NTDMG140 Guide to Shoshone County Flood Control Project records Shoshone County Flood Control Project records Finding aid prepared by Judith Nielsen; updated by Sara Szobody in 2022. Funding for encoding this finding aid was provided through a grant awarded by the National Endowment for the Humanities. University of Idaho Library, Special Collections and Archives 1980

libspec@uidaho.edu

This finding aid was produced using ArchivesSpace on 2022-04-28. Finding aid written in English. Finding aid based on DACS (Describing Archives: A Content Standard), 2nd Edition. University of Idaho Library, Special Collections and Archives Shoshone County Flood Control Project records Marsh, Harry Webb, 1886-1964 Shoshone County Flood Control Project Mg 140 1 linear feet 1933-1940 Correspondence, financial accounts, maps, and plans of Idaho Emergency Relief Administration District #5 Administrator Harry Marsh's application for Works Projects Administration funds. English .

The first serious recorded flooding of the Coeur d'Alene River area occurred in 1894, establishing a lake elevation of 2137.5 feet above sea level; the normal elevation for Coeur d'Alene Lake is 2126.5. On May 18, 1917, spring floods again reached the 1894 level, suspending rail and highway transportation for several days. On December 18 of that same year the flood waters reached the same level, causing thousands of dollars in property damage.

The floods of 1933 were by far the worst. Three days of torrential rains in early June sent the Coeur d'Alene River and its tributaries over their banks. Then on December 21 a sudden thaw accompanied by heavy rains caused landslides and flooding. Coeur d'Alene Lake reached an all time high level of 2139.5 feet above sea level--two feet higher than the record levels of 1894 and 1917. The South Fork of the Coeur d'Alene River and Placer Creek went over their banks inundating the eastern and western sections of Wallace; then on December 22 Nine Mile Creek overflowed its banks, adding to the already extensive destruction. On December 23 the storm stopped, the weather turned cold and by the 26th the rivers were back in their banks, leaving behind nearly one million dollars worth of property damage in Wallace alone. It was estimated that property damage in Shoshone County reached three and a half million dollars. March 27-29, 1934 saw more heavy rains and consequently more flooding. Mullan, Wallace, and Kellogg sustained approximately $100,000 damage in the April 18, 1938 flood.

Harry Marsh, who directed the clean-up operations after the December 1933 flood, was the driving force behind the flood control project which is the subject of this archival group.

Collection is open for research.

[Description of Item], Shoshone County Flood Control Project records, MG 140, Special Collections and Archives, University of Idaho Library, Moscow, Idaho.

The papers of the Shoshone County Flood Control Project are contained in one small file box and are not very extensive. By far the largest percentage of material is the correspondence of Harry Marsh, District #5 administrator of the Idaho Emergency Relief Administration, concerning the application for federal appropriations to finance a flood control project. Other material includes maps showing locations of flood control devices, newspapers from December 1933 and January 1934 with accounts of the flooding in Wallace and Kellogg, and newspaper clippings concerning the flood control project. The photograph file contains many mounted photographs of the 1933 flooding of Wallace and Kellogg.

The series and folders in this collection are arranged in alphabetical order, except the Photographs series. This series is contained in box 2, and it's folders are in alphabetical order as well.

Shoshone County (Idaho) Flood control Flood Damage Floods Idaho. Emergency Relief Administration United States. Work Projects Administration Idaho Correspondence 1934; 1939-1940 This series is composed of the correspondence of Harry Marsh, District Administrator of District #5 of the Idaho Emergency Relief Administration, and concerns his 1935 application to the War Department for federal W.P.A. funds to implement a flood control project in Shoshone County. After being favorably acted upon at the local and regional levels, the application was denied at the national level due to lack of funds. In November 1934 a transient camp was established near Wallace and men from this camp began work on the project. January to December January 12, 1934 - December 22, 1935 1 1 November to September November 8, 1939 - September 16, 1941 1 2 Maps and Plans Included in this series are a 1929 map of Spokane, a plan for timber cribbing in Kellogg, the flood control plan for Mullan, the Sunshine Mine flood and erosion control map, and a 1938 map of the area of Wallace in the vicinity of the mouth of Placer Creek. Blueprints 1 3 Maps 1 4 Newspaper Articles This series consists of nine pages of mounted clippings and eight complete newspapers. The clippings, taken from Coeur d'Alene, Spokane, and Wallace newspapers, deal with the flood control project and the WPA. The Wallace Press-Times newspapers contain accounts of the flooding and include the following dates: June 9, 1933; December 21, 22, 23, 26, 1933; January 19, 1934; and March 29, 30, 1934. Clippings 1 5 Newspapers 1 6 Works Progress Administration 1935-1940 Among the items in this series are an outline of the flood control project dated August 2, 1935 and two applications to the Works Progress Administration dated November 12, 1935 and November 18, 1939. There are also sketchy statements of the amount of money expended for the repair of the 1933 flood damage by the counties and the federal government. Financial Accounts and Proposals 1935-1940 1 7 Photographs

