Rating: 
Summary: Social History and culture superbly tied together...
Review: "The Johnstown Flood" is an excellent vehicle for describing the Industrial Revolution of the late 19th Century and the culture of those times and David McCullough does both superbly with this book. An intimate discussion of the Steel industry and it's relationship to towns just like Johnstown is framed by the gruesome details of the disaster and, as always in a David McCullough book, in a highly personal way that draws in the reader and lets him be a part of the story. We get the all important background of the development of the South Fork Fishing and Hunting club as well as the building/maintaining history of the Dam. The storm and it's affect on not only Conemaugh Lake, but all the surrounding tributaries (as they integrate to form the lake) is described in such terms as to give the reader the portent of the coming disaster. The "human" story is combined with the tragic reality of the "wall of water" as it carves it's path through the countryside and it gives the reader the perspective needed to see the true devastation to the towns. The only critiques to this book that I'd even mention are that I would have liked to have read more on the floods' path as it passed Johnstown and went through Cambria City and how it subsequently dissapated (we read how debris and bodies are discovered all the way into Pittsburgh, for example). Also, the story of how the town was re-built and a disclosure of any monuments to the disaster that exist today would have closed the story out for me a little better...but these are very minor omittances and they don't detract from the central theme at all. Overall, this book is just another in the long line of fabulous historical writings that David McCullough has made into an art form and is highly recommended.
Rating:
Summary: Social History and culture superbly tied together...
Review: "The Johnstown Flood" is an excellent vehicle for describing the Industrial Revolution of the late 19th Century and the culture of those times and David McCullough does both superbly with this book. An intimate discussion of the Steel industry and it's relationship to towns just like Johnstown is framed by the gruesome details of the disaster and, as always in a David McCullough book, in a highly personal way that draws in the reader and lets him be a part of the story. We get the all important background of the development of the South Fork Fishing and Hunting club as well as the building/maintaining history of the Dam. The storm and it's affect on not only Conemaugh Lake, but all the surrounding tributaries (as they integrate to form the lake) is described in such terms as to give the reader the portent of the coming disaster. The "human" story is combined with the tragic reality of the "wall of water" as it carves it's path through the countryside and it gives the reader the perspective needed to see the true devastation to the towns. The only critiques to this book that I'd even mention are that I would have liked to have read more on the floods' path as it passed Johnstown and went through Cambria City and how it subsequently dissapated (we read how debris and bodies are discovered all the way into Pittsburgh, for example). Also, the story of how the town was re-built and a disclosure of any monuments to the disaster that exist today would have closed the story out for me a little better...but these are very minor omittances and they don't detract from the central theme at all. Overall, this book is just another in the long line of fabulous historical writings that David McCullough has made into an art form and is highly recommended.
Rating:
Summary: Amazing Story, eye opener, a must read book
Review: 2200 people died when a 400 foot high, earth dam broke under unusually strong runoffs condition causing excessively high resevior water levels. It was a terrible disaster. Numerous warnings were given, but the people became hardened to the danger. In the past, cyclic flooding in the valley had conditioned the citizens to endure nature disasters. They just accepted it. The danger of the dam was no different. They learned to live with the danger. No one really understood potential damage that could occur if the dam broke.
Even prior to dam breaking and even when the dam was breaking, citizens thought the warnings were a joke, humoreous, laughed at; until they saw a wall of water 40 feet high forcing dust and wind in front and saw homes rolling as debrie in the approaching monster. They saw homes and buildings in front of the water destroyed. Many caught refuge on top of roofs, thousands died a debrie trapped them. Fires started burning. The stable community was completed destroyed.
The owners of the lake were the Carnagies, some of the richest people in the world. They sponsored a club of wealth patrons called the club of 100. The wealthy club of 100 enjoyed fishing, camping, and recreationing in exclusive private lodge near the reservoir. The club of 100 had a detailed engineering analysis was done of the dam. The engineers recommend rebuilding or reengineering the dam reasons being: 1. lack of spill ways 2. The earthen structure needed more outlets. The dam need to be reengineered to steel and concrete. 3. Stocking of fish prevented spill ways to be opened because they didn't want the fish to escape 4. When heavy rains hit, the spill ways were cloughed with debrie The Carlie Steel company and railroad where thought to have the largest financial interest in fixing the dam, yet no action was taken. The dam had stood for years and in its time was consider an engineering achievement. 20 million tons of water were pressing on the dam. It created a resevior 3 miles wide Within a hour the resevior was depleted.
Rating:
Summary: Amazing Story, eye opener, a must read book
Review: 2200 people died when a 400 foot high, earth dam broke under unusually strong runoffs condition causing excessively high resevior water levels. It was a terrible disaster. Numerous warnings were given, but the people became hardened to the danger. In the past, cyclic flooding in the valley had conditioned the citizens to endure nature disasters. They just accepted it. The danger of the dam was no different. They learned to live with the danger. No one really understood potential damage that could occur if the dam broke.
