Riq5B9FguZdJzj6c0&ll=44.0744389777805%2C-103.24796692260742&z=13"></iframe>
Description
An account of the resource
Stories and memories of the flood submitted by community members and shared with Rapid City Public Library.
Text
A resource consisting primarily of words for reading. Examples include books, letters, dissertations, poems, newspapers, articles, archives of mailing lists. Note that facsimiles or images of texts are still of the genre Text.
Text
Any textual data included in the document
The night of the flood, we had just gotten home from bowling at Gateway Bowling Alley, We heard that the dam had broke and to expect SOME flooding. I remember that it had been raining all day so we thought that maybe it would be just curb high. Boy, were we wrong. Our house sat on the corner of Omaha and Brennen.
Being pregnant with my oldest and my husband away in California with the Guards I was staying with my parents and had gone to bed early, My mom woke me up saying that we were flooded and showed me where the water was lapping at our back door. We didn't get any water in the house, We were the lucky ones. Our neighbor lost a great majority of her AKC Registered Pekinese. Our neighbors further down got caught in their car right at our corner, so they wadded to our place and waited out the night with us.
A lot of people lost alot and we lost nothing. Thank God for His protection.
For the longest time I could never figure out how the water could get so high on one side and just above knee level on the other. An aquantance of mine said that the house acted like a dam and the water flowed around the house, therefore being lower on the other side.
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
A name given to the resource
Anonymous
Description
An account of the resource
Written Memory
Date
A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource
October 7, 2010
-
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
A name given to the resource
Written Memories
Subject
The topic of the resource
Each item in this collection is an individual's story or memory about the night of June 9, 1972 and the following recovery efforts. These memories have been collected by the Rapid City Public library at various memorial events and through online submission by community members. If you have a memory you would like to submit, please do so on the <a href="https://1972flood.omeka.net/contribution">Contribute an Item</a> page.<br /><br /><span>Below is a map of all the interviews and written memories we have conducted and gathered to help you visualize the impact of the 1972 Flood and explore stories.<br /></span><br /><iframe width="640" height="480" src="https://www.google.com/maps/d/u/0/embed?mid=1KzeKQJ4R89Riq5B9FguZdJzj6c0&ll=44.0744389777805%2C-103.24796692260742&z=13"></iframe>
Description
An account of the resource
Stories and memories of the flood submitted by community members and shared with Rapid City Public Library.
Text
A resource consisting primarily of words for reading. Examples include books, letters, dissertations, poems, newspapers, articles, archives of mailing lists. Note that facsimiles or images of texts are still of the genre Text.
Text
Any textual data included in the document
I was a child of 6 when the flood happened. My main memory of that time is that Storybook Island - my favorite place in the world - was closed that summer.
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
A name given to the resource
Anonymous
Description
An account of the resource
Written Memory
Date
A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource
January 25, 2013
-
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
A name given to the resource
Written Memories
Subject
The topic of the resource
Each item in this collection is an individual's story or memory about the night of June 9, 1972 and the following recovery efforts. These memories have been collected by the Rapid City Public library at various memorial events and through online submission by community members. If you have a memory you would like to submit, please do so on the <a href="https://1972flood.omeka.net/contribution">Contribute an Item</a> page.<br /><br /><span>Below is a map of all the interviews and written memories we have conducted and gathered to help you visualize the impact of the 1972 Flood and explore stories.<br /></span><br /><iframe width="640" height="480" src="https://www.google.com/maps/d/u/0/embed?mid=1KzeKQJ4R89Riq5B9FguZdJzj6c0&ll=44.0744389777805%2C-103.24796692260742&z=13"></iframe>
Description
An account of the resource
Stories and memories of the flood submitted by community members and shared with Rapid City Public Library.
Text
A resource consisting primarily of words for reading. Examples include books, letters, dissertations, poems, newspapers, articles, archives of mailing lists. Note that facsimiles or images of texts are still of the genre Text.
Text
Any textual data included in the document
I worked at Bennett Hospital the night of the flood - we had patients on respirators and oxygen with no power. The generator was in the basement so that didn't help. We just had small flashlights - we learned a lot from that - we now have big flashlights. We kept patients alive by doing CPR - no one died but they didn't transfer patients to St. Johns till next AM.
Also all the records were kept in the basement. Volunteers, mostly nurses, worked to save the records and set up 26 tables. Took each record and hung on rope to dry. They were muddy. After they were dry, we scraped each record with a knife then laid them on the tables alphabetically. Believe we only lost one record. They were all sent to California to microfilm them.
