the rim review
FREE AUGUST 31, 2016
PAYSON, ARIZONA
Contributed photo
Volunteer labor and generous contributions have made it possible to construct a memorial for those who died, survived and worked hundreds of hours in search and rescue efforts during the 1970 Labor Day Flood. The memorial, located on the Rim Country Museum complex grounds in Green Valley Park, will be formally dedicated at 10 a.m., Saturday, Sept. 3. All are invited to attend — bring lawn chairs and/or blankets for seating and a raincoat in the event of bad weather. The museum will also have a special exhibit of photos taken in the aftermath of the flood by the late Nyle Leatham, whose widow has donated more than a 1,000 negatives of his work to the Northern Gila County Historical Society.
A memorial to remember and honor BY TERESA MCQUERREY RIM REVIEW EDITOR
It’s a shadow that hangs heavy in the memories of those who were there. A few years ago a group of folks up in the Christopher Creek area decided to shine a light on the shadow of that terrible tragedy — the 1970 Labor Day Flood. There was a reunion to reminisce and honor those who died, the survivors and the public servants and volunteers who answered the call of duty for search and rescue operations. Out of that event came a movement to create a standing memorial to the tragedy and all who bear the scars of its impact. Volunteers and contributions provided materials and labor to construct a monument at the Rim Country Museum complex in Green Valley Park. The memorial will be formally dedicated at 10 a.m., Saturday, Sept. 3. The tremendous flood took several
lives — some estimates put the number at nearly two dozen — and changed many more in the Rim Country in 1970, according to an article written by Tim Ehrhardt, an area historian and former columnist for The Rim Review. He went on, “Many people were just swept away. Some call it ‘the deadliest natural disaster in the history of Arizona.’” The Payson Roundup, published Sept. 10, 1970, devoted its front page to coverage of the Labor Day Flood, “… took a toll of at least 10 lives in the Payson area. Six others were still reported missing late Tuesday,” that early report stated. “The known dead: Mrs. Margaret Dickinson, 59, Payson; Susie Allen, 28, Phoenix; Kyle MacDonald, 40, Mesa; Ina MacDonald, 33, his wife; two of their children, Sue, 8, and Nan, 10; Gilbert A. Duthie, 39, Mesa. “The bodies of three unidentified
drowning victims had been recovered. Those of a man and a girl were found near Gisela, and that of another man was found in the Kohl’s Ranch area. “Still missing were Arthur Dickinson, 59, who was believed to have been with his wife Margaret, when their car went into Sycamore Creek; Tod and Sloan Chandler, who were in the MacDonald party; Randall MacDonald, son of Mr. and Mrs. Kyle MacDonald; and an unidentified man and wife who lived near the Tonto Rim American Baptist Camp and whose home was swept away.” The Roundup went on to report, “Hundreds of holiday travelers were marooned in and near Payson, and a hundred or more rescuers spent Sunday, Monday and much of Tuesday scouring the flood-swept land for victims and survivors ... “The Payson schools opened their
cafeteria to serve both rescuers and marooned visitors, supplying hot food and beverages to about 80 on Saturday, 14 on Sunday, and 100 (mostly rescue squad) on Monday. “The gymnasium at Julia Randall Elementary School was opened to visitors, and about 40 persons slept there. The lobbies of the Ox Bow Inn and Kohl’s Ranch Lodge also served as sleeping quarters for travelers.” The highway patrol asked for the schools to send buses to the Mount Ord area to pick up refugees and a church bus also went to help. It was expected there would be about 175 people, “but only 80 were able to reach the buses.” Not only did the flood destroy bridges, but there was also substantial highway damage. The Roundup story reported, “Highway Commissioner Walter Surett said that 6,000 yards of dirt will be CONTINUED ON PAGE 4