Flooding during the Construction of the Holtwood Dam

On March 15, 1907, flood waters from ice jams on the Susquehanna topped a portion of the new Dam at McCalls Ferry, Pennsylvania. This new dam was later named the “Holtwood Dam”, and it is one of three large hydro-electric plants on the lower Susquehanna River.

Happily, there was no lasting damage to the construction.

The incident was recorded on numerous postcard photographs.

This image is not the best one that I have, but I am sharing it because it was utilized as an advertising card for the Star Department Store at 43 West King Street.

In the first decades of the 20th century, many businesses recognized that almost every household regularly sent and received postcards. Commercial establishments began using printed postcards to advertise their operations.

The postcard may have been included with a local newspaper or given to shoppers at the store.

The reverse of the card reveals that Grandmom presented this postcardcard to Master Curtis Russell of Narvon, PA.

Narvon is an unincorporated community in Caernarvon Township, south of Route 322, in the easternmost part of Lancaster County.