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
A name given to the resource
Anonymous
Description
An account of the resource
Written Memory
Date
A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource
January 25, 2013
-
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
A name given to the resource
Written Memories
Subject
The topic of the resource
Each item in this collection is an individual's story or memory about the night of June 9, 1972 and the following recovery efforts. These memories have been collected by the Rapid City Public library at various memorial events and through online submission by community members. If you have a memory you would like to submit, please do so on the <a href="https://1972flood.omeka.net/contribution">Contribute an Item</a> page.<br /><br /><span>Below is a map of all the interviews and written memories we have conducted and gathered to help you visualize the impact of the 1972 Flood and explore stories.<br /></span><br /><iframe width="640" height="480" src="https://www.google.com/maps/d/u/0/embed?mid=1KzeKQJ4R89Riq5B9FguZdJzj6c0&ll=44.0744389777805%2C-103.24796692260742&z=13"></iframe>
Description
An account of the resource
Stories and memories of the flood submitted by community members and shared with Rapid City Public Library.
Text
A resource consisting primarily of words for reading. Examples include books, letters, dissertations, poems, newspapers, articles, archives of mailing lists. Note that facsimiles or images of texts are still of the genre Text.
Text
Any textual data included in the document
I was 12 when this happened. I went to church in Milbank, so I had no concept of what Rapid was like. But I remember this vividly because the Masters boys were grandsons of my pastor. We heard there was a flood and then heard they had been driving their van and it had been washed into the creek, landing upside down and the boys couldn't get out. It was the most devastating thing I ever remember hearing when I was a kid.
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
A name given to the resource
Anonymous
Description
An account of the resource
Written Memory
Date
A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource
July 16, 2013
-
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
A name given to the resource
Written Memories
Subject
The topic of the resource
Each item in this collection is an individual's story or memory about the night of June 9, 1972 and the following recovery efforts. These memories have been collected by the Rapid City Public library at various memorial events and through online submission by community members. If you have a memory you would like to submit, please do so on the <a href="https://1972flood.omeka.net/contribution">Contribute an Item</a> page.<br /><br /><span>Below is a map of all the interviews and written memories we have conducted and gathered to help you visualize the impact of the 1972 Flood and explore stories.<br /></span><br /><iframe width="640" height="480" src="https://www.google.com/maps/d/u/0/embed?mid=1KzeKQJ4R89Riq5B9FguZdJzj6c0&ll=44.0744389777805%2C-103.24796692260742&z=13"></iframe>
Description
An account of the resource
Stories and memories of the flood submitted by community members and shared with Rapid City Public Library.
Text
A resource consisting primarily of words for reading. Examples include books, letters, dissertations, poems, newspapers, articles, archives of mailing lists. Note that facsimiles or images of texts are still of the genre Text.
Text
Any textual data included in the document
I was very little. I remember trying to leave Rapid City to go home in the country and we were in the backseat of my parents car. We were waiting to cross a bridge and there were cops and lights and a cop came to our car window and said the car in front of the car in front of us had just been washed away with the bridge. The officer said it would be safer to get to higher ground and stay there. So we turned around and went to one of my mom's relatives.
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
A name given to the resource
Anonymous
Description
An account of the resource
Written Memory
Date
A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource
August 17, 2017
-
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
A name given to the resource
Written Memories
Subject
The topic of the resource
Each item in this collection is an individual's story or memory about the night of June 9, 1972 and the following recovery efforts. These memories have been collected by the Rapid City Public library at various memorial events and through online submission by community members. If you have a memory you would like to submit, please do so on the <a href="https://1972flood.omeka.net/contribution">Contribute an Item</a> page.<br /><br /><span>Below is a map of all the interviews and written memories we have conducted and gathered to help you visualize the impact of the 1972 Flood and explore stories.<br /></span><br /><iframe width="640" height="480" src="https://www.google.com/maps/d/u/0/embed?mid=1KzeKQJ4R89Riq5B9FguZdJzj6c0&ll=44.0744389777805%2C-103.24796692260742&z=13"></iframe>
Description
An account of the resource
Stories and memories of the flood submitted by community members and shared with Rapid City Public Library.
Text
A resource consisting primarily of words for reading. Examples include books, letters, dissertations, poems, newspapers, articles, archives of mailing lists. Note that facsimiles or images of texts are still of the genre Text.
Text
Any textual data included in the document
I was 11 years old and staying in downtown Custer with my parents who were helping some friends manage their motel. The night the rain began, I had never seen or heard a rainstorm like it. Apparently my parents had never experienced anything like either, because they were a bit apprehensive about the conditions. In Custer, the water was running down the street and over the gutters onto the sidewalks. The next morning we learned of the devastation of the flood throughout the hills and especially in Rapid City. I'll never forget the reading of the names on the radio of the confirmed dead and those who were missing. Entire families were lost. My mother cried and cried. She didn't know any of the people, but she felt their family's pain just the same. To this day, I am still haunted by all those names.
My father, who was with the Forest Service, was called in to help the residents of Keystone. In Keystone, there was the lady who stood on a chair and hung on to a light fixture in her motel room while the water rose up to her shoulders. She was wrapped in barbed wire and would have bled to death had the water not been so cold. Several other couples in rooms above hers, watched as their cars were washed out of the parking lot. During brief bursts of lightning, they also saw sleeping bags and tents washing down the street. They heard the woman screaming in the room below, but could do nothing but pray. These people were welcomed into 'our' motel and spent days recovering from the shock. Residents in Custer lent a hand to help those who needed it. That was really great to see and a lesson I've never forgot.
