West End of Johnson Village
Location across from the Union Bank

Johnson suffered most of any town in the entire Lamoille valley. The flood waters nearly submerged the lower village and Railroad street. Many houses were swept away and nearly every house.was lifted from its foundation and barns were huddled in a mass in large water pockets. Every store in the village was flooded and water came into the second story rooms of the hotel. Many people were marooned in their buildings before being carried to safety. The large bridge on Railroad street and the small iron bridge on Main street were swept away. The worst tragedy in the valley was in Johnson, where the entire Shangraw family lost their lives. This family consisted of Mr. and Mrs. W. P. Shangraw and daughter, and had but a few weeks before bought for a home the so called N. J. Perry farm about a mile and a half below Johnson village on the main road to Cambridge. The warning of their danger by neighbors was not heeded and when the buildings were carried away all three perished. The bodies of Mr. and Mrs. Sbangraw were recovered. The home of Edward Walker in the lower village was swept away, also several houses on Railroad street. Nearly every house in the lower village was twisted out of place and battered up. The little home of George Muzzey at the lower end of the bridge on Main street was picked up and deposited on end in the meadows, across the road, along with a few barns and sheds. The beautifully furnished building of the Oread Woman's Club was badly damaged by the water which nearly reached the roof.. The public library was housed there and was, of course, destroyed. Another public building that was badly damaged was the new gymnasium. One of the heaviest merchandise losses was that of A. J. Saleeby. His large stock of dry goods and furnishings was entirely ruined. Mr. Saleeby had a narrow escape from being drowned in his store as the waters rose. The Johnson Woolen Mill, manufacturers of the famous Johnson pants and other clothing, suffered a loss estimated at over $50,000. Harry Newton was one of many farmers who suffered heavy loss. His barns and other buildings were moved by the current. Twenty-three head of cattle were tied up in their stanchions in the stable and when the barn moved the floor under them collapsed and left the animals Hanging in the air by their heads. E. E. Holmes lost his entire herd of 23 cows, also two horses. Just as C. L. Potter and family stepped out of the tenement over their store onto a raft, the building turned over on its side, and later the building turned over and rested on the other side. In doing this the chimney hit the Farrington home (next house) and crumpled up. When the waters receded, the building righted itself and settled back to within six inches of its original foundation. The family on the Foster farm below the talc mill was rescued with much difficulty in the dead of night by means of a raft. During Thursday night it was estimated that nearly 300 people were wandering around over the hills above the village to be in safety from the extra large volume of water which, it was reported, was coming down the river, following the false rumor that Caspian Lake and the Morrisville dams.had broken loose. Warren Annis worked unceasingly and without sleep from early Thursday evening until late Saturday morning. As lone captain and navigator of a very shallow boat, hardly large enough for two people,  his was the only means that many families had of saving their lives. He also ferried a large amount of food to many needy people before the waters receded. Early Friday morning two school boys carried to Hyde Park the news of what had happened in Johnson. A relief party was soon on the way with food and supplies. Then followed.,all the American Legion men in Hyde Park with another  load.   By Friday night plenty of food brought in was being dispensed at the opera house, and a supply depot or commissary was opened. On Friday over 400 people were fed at each meal. Saturday morning the water had receded to the level of the river banks and the warm, bright sun shone on a scene of' desolation. The work of rehabilitation started with a rush. Shovels, hoes, water pails, brooms, etc., aided in the task of reconstruction carried on by a veritable army of workers. The water system attracted first attention and early Sunday water was running again. The stores and houses presented a sorry sight. Water and mud reached the innermost recesses. A large number of women from Hyde Park and Morrisville assisted the Johnson women in cleaning out their bedraggled homes. Johnson was fortunate in having medical service at hand and sufficient drugs for the time being. Typhoid serum and a few other drugs were brought in Monday and the populace was inoculated to prevent sickness and disease. At Ithiel Falls the raging river wore a new channel through a rocky formation.