The Flood of 1955
A City Under Water
The month of August 1955 was one of the most historic months in Woonsocket history, for that was the month of the ’55 flood. For several days it had been raining throughout Woonsocket and New England. Rivers and ponds became swollen, and dams were in danger of bursting. In Woonsocket, danger became a reality when the land surrounding Horseshoe Dam washed away, pouring tons of water into the Social business district, smashing store windows, ruining merchandise and causing thousands of dollars worth of damage.
Many homes in Social were also flooded. Water poured into first floor and basement levels of these buildings. Hundreds of people were evacuated from their flooded homes by policemen, firemen and volunteers. These evacuees were temporarily housed in such places as the armory on South Main Street, and in the High School gymnasium at Park Place. Many people were put out of work for weeks when factories along the Backstone River became so flooded that they could not safely operate without serious threat of injury to workers.
Along with debris the flood water carried other objects, including coffins from Precious Blood Cemetery, which had been partially flooded. More than fifty caskets surfaced and floated away. Some caskets traveled into the streets of the city, while others were never recovered. Woonsocket was left with a major clean up that would not be completed for months and a massive rebuilding that took years to complete.