Even prior to dam breaking and even when the dam was breaking, citizens thought the warnings were a joke, humoreous, laughed at; until they saw a wall of water 40 feet high forcing dust and wind in front and saw homes rolling as debrie in the approaching monster. They saw homes and buildings in front of the water destroyed. Many caught refuge on top of roofs, thousands died a debrie trapped them. Fires started burning. The stable community was completed destroyed.
The owners of the lake were the Carnagies, some of the richest people in the world. They sponsored a club of wealth patrons called the club of 100. The wealthy club of 100 enjoyed fishing, camping, and recreationing in exclusive private lodge near the reservoir. The club of 100 had a detailed engineering analysis was done of the dam. The engineers recommend rebuilding or reengineering the dam reasons being: 1. lack of spill ways 2. The earthen structure needed more outlets. The dam need to be reengineered to steel and concrete. 3. Stocking of fish prevented spill ways to be opened because they didn't want the fish to escape 4. When heavy rains hit, the spill ways were cloughed with debrie The Carlie Steel company and railroad where thought to have the largest financial interest in fixing the dam, yet no action was taken. The dam had stood for years and in its time was consider an engineering achievement. 20 million tons of water were pressing on the dam. It created a resevior 3 miles wide Within a hour the resevior was depleted.
Rating:
Summary: Still shocking and horrifying one hundred years later
Review: A mountain valley was dammed to create a lake for the recreation of a bunch of rich men, and then when someone noticed that the dam was unsound the rich men chose to ignore the warnings! A particularly rainy season filled the lake to capacity and the already-stressed dam gave way. Mr. McCullough begins quietly by describing the ordinariness of the lives of the people in Johnstown, Pennsylvania in 1889, and then he shifts to the dissolving dam. It is truly horrifying to realize that it was doomsday for those people. The description of the wall of water surging down the valley, sweeping everything in its path along with it, including the buildings and inhabitants of Johnstown, until it finally slammed into the railroad bridge is one of the most gut-wrenching things I've ever read. The aftermath was indescribable but reporters from all over the country tried, and their tales in the newspapers captured the minds of the American people who rushed to aid the victims. Today, we are jaded by overexposure to the media, but we can still be shocked by the callous disregard that the rich men had for the safety of the "little" people in the valley, and we can still admire the indomitable spirit of the survivors. This is a superb narrative of a horrible event. My highest praise goes to Mr. McCullough.
Rating:
Summary: Powerful story about terrible man-made disaster
Review: A small group of wealthy people wanted to build a lake in the mountains to beautify their haven away from the city. Someone forgot to tell them that water runs downhill, so you better build one heckuva strong damn to hold that lake. Hard to believe that such capricious arrogance could condemn so many people to an awful death.McCullough is a great story teller. Perhaps he stretches his research or his creditbility at times with attempts to infer motives or describe thoughts, but this does not take away from the historical fact: One fateful day, the dam burst, poured down a narrow valley, and swamped the poor citizens of Johnston. The power of the water was such that it swept up the wooden houses, drove them against a stronger bridge across the river, and created an inferno that burned people alive. McCullough does an excellent job of reporting the decisions that led to this tragedy and the horrible events of that fateful day. And then there were the incriminations. Highly recommended for any student of history.
Rating:
Summary: Outstanding Account
Review: After recently reading "In Sunlight, In a Beautiful Garden," a fictionalized account of the events leading up to the Johnstown flood, I decided to learn more about the flood. Not only did the novelist list McCullough's book as a source, but it was recommended to me by a friend who reads a lot of American history. This author does an outstanding job in writing the history of the worst flood in a non-coastal area of the U.S.--this book is a real page-turner! McCullough relates the history of the South Fork property on which the dam and lake were located, including the purchase of this property by rich men from Pittsburgh, among them Carnegie, Frick, Mellon, and Horne. They formed the South Fork Fishing and Hunting Club, a mountain resort, and built a clubhouse for use by members. Sixteen members also built large "cottages" around the 350-acre lake that had been formed by the earthen dam which was first built between 1840 and 1850. When these men bought the property in 1879, the dam had been totally neglected so "repairs" were made. Unfortunately, no engineer had anything to do with these repairs, which consisted mostly of throwing junk, branches, rocks, and hay against the dam. During this time, the outlet pipes at the bottom of the dam were removed and sold as scrap. Other ingredients in this recipe for disaster were the pipes that were put in near the dam to prevent fish from leaving the lake. These would also, it was found later, allow debris to build up and cause water to spill over the dam more easily. The inevitable occurred in 1889, on Memorial Day, when a huge storm caused the lake to rise above the dam. With no outlet pipes to lower the level of the water, the water poured over the top, at the center. The dam soon gave way, allowing the contents of the huge lake to rush 15 miles down the mountain, destroying everything in its path, including the town of Johnstown. When McCullough describes this wall of water descending the mountain and the destruction that occurred, the picture he painted was beyond belief. The torrent of water brought with it livestock, houses, trains, tracks, machinery, barbed wire and everything else that was in its path. In the face of such complete chaos and horror, level heads prevailed. The day after the flood, townspeople held a meeting at which it was decided that a "dictator" was needed. Arthur Moxham was subsequently chosen and he immediately set up several committees to take care of removing dead animals and wreckage, setting up morgues and temporary hospitals, deputizing a police force (which cut out tin stars from cans found in the debris), handling finances, and obtaining supplies. At 4 PM this same day (Saturday), emergency supplies, 80 volunteers, and 30 police left Pittsburgh on a 20-car train after wagons had been sent out throughout the city to collect supplies for Johnstown. The next day, burials started. One out of three bodies was never identified--over 600 unknowns. During this time, more trains arrived--one 11-car train from Pittsburgh contained nothing but coffins and 50 undertakers; another from the governor of Ohio was filled with tents. There were 27,000 people in the valley who had absolutely nothing, and providing for their physical needs was of paramount importance. Contributions, not including goods, eventually totaled $3.7 million, with only about $70,000 donated by the rich industrialits who owned the resort. The National Guard was called in to try and keep order since thousands of people had come to help, and also to gawk. On Wednesday, Clara Barton arrived with her newly formed American Red Cross and 50 doctors and nurses. She was 67 and a bundle of energy and organization. Within days, she had organized hospital tents, hotels with hot and cold running water, and kitchens. She rarely slept and never left for five months! Over 2200 people died in the Johnstown Flood and no responsibility was ever assumed by the members of the South Fork Fishing and Hunting Club, and none of the lawsuits against the club was ever won in the courts. This was an incredible account of a horrific event in our nation's history.
