40th Anniversary of the Flood of 1982

Join the Essex Historical Society and presenting partners Ivoryton Library and Essex Land Trust for a three-part series marking the 40th Anniversary of the Flood of 1982: “Rescue, Recovery, Remembrance.”  This series, presented in a hybrid format, will address the extraordinary events in June, 1982, when over nine inches of rain fell on Middlesex County over a 24 hour period, breaching the dam at Bushy Hill Reservoir in Ivoryton.  The dam failure sent millions of gallons of water hurtling down the Falls River, destroying structures, properties and infrastructure as it cut new channels on its way to the Connecticut River.

Sunday March 13, 3 PM via Zoom – Rescue – Town of Essex’s First Responders provide eye-witness accounts of the people rescued and lives saved that weekend.

Sunday, March 27, 3 PM via Zoom – Recovery – Listen to stories of resilience as neighborliness and government support ensured the return of fresh water, power and eventual ‘normalcy’ to flood-damaged areas.

Sunday, April 10, 3 PM – Trinity Lutheran Church, 109 Main Street, Centerbrook – Remembrance – Residents will be asked to share their stories about rescue and recovery efforts in a ‘pass the mic’ format.

For more information, go to: https://www.essexhistory.org/events/