York Town Square

Part of the USAToday Network

Remembering Agnes: ‘Spring Grove’s Worst Flood’

spring

This is the cover of a booklet published by Walt Geiger and Dave Leonard to show the impact of Tropical Storm Agnes on the Spring Grove, Pa., area. ‘Codorus Creek crests 96 inches deeps at mill dam, topping 1933 record of 54 inches,’ an introduction to the photo booklet states. Here, water spills onto Spring Grove’s main street from a Glatfelter loading dock. Also of interest: York County weather forecasts before, during and after Tropical Storm Agnes’ wrath.

Much has been written and photographed about the wrath of Tropical Storm Agnes in the York area.

But not as much is available about its impact throughout York County.

Insight about its widespread damage came from a source within the newsroom of the York Daily Record/Sunday News.

Abigail Geiger, a digital producer on the YDR’s breaking news desk, flagged a booklet titled ‘Spring Grove’s Worst Flood.’

She garnered the copy from its author.

Walt Geiger, who along with Dave Leonard wrote and photographed the flood-ravaged area in June 1972, is Abigail’s father.

The Spring Grove native is remembered by many in that southwestern York County community for his  Glatfelter Memorial Library design.

Interestingly, the Spring Grove library has been in the news. Actually, Glatfelter Memorial’s predecessor has been making the headlines -the endangered Hoke House.

Walt Geiger went on to become an internationally known architect. (Check out his Linked In profile and that of his current firm, MulvannyG2 Architects and you’ll see Disney in there, among other high-profile projects.)

So, Walt Geiger has left an imprint on York County with the library and his booklet.

And his daughter, Abigail, is making an impact, too, applying her considerable digital and journalistic skills across the York Daily Record’s many web and mobile platforms.

+++

Other photos from ‘Spring Grove’s Worst Flood’:

South Main Street, Spring Grove, Pa. - 1972Submitted

Agnes’ water – or rather the overflowing Codorus Creek – covers South Main Street in Spring Grove.

+++
spring2

Another view of Glatfelter loading docks.

+++
Colonial Valley mill scene, Spring Grove, Pa. - 1972Submitted

The Colonial Valley mill area of Menges Mills in Heidelberg Township.

+++

Menges Mills market, Spring Grove, Pa. - 1972Submitted

The Menges Mills Market, upstream from Spring Grove.

+++
Menges Mills Inn, Spring Grove, Pa. - 1972Submitted

More from Menges Mills. The inn in that village.

+++

Thomasville area cornfield - Spring Grove Flood 1972SubmittedThe photographers roamed a distance from Spring Grove. Here, water covers a Thomasville cornfield.

Also of interest:

Check out these stories and photos from YorkTownSquare’s archives.