Political Quotes

“this bill will authorize the expansion of the Johnstown Flood National Memorial, a National Park Service site in South Fork, Pennsylvania. Specifically, the bill will enable the National Park Service (NPS) to acquire adjacent properties and historically significant structures that are an integral part of the story of the Johnstown Flood. The Great Johnstown Flood, which occurred on May 31, 1889, was the largest news story in the era next to the assassination of Abraham Lincoln. It swept away an entire city, causing the loss of over 2,209 people. Though members of the South Fork Fishing and Hunting Club, which owned the earthen dam and was situated above it, worked feverishly during the storm to prevent the dam from bursting, their efforts were futile. The Johnstown Flood Memorial was dedicated in 1964. Today the park consists of 165 acres and receives over 126,000 visitors annually. It preserves the remains of the old South Fork Dam which was breached in the flood, as well as portions of the former Conemaugh Lake bed. This bill would authorize the purchase or acquisition by NPS, from willing sellers, an additional approximately 14½ acres. This property holds certain related historic structures such as the 'Moorhead Cottage' and the 'