Always a precarious season, rainy days and warming temperatures have historically put Trail in some disastrous situations this time of year.
Such was the misfortune on July 2, 1932, when several tons of earth slid down the hillside onto Rossland Avenue after a wicked yet brief onslaught of rain wrapped up by hail so heavy that the accumulation was confused for snow.
The torrent of mud moved quickly through residences and buried the train tracks that ran down the Gulch.
While mud and debris settled along Rossland Avenue, garages and basements in upper West Trail were filled, gardens were destroyed, and one family lost their chickens.
“Council of the day proposed solutions to the increasing risk of flash flooding in the area, suggesting a lengthy, six-foot wide flume be constructed, particularly to protect a major water main,” explains archivist Sarah Benson-Lord.
“Many aldermen laid blame on residents living along Milligan Avenue who had been actively logging and redirecting the natural path of water.”
She says one alderman went so far as to suggest a ban on any more building on the hillside above Rossland Avenue.
“Additional cribbing was eventually ordered for the terraced streets overlooking Rossland Avenue,” Benson-Lord adds. “Council also requested those most heavily impacted to determine their damages for reimbursement.”
Much more flooding would impact the city in years to come.
For example, the memorable floods of 1969 and 1997 both occurred in April when heavy rains and quick snowmelt spelled costly trouble for residents along and over Trail creeks.
One flash event took place after only 20 minutes worth of rain, but it was enough to create havoc for the city.
Today, public works monitors the freshet closely and parks heavy equipment at the Trail Creek culvert to quickly clear washed down trees and other debris that gets caught in the racks. As well, the speedy manner in which news spreads has most people aware of potential weather events much quicker than days gone by.
Read more: Trail Blazers: Resting for Eternity
Read more: Trail Blazers: Stricken by flood 50 years later
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