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History Center's Flood of 1913 photos

Since 1921, The History Center has been documenting, collecting and preserving Fort Wayne's history. This gallery contains Flood of 1913 images from its collection.

To see archived photos from The News-Sentinel, click here.

To see archived photos from the readers' submissions, click here.

Floodwaters reached the Wayne Knitting Mills at the corner of West Main Street and Growth Avenue. (Photo courtesy of The History Center)

Upstream from the Broadway Bridge, now known as the Bluffton Road Bridge, four orphans from the Allen County Orphan’s Home drowned during a rescue attempt. (Photo courtesy of The History Center)

After the flood, several bridges were replaced, including the new Columbia Street Bridge. The structure connects downtown with Lakeside neighborhood. (Photo courtesy of The History Center)

Debris from the flooded Maumee River piled up on Edgewater Avenue, east of the Coombs Street Bridge. (Photo courtesy of The History Center)

Residential porches and streets disappeared under water during the Flood of 1913. (Location unknown) (Photo courtesy of The History Center)

Many residents were evacuated by canoe or boat. (Photo courtesy of The History Center)

One of the hardest-hit neighborhoods was the Nebraska neighborhood. (Photo courtesy of The History Center)

Floodwaters covered the infield at the downtown baseball park, located north of Superior Street, between Calhoun and Clinton streets. (Photo courtesy of The History Center)

Water reached the foundations of houses along Spy Run Avenue. (Photo courtesy of The History Center)

Sidewalks along St. Joe Boulevard were washed away, exposing pipes and an old cistern. (Photo courtesy of The History Center)

U.S. Coast Guard boats rescued Allen County Orphan's Home residents the day after four orphans drowned. (Photo courtesy of The History Center)

An unidentified canoeist paddled up Marion Street, east of the old Bloomingdale School. (Photo courtesy of The History Center)

Crowds gathered on the eastern bank of the St. Marys River to observe the high water at the Main Street Bridge. (Photo courtesy of The History Center)

An unidentified rescuer carried a child to higher ground. (Photo courtesy of The History Center)

Water from the St. Marys River flooded Swinney Park (exact location unknown). (Photo courtesy of The History Center)

Vesey Greenhouses was flooded by the St. Marys River. A fire broke out after the flood at the Thompson Avenue business. (Photo courtesy of The History Center)

Onlookers on the Wells Street Bridge watched the rising floodwaters. (Photo courtesy of The History Center)

Dormitory residents of the Wayne Knitting Mills gathered to see the high water. (Photo courtesy of The History Center)

Looking west from the bridge, Taylor Street disappeared under water from the St. Marys River. (Photo courtesy of The History Center)

The flood washed out the approach to the Tennessee Avenue Bridge. (Photo courtesy of The History Center)

Maumee River floodwaters flowed under the bridge at Walton Avenue, now known as Anthony Boulevard. (Photo courtesy of The History Center)

The deck of the old Van Buren Street Bridge sat precariously on the St. Marys River. (Photo courtesy of The History Center)

Debris collected at the Coombs Street Bridge on Edgewater Avenue. (Photo courtesy of The History Center)

On the Columbia Street Bridge, onlookers examined the high waters of the Maumee River. (Photo courtesy of The History Center)

Looking from the Fort Wayne Saddlery Co., the bottom of the Spy Run Avenue Bridge nearly touched the St. Marys River. (Photo courtesy of The History Center)

Looking north from the Broadway Bridge, now known as the Bluffton Road Bridge, floodwaters reached homes along Vesey Avenue. (Photo courtesy of The History Center)