Johnstown Flood: An Up2U Historical Fiction Adventure
Sarah Beth closed her eyes and tried wishing away the rain Just then Papa opened the parlor doors and stepped inside the kitchen Mr Colbertson followed behind him Mr Colbertson and Papa were both switchmen on the Pennsylvania Railroad Mr Colbertson had sloshed his way across town and called on the family twenty minutes prior Papa had taken him into the parlor Papa patted Sarah Beth’s head He dropped a licorice whip into her hand Sarah Beth was sure it had come from the Decoration Day Parade just the day before Sarah Beth had loved marching down Main Street behind the brass band Main Street was decorated with the finest red white and blue ribbons that Johnstown had ever seen As soon as the last rap-tap-tap of the drum rang out the skies had opened up yet again
Everyone went scurrying home It had been raining ever since Mr Colbertson tipped his soggy hat to them and opened the door I’ll meet you at the depot at one o’clock Bring your lantern and rain gear You’ll be needin it alright Good bye ma’am he said Then he closed the door and disappeared in the rain Mama asked Where are you off to The railroad’s sending a work crew up to Buttermilk Pass to try to clean the tracks Papa replied Mama clenched her jaw You’ve been workin yourself nonstop since the snowfall last month Sarah Beth and her friends had enjoyed frolicking in the late snowfall But the seventeen inches agitated the crops and caused adults to fall into the foulest of moods
Papa nodded I know But the tracks are flooded and the telegraph lines and parts of the track got knocked out by mudslides They need help clearin them Trains are backed up well beyond Harrisburg They’re leavin folks stranded Sarah Beth listened with great interest The depot in Johnstown was a fascinating place to a twelve-year-old There were all sorts of people coming and going Freight of all kinds mostly supplies for the ironworks was passing through Sometimes finely dressed men from Pittsburgh would arrive with their aides and secretaries trailing them around town Sarah Beth often imagined herself growing up to have her own help that tended to her every need I’d have them fetch my chicks she thought Whenever Papa allowed she’d ride the lines with him She’d marvel at how Johnstown was tucked away in a deep green valley She’d look
at the two rivers connecting downtown at the point where the massive arched bridge was recently built The Cambria Ironworks often lit up the night sky and left a smoky red glow in the air Sarah Beth pretended she was a princess in a magical kingdom when she traveled through the valley at night Can I go with you Papa asked Sarah Beth He laughed Stay and mind your mama You don’t want to look like a drowned rat out in this storm Mama agreed After we bring our belongings up from the cellar I’ll be needin you to go to Hensler’s to buy some thread and lace for Mrs Pritchard’s dress Hensler’s was Hensler’s General Store It was only recently that Mama and Papa allowed Sarah Beth to walk into town unattended If only they knew the real reason she wanted