This series contains sub-series that are in alphabetical order. Some of the items within the folders had previous identification tags and descriptions, which were used as object descriptions.

Civilian Conservation Corps Camp buildings [CCC?] at 36° below January 19, 1937 6 prints. 2 8 CCC Camps and Personnel CCC Camp F-15; Breakwater 1933 2 9 CCC Camp F-16; Fall Creek August 15, 1933 2 9 CCC Camp F-27; Eagle (1) August 15, 1933 2 9 CCC Camp F-27; Eagle (2) August 15, 1933 2 9 CCC Camp F-27; Eagle 2 9 CCC Camp F-28; Delta August 15, 1933 2 9 CCC Camp F-29; Grizzly August 15, 1933 2 9 CCC Camp F-30; Harry Marsh-Big Creek August 15, 1933 2 9 Women standing under sign that reads Camp Harry March (Camp F-30) 967th Co., C.C.C. undated 2 9 View of CCC Camp F-30 Harry Marsh undated 2 9 CCC workers building bunk house undated 2 9 Unidentified CCC personnel undated 2 9 Row of CCC camp tents and personnel undated 2 9 Unidentified CCC baseball team undated 2 9 Unidentified CCC personnel including the camp cook undated 2 9 Two unidentified CCC personnel undated 2 9 Three unidentified CCC personnel outside tent undated 2 9 Group of unidentified CCC personnel undated 2 9 One CCC personnel standing outside tent undated 2 9 Rocks displayed to read F 15 (for CCC Camp F-15 Breakwater) undated 2 9 Row of tents in CCC camp undated 2 9 Unidentified man in front of US CCC 31572 vehicle undated 2 9 Personnel outside rows of CCC tents undated 2 9 Reservoir at CCC Camp undated 2 9 Two unidentified CCC personnel undated 2 9 Forest Service CCC Camp F-27 undated 2 9 CCC Camp F-28 undated 2 9 Group of unidentified CCC personnel undated 2 9 Mess Hall at unidentified CCC camp and people sitting in outdoor eating area undated 2 9 Unidentified CCC personnel and families standing outside office and supply room undated 2 9 People outside tents undated 2 9 Group of unidentified women and young girls undated 2 9 Crowd of CCC personnel undated 2 9 CCC personnel sitting at benches and picnic tables undated 2 9 Unidentified CCC personnel waiting outside Recreation Room undated 2 9 Unidentified CCC personnel and camp cook undated 2 9 CCC personnel and families standing outside Recreation Room undated 2 9 CCC baseball team undated 2 9 Row of CCC cabins A, B, C, D, and Mess Hall undated 2 9 CCC personnel and families sitting at picnic tables undated 2 9 Unidentified family visiting CCC camp undated 2 9 CCC personnel and families lined up undated 2 9 CCC personnel and families lined up undated 2 9 CCC camp visitors enjoying a drink undated 2 9 CCC camp visitors enjoying a drink outside cabin B undated 2 9 Unidentified CCC personnel undated 2 9 CCC personnel building a structure undated 2 9 Distant view of CCC personnel building a structure undated 2 9 Lumber and half finished structures at CCC camp undated 2 9 CCC personnel building a structure undated 2 9 CCC personnel lined up undated 2 9 CCC camp cooks undated 2 9 Unidentified CCC personnel undated 2 9 Two unidentified CCC personnel undated 2 9 Large group photo of CCC personnel undated 2 9 Group photo of CCC personnel undated 2 9 Group photo of CCC personnel undated 2 9 Large group photo of CCC personnel undated 2 9 Large group photo of CCC personnel undated 2 9 Four unidentified CCC personnel undated 2 9 CCC personnel sitting in Mess Hall undated 2 9 Group photo of CCC personnel undated 2 9 Group photo of CCC personnel on truck undated 2 9 Unidentified CCC personnel undated 2 9 Forest road going in two directions undated 2 9 Kellogg, ID 1933 Kellogg, Idaho Flood 1933 2 10 Miscellaneous Helca Mine, Burke, ID undated 2 11 Homes 12 photos of damaged homes. 