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addition, three unincorporated villages had
sprung up--Moxham, Morrellville and Walnut Grove.
Three others--Kernville, Sharpsburg and
Hornerstown--already had been absorbed by
Johnstown. Kernville became the 5th and 6th Wards
Hornerstown and Sharpsburg made up the 7th Ward. Between 1852 and the
important year of 1889, Johnstown attracted new
industries and businesses and acquired the
characteristics of a progressive and prosperous
community.
The town gained
another railroad--the Baltimore & Ohio;
horse-drawn street cars, free mail service,
electric lights, natural gas, a water system,
telephone service and banking houses were some of
the signs of advancement.
Then on May 31,
1889, Johnstown and its neighboring boroughs
experienced their darkest day. On that date the
South Fork Dam gave way and the great flood that
roared through the valley became known to the
world as the Johnstown Flood.
The
raging flood tide left over 2,200 dead in its
path, and it left valley communities crushed and
maimed almost beyond recognition. It was one of
the worst peace-time tragedies of all time.
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