Austin Flood Disaster
On Sept. 30, 1911, the Bayless Pulp and Paper Co. dam broke here. This concrete dam, built 1909, was nearly 50 feet high; 534 feet long. Its failure sent torrents of water and debris down Freeman Run into Austin and Costello, causing great destruction and killing at least 78 people. This second worst single-dam disaster in Pennsylvania inspired legislation (1913) to regulate the construction of dams in the state.
Marker is on Rugaber Street (Pennsylvania Route 872) 1.6 miles north of Main Street (Pennsylvania Route 607), on the right when traveling south.
Courtesy hmdb.org
