Tremendous Rain, Hail Storm Damages Crops, Businesses and Homes Yesterday, June 9, 1919

From The Daily Times, Wilson, N.C., June 9, 1919

The Storm Yesterday. . . Crops Injured by the Rain and Hail, Trees and Fences Down. . . Rain Was Very Heavy

For an hour and a half yesterday afternoon the rain exceeded anything that has ever been witnessed by the oldest inhabitant. Washpots in the yard were nearly filled and one that was without a drop of water before the rain measured about 8 inches after the rain was over.

Toisnot Creek and Hominy Creek located to the north and south of the city were veritable torrents, and were way over their banks. The adjacent territory was covered with water. It is related that one dairyman located on Toisnot Creek on one of the big canals that drains the city went into his milk house to milk the cows and that before he could get out the water was up to his waist.

On Hominy Creek side the water was up to the houses and running over the Tarboro and Goldsboro street bridges. The land between the “Y” of the Norfolk & Southern railroad on Goldsboro street was a great big pond, and all the houses in that section of the city next to the Creek were more or less under water. The damage to property in the yards and even in some houses was considerable.

Up-town the damage was also heavy. The water which runs down the regular drain from on Broad down by the Presbyterian church across to Vance and under the home of Mr. Etheridge was a veritable mill race. It accumulated to much an extent in Vance street that the catch basins here could not take care of it and over the side walk and under the houses it went. It was ponded up to near Maplewood avenue corner, and the soil that was hauled into the yard that is owned by Mrs. C.B. Ruffin is nearly washed away and the front pillars of the house are to a considerable extent undermined. The garden of Mr. Etheridge is ruined, and the stuff is all flat on the ground. Over town a number of threes were blown down, and wires, electric and telephone, were out of order. Some houses were without lights last night and telephone connection, and the line men are busy today getting things in order.

Up-town in the business district the water flooded a number of stores in the square bounded by Goldsboro, Barnes, Nash and Tarboro streets.

From Barnes-Harrell to the Wilson Furniture Company the water that accumulated back of these stores which was from 18 inches to three feet deep ran into the stores and did a great deal of damage. Messrs Barnes(?)-Harrell estimate the damage from water in their store at about $5,000. They had a lot of sugar and canned goods on the floor.

The Furniture Company of Allen-Worley and Company, and the Wilson Furniture Company estimate their damage at from $500 to $1,000. The stores on Barnes street were also damaged. J.T. Williams Grocery was damaged with water. Tomlinson and Company, also Dildy and Agnew hardware dealers found a lot of water on their floors and were compelled to sweep it out as were all the merchants along that street.

The merchants on Tarboro street were also damaged, and nearly all of them were obliged to sweep water from their floors. They were not so badly damaged however because their goods were on shelves and as a rule they carry clothing while others are either retail or wholesale grocers, and the ground is also lower on the Goldsboro street side.