Shelbyville’s Three Major Floods
During the history of Shelbyville and Bedford County floods have left their mark. The most severe floods occurred in 1902, 1929, and 1948.
The March 1902 flood reached an elevation of 737.4 above sea level at the dam, where flood stage is 719 feet. The Shelbyville Gazette stated that "In the course of time Shelbyville and Bedford County have suffered from heavy freshnets, but within the memory of our oldest inhabitant none of them equaled in magnitude or extent of damage done the one we had last week."
The rain began falling in great sheets. The Duck River rose until it was far beyond its bank on either side, and its backwater soon covered all the residence section know as the "Big Spring" part of town. It entered residences and homes never before reached by water. Many were covered up to the second story. Boats rescued many families. Some houses were washed away entirely and others were twisted from their foundations. There were 116 houses reported as being damaged. The pencil factory was swept away. The steel bridge across Duck River was swept away.
The damages were estimated at a loss of $150,000 in Shelbyville and $200,000 in the county. All but one of the steel bridges built by the county were washed away.
The March 1929 flood was the second highest in Shelbyville history. The crest in Shelbyville March 23 was 735.2 feet, approximately 2.2 feet under that of March 1902.
The March 28, 1929 Gazette stated that some of the houses near the Big Spring Branch were flooded and the inhabitants were compelled to move out. There were as many as 102 homes submerged by floodwaters. All of these were in the town limits. There was no loss of life related to the flooding.
A great deal of damage was done at Shelbyville Mills, two miles below town. Houses were lifted from their foundations and the high waters entered many more homes.
The February 1948 flood was the third highest known in Shelbyville. The river reached its crest of 734.6 in town on February 13. A total of 151 families and their belongings were taken to safety during the night and early morning.
At the crest, the floodwaters covered portions of fifteen streets in the downtown section. The river bridge was submerged to the top of the handrails, and Cannon Boulevard was under for 1,000 feet south of the bridge. Within the city limits, 129 houses were flooded to depths varying from a few inches to nearly complete submergence.
Sixty-three business places were covered to depths ranging from a few to over 100 feet. Many of these business places were located along North Main and North Spring Streets were flood depths were near a maximum. No industries were affected in Shelbyville, but Shelbyville Mills U.S. Rubber Company’s tire fabric plant was forced to shut down for three days when water in varying depths flooded the boiler room, machine shop, compressor room, the main floor and basement of the cotton storage warehouse, and the laboratory in the basement of the main plant.
‘’Floods of Bedford County’’
There were four major floods in Bedford County that I am going to tell you about. Thanks to the "Pictorial History of Bedford County" and the Shelbyville Times-Gazette, we can have these pictures. The first recorded flood was in 1902, with others in 1939, 1948, and 1959. Contained here are some pictures of these floods. Below each picture will be a short sentence or two of what the picture shows. The devastating effects of floods in Bedford County seem to have been much improved by the building of a floodgate between the Big Springs area and the Duck River Bridge just below the Shelbyville Square. I hope you find this information interesting. Thanks!
The flood of March 28, 1902 washed away the Duck River Bridge on Cannon Blvd. This picture shows where the bridge had been.
This picture shows a man standing on his housetop and waving on March 13, 1948 after more serious flooding had occured. His house was located near where the Big Springs Shopping Center is now found.
These photos and caption information were supplied through the courtesy of the Shelbyville Times- Gazette. These pictures and many other interesting photos and information can be found in the book, "A Pictorial History of Bedford County," available from the Times Gazette.