My father also spoke of the large number of transients who were in the area right before the flood: people who walked into the Black Hills, camped out near the creeks and out of sight of any one. To this day, he figures no one knows for sure just how many people were washed away in that terrible storm.
Two days after the flood, my father took my brother and me out to our house on Upper French Creek Road. The ground was pounded so hard by the rain, a shoe could not make a dent in the wet dirt. It was bizarre. We found out the road out to our house had been partially washed out at the bridges. We had to walk to our house to get our dog who was wet and really glad to see us. Ruby Creek, which was above our house by two miles, had overflowed and done most of the damage to that area. The beaver dam just past the Frybarger house on Upper French Creek had held. That, too, was hard to believe.
No matter what country or state I'm in on June 9th, I always pause and remember. So many lives lost. What a tragedy!
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
A name given to the resource
Anonymous
Description
An account of the resource
Written Memory
Date
A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource
June 9, 2009
-
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
A name given to the resource
RCPL Oral History Interviews
Description
An account of the resource
Members of the Rapid City community share their memories of the flood in interviews conducted by the Rapid City Public Library.
Creator
An entity primarily responsible for making the resource
Rapid City Public Library
Subject
The topic of the resource
The Rapid City Public Library has recorded on film individuals who tell about their personal experiences of the events of June 9, 1972. If you would like to be interviewed, please see the <a href="http://1972flood.omeka.net/contact">Contact Us</a> page for more information.
Oral History Video
Embedded oral history interview video hosted by Vimeo.
Interviewer
The person(s) performing the interview
Stacy Wierenga
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
A name given to the resource
Arlene Mattis
Subject
The topic of the resource
<iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://player.vimeo.com/video/48835994" frameborder="0"></iframe>
Description
An account of the resource
Arlene spent the evening of the Flood hopping from floating roof to floating roof with her husband, sister and brother-in-law before finally spending the evening in an attic. She remembers calling out for help the entire night.
Creator
An entity primarily responsible for making the resource
Rapid City Public Library
Date
A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource
June 9, 2012
-
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
A name given to the resource
Written Memories
Subject
The topic of the resource
Each item in this collection is an individual's story or memory about the night of June 9, 1972 and the following recovery efforts. These memories have been collected by the Rapid City Public library at various memorial events and through online submission by community members. If you have a memory you would like to submit, please do so on the <a href="https://1972flood.omeka.net/contribution">Contribute an Item</a> page.<br /><br /><span>Below is a map of all the interviews and written memories we have conducted and gathered to help you visualize the impact of the 1972 Flood and explore stories.<br /></span><br /><iframe width="640" height="480" src="https://www.google.com/maps/d/u/0/embed?mid=1KzeKQJ4R89Riq5B9FguZdJzj6c0&ll=44.0744389777805%2C-103.24796692260742&z=13"></iframe>
Description
An account of the resource
Stories and memories of the flood submitted by community members and shared with Rapid City Public Library.
Text
A resource consisting primarily of words for reading. Examples include books, letters, dissertations, poems, newspapers, articles, archives of mailing lists. Note that facsimiles or images of texts are still of the genre Text.
Text
Any textual data included in the document
The wall of water came and our car stopped. We climbed into another car. Car started to float. We climbed out to top of car just when a log broke out windshield. We jumped on a small building - then a bigger shed - it broke in half just as we all five got on the bigger house. We rode that till it wedged against other houses. Just poured rain all night. We finally broke a window in attic and all got inside. Water as high as the roofs. National Guard picked us up in the morning. What a day. We shall never forget.
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
A name given to the resource
Arlene Mattis
Description
An account of the resource
Written Memory
Date
A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource
October 7, 2015
-
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420ec2f287789c274f3d89f67303f0ab
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
A name given to the resource
Lives Lost
Subject
The topic of the resource
The Rapid City Flood Memorial, located within Memorial Park, stands as a tribute to those who lost their lives in the tragic flood June 9, 1972. Each name listed on the memorial is recorded here, along with a brief description and a photo if available.<br /><br />The total number of people who perished in the flood was 238, including 5 missing. That number also includes three National Guardsmen, three firefighters, seven airmen from Ellsworth Air Force Base, one police reserve officer, and other rescuers.<br /><br />We need your help - we would like to have a photo of each flood victim. If you have one available for digitization please see the <a href="http://1972flood.omeka.net/contact">Contact Us</a> page for more information.
Description
An account of the resource
Digital Memorial Wall for those lost in the 1972 flood.
Text
A resource consisting primarily of words for reading. Examples include books, letters, dissertations, poems, newspapers, articles, archives of mailing lists. Note that facsimiles or images of texts are still of the genre Text.
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
A name given to the resource
Atkins, James C.
Description
An account of the resource
James C. Atkins, 94. Had been a farmer and then a Carpenter in Rapid City. He was survived by three daughters and three sons. Buried in the Mountain View Cemetery.