Wednesday, March 12, 2008
80 years ago... March 12th, 1928
(San Fernando Valley)
On March 12, 1928, one of California's worst catastrophes occurred. The St. Francis Dam broke (was located 9 miles from Saugus).
Huge torrents of water washed down the San Francesquito Canyon, killing many on the way. The official body count was estimated at 450 dead, which is only slightly less then the famous 1906 earthquake in San Francisco. The actual number was substantially higher, since San Francisquito Canyon was the home to hundreds of transients and illegal immigrants that were never accounted for.
After the dam broke, the water took 5 1/2 hours for the water to reach the ocean. At times, there was a wall of water as high as 140 feet. 900 buildings were destroyed.
Learn more about more about this distaster... by visiting these websites...
http://seis.natsci.csulb.edu/VIRTUAL_FIELD/Francesquito_Dam/franmain.htm
http://web.mst.edu/~rogersda/st_francis_dam/
http://www.scvhistory.com/scvhistory/sg031101.htm
http://www.sespe.com/damdisaster/
Use the 5 Freeway north until you come across the 14 Freeway in Sylmar. Take the 14 north for a mile or two until you reach Highway 126 (also called San Fernando Road). Take this road north or east for about 5 miles.
After five miles, you should be in the town Saugus. Head north out of Saugus on Bouquet Canyon Road. Continue on Bouquet Canyon Road for less then a mile, when you should reach San Francisquito Road. Turn left on this road, and continue for about 3-4 miles. The former dam site is about a mile beyond a public swimming pool, and a powerhouse.
Subscribe to Posts [Atom]