2 12 Logging undated 16 photos of logging, loggers, and equipment. 2 13 Lookout Pass 1933 Man standing under Lookout Pass sign leaving Montana and entering Idaho undated 2 photos. 2 14 Snow on Lookout Pass as high as a car May 12, 1933 2 14 Snow higher than a car at the Lookout Pass entrance to Cabinet National Forest, Montana undated 2 14 Postcards Various postcards of picturing Idaho. Some sent by Harry Marsh. 2 15 Potato Crop Field 1933 2 16 Unidentified Flood Damage 2 17 Winter Scenes 1939 12 photos of various winter scenes. 2 18 Pine Creek Flood Project 1936 Pine Creek channel change (2 photos) undated 2 19 Embankment showing need of soil conservation (2 photos) undated 2 19 Before dike improvement undated 2 19 Protection dike May 12, 1936 2 19 Before placing wire mat undated 2 19 Building dikes with bulldozer undated 2 19 Two men standing beside excavator and river after flood undated 2 19 Excavator making flood dredge undated 2 19 Home along flooded river undated 2 19 River and debris after flooding with home in distance May 12, 1936 2 19 Riverbed after flooding undated 2 19 Riverbed wiring for embankments December 1936 2 19 Unidentified CCC camp undated 2 19 Group of men working along riverbank in winter undated 2 19 River and surrounding area after major flooding undated 2 19 Embankment to prevent flooding undated 2 19 Wire river bank during winter undated 2 19 Riverbed after major flooding undated 2 19 River after major flooding undated 2 19 Riverbed and debris after flooding undated 2 19 Riverbed after flooding undated 2 19 River after flooding undated 2 19 River after flooding undated 2 19 River with excavated banks and homes in background undated 2 19 River along railroad tracks after flooding undated 2 19 Bridge over previously flooded river October 1936 2 19 River scene with excavator and buildings in background September 1936 2 19 Unidentified CCC camp undated 2 19 Two negatives undated 2 19 Project No. 65-92-1179 April 4, 1936 Channel excavation April 4, 1936 2 20 Channel excavation with drag line dike April 4, 1936 2 20 Flood relief camp April 4, 1936 2 20 Flood relief camp April 4, 1936 2 20 Negatives (2) April 4, 1936 2 20 Spokane River, Coeur D'Alene Lake to Post Falls July 13, 1935 North channel at Post Falls, regulating gote. Post Falls Mill looking down stream July 13, 1935 2 21 Point on north shore to be dredged, looking downstream July 13, 1935 2 21 Point on north shore to be dredged, looking upstream July 13, 1935 2 21 Point on south shore to be dredged, looking upstream; Ohio Match Mills July 13, 1935 2 21 Middle channel at Post Falls, looking downstream July 13, 1935 2 21 Head of Spokane River to be dredged, looking downstream July 13, 1935 2 21 Snags and point to be dredged on south shore, looking downstream July 13, 1935 2 21 Point on south shore to be dredged, looking downstream; Ohio Match Mills July 13, 1935 2 21 Channel opening on south shore, looking downstream July 13, 1935 2 21 South channel at Post Falls. Weir and sluice gote, looking downstream July 13, 1935 2 21 Point to be dredged on south side below the Atlas Tie Company, looking upstream July 13, 1935 2 21 R. R. Bridge at Winton Mills, looking downstream July 13, 1935 Negative print only. 2 21 St. Joe River Valley, Kootenai Valley, Spokane River May 6-9, 1935 St. Joe River between the trees. May 9, 1935 2 22 Bridge May 6, 1935 2 22 St. Joe River Valley May 9, 1935 2 22 Men working on a bridge May 8, 1935 2 22 McLaughlin, District Engineer, and Cromwell, County Engineer at a dike May 9, 1935 2 22 Spokane River May 6, 1935 2 22 Kootenai Valley May 8, 1935 2 22 St. Joe River with dike area underwater. Broken dike in foreground May 9, 1935 2 22 Wallace, Idaho 1910 Fire August 20, 1910 2 23 Flood Project January to March, 1934 2 Home on Placer Creek in Wallace, ID January 07, 1934 Description on back reads: Home on Place Creek in Wallace. Christmas Day - 3' of mud and erosion on the floors. Cellar's full of mud. No fires. No sewers. 