Rating:
Summary: True to life and history
Review: As a native and lifelong resident of Johnstown, I would not be without this book. My favorite thing about it is that he captures the people of Johnstown, their personalities and their daily lives. I can attest that not much has changed around here--the people you read about in this book could easily live here today. The spirit and pride of the people of Johnstown remains undiminished after yet two more devastating floods in 1936 and 1977. Don't miss this one--flawlessly written, it reads more like a novel than a history book.
Rating:
Summary: The biggest news story since the murder of Abraham Lincoln
Review: At the time, (May 31, 1889) the Johnstown flood was the biggest news story in the nation since the murder of President Abraham Lincoln. A total of 2,209 residents perished when the South Fork Fishing & Hunting Club dam broke. To this end, author David McCullough documents the incredible story in meticulous (and objective) detail. In doing so...he also provides a heartbreaking account of what went wrong.
The South Fork Fishing & Hunting Club was an elite organization of the super rich and powerful. Members included, Andrew Carnegie, Henry Clay Frick, Philander Knox and Robert Pitcairn. McCullough concludes that the club tampered drastically with the natural order of things and had done so badly. Moreover, the club ravaged much of the mountain country's protective timber, which caused dangerous flash runoff following mountain storms; they obstructed and diminished the capacity of the rivers; and they bungled the repair and maintenance of the dam. "Perhaps worst of all they had failed...out of indifference mostly...to comprehend the possible consequences of what they were doing, and partiularly what those consequences might be should nature happen to behave in anything but the normal fashion," which according to McCullough was exactly what was to be expected of nature.
The New York Times concluded that the cause of the flood was an engineering crime...that the dam was of inferior construction. Other publications reported the nation simmered with deep seated resentment of the rich. On a positive note, the help and aid to Johnstown was the greatest ourpouring of charity that the nation had ever seen. Additionally, the doctors, nurses and sanitation crews did a "spectacular" job of preventing a typhoid epidemic. And finally the author does not fail to report the countless others who went beyond the call of duty to perform tremendous acts of bravery. Unfortunately, the club members were never held accountable and were disgustingly "stingy" with disaster funding. On that note, a poem by Isaac Reed accurately captured the moment in history;
Many thousand human lives...
Butchered husbands, slaughtered wives,
Mangled daughters, bleeding sons,
Hosts of martyred litte ones,
(Worse than Herod's awful crime)
Sent to heaven before their time;
Lovers burnt and sweethearts drowned,
Darlings lost but never found!
All the horrors that hell could wish,
Such was the price that was paid for...fish!
Bert Ruiz
Rating: 
Summary: Hair-raising Disaster embedded in social history
Review: David McCullough firmly embeds his devastating account of the Johnstown Flood in the social history of late 19th century America. The pre-flood history of the small Pennsylvania mountain villages brought to mind a combination of "The Music Man" and the "dark, satanic mills" of the Industrial Revolution (steel, in this case). Throw in a mixture of class war and the prejudice of the 'native' Americans versus the recently arrived Eastern European immigrants, and the book tells a good story even without the advent of the flood. However, the Johnstown flood is the heart of McCullough's story and he does a very good job in building up to the book's compelling climax. When the dam above Johnstown finally gives way, you will already be on the edge of your reading chair. As usual, in a story about a disaster, there are incredibly brave people and also incredibly foolish ones. I wish McCullough had told us a bit more about the post-flood lives of some of his heroes and heroines, but that is the only real fault I can find with his story. A book like this always makes me wonder how I would have reacted in the midst of the chaos, flood, and fire that was Johnstown on May 31, 1889.
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