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Flood memories from a Ottawa funeral home during 1951 flood
The author recalls a 1951 flood in Ottawa that submerged the McVey Dengel Mortuary family home. Dad, two workers, and helpers evacuated the Cedar House Nursing Home residents and moved furniture and caskets upstairs to save belongings. They saved the carpet but not the organ, and the flood crested with no deaths but many possessions lost. The tale notes fleeing with a motor boat, shelter with the fire chief, and eyewitness damage to veneered doors. Epilogue mentions Louis Dengel’s flood control lobbying.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Forest Park
High Board
McVey-Dengel Mortuary
Ottawa
Dad
Bob Gilliland
David Johnson
Cedar House Nursing Home
Hubbard Lumber Co
Hickory
Intrust
Hickory Street
Moore’s
Third Street
Ottawa Hardware
Harry Gilliland
South Walkrut
Dengel & Son Mortuary
Louis Dengel
Washington, D.C
Walt Dengel Dengel