2 24 Placer Creek erosion two miles south of Wallace, ID January 23, 1934 Description on back reads: Placer Creek Erosion - 2 miles south of Wallace. 12-15' debris over highway. 2 24 Stream bed January 15, 1934 Description on photo reads: Stream bed December 25, 1933, photo 1/15/34. Wall 8' above normal water. 2 24 Donohoe yard after flooding January 15, 1934 Description on photo reads: Donohoe yard. Mucking into stream so drag line excavator can pick it up. 2 24 English Home, Placer Creek January 15, 1934 Description on photo reads: English home, Place Creek. Showing dike to cut water back into regular channel. Red cross will rehabilitate. 2 24 Duncan Home, Wallace, ID January 15, 1934 Description on photo reads: Duncan Home, Wallace. Red cross will rehabilitate. 2 24 CRAB attachment January 23, 1934 2 24 CRAB attachment January 24, 1934 2 24 Driftwood on the North Fork of the Coeur D'Alene River February 3, 1934 2 24 Home damaged by floods, North Fork of the Coeur D'Alene River February 3, 1934 2 24 Home damaged by flooding January 12, 1934 2 24 Unidentified farm with flood damage February 3, 1934 2 24 Excavator pulling debris out of water January 23, 1934 2 24 Man beside trucks along river after flooding January 23, 1934 2 24 Excavator cleaning out debris after flooding April 04, 1934 2 24 Riverbed after major flooding April 04, 1934 2 24 Debris along river after flooding February 03, 1934 2 24 Neighborhood after a flood March 14, 1934 2 24 Side streets of unknown town March 14, 1934 2 24 Excavator cleaning debris out of flooded river April 04, 1934 2 24 Debris covering machinery along the North Fork of the Coeur D'Alene River February 03, 1934 2 24 Damage to farm after flooding February 03, 1934 2 24 Excavator removing debris from river water January 23, 1934 2 24 Road remade after flood damage January 23, 1934 2 24 Wilson Pool Hall and Beer Parlor damaged after major flooding January 09, 1934 2 24 Snow along flood dredge January 07, 1934 2 24 Riverbed during flooding and dredging January 23, 1934 2 24 Riverbed after flood damage January 23, 1934 2 24 Placer Creek one mile south of Wallace, showing erosion January 23, 1934 2 24 Excavator making a dredge to combat flooding January 23, 1934 2 24 Streets undated 9 photos of streets in Wallace, ID including Bank Street. 2 25 Winter Flood 1933 Printer Creek December 23, 1933 2 26 Flood December 1933 9 photos. 2 26 Nine Mile Creek 1933 2 26 Flood 1933 2 photos. 2 26 Damaged road 1933 2 26 Placer Creek 1933 2 26 Flood 1933 2 photos. 2 26 2nd Street in Wallace, ID 1933 2 26 Nine Mile Creek 1933 2 26 Looking north of Place Creek December 23, 1933 2 26 Sister's Academy December 23, 1933 2 26 1st Street 1933 2 26 Damaged home 1933 2 26 West Wallace 1933 2 26 One mile west of Wallace 1933 2 26 Looking west from Cottage Grove in Wallace 1933 2 26 One mile west of Wallace 1933 2 copies. 2 26 Flood west of Wallace 1933 2 copies. 2 26 Cypress Street 1933 2 26 W.P.A. - Unit 8 & 1, W.P. 1727 May 23, 1940 Big Creek May 23, 1940 3 photos. 2 27 Kellogg East May 23, 1940 3 photos. 2 27 Milo Creek May 23, 1940 3 photos. 2 27