By Kris Leonhardt
Senior Editor

On Oct. 2, 1911, the heavy rains began. With a downpour lasting from Monday night to Tuesday morning, central Wisconsin became saturated to the point that major rivers had become swollen and violent.

Along the Wisconsin River, Stevens Point, Wausau, and Wisconsin Rapids were reporting serious damage. Marshfield — with its lesser connection to major waterways — experienced flooding in the low ground between the Upham mill pond and the artificial lake by the power station.

The area around South Central Avenue resembled a lake while the backlog of water continued to seep into residents’ cellars.
As rain continued to fall that week, the Black River to the west of Marshfield climbed farther and farther up its banks. Turbulent waters and heavy winds tore down the waterway, and the water busted through one dam and then another before spilling into the city of Black River Falls.

Win Rothman using a boat to get around during the 1911 flooding.

It took approximately 30 minutes for the deluge of water, sand, and mud to destroy the small but growing city of 2,000. The city’s business district was almost completely wiped out, and nearly 100 structures were destroyed. What was once its main street now sat beneath 15 feet of water.

In Stevens Point, the impending danger became quite clear by Oct. 6. Local flooding had already occurred, with the west side of the community under water. Local newspaper estimated the water in the normally calm mill pond to be moving at four to five miles per hours.

Water was within two feet from the top of the west side dike, and that evening it rose another four inches.
The rains continued and on Oct. 7 the owners of the mill in Rothschild, fearful of the conditions there, dynamited the west end of the dam. Within seven hours, 10 feet of water was rushing through. The water came charging toward Stevens Point and the level at the water works facility, now the land where Bukolt Park is situated, boomed another 10 inches.

A patrolman stood ready to signal the breaking of the dam, but the dam stood strong, keeping the homes south of it safe.
Before the rain stopped and the river crested, the water had extended into the eastern parts of the city. Hundreds of homes on the city’s north side were under water and wooden sidewalks and other property was washed away.

On the west side, nearly all of the property, from the river west to North and South River drives, was submerged. Much of County Highway C was damaged and acres of farmland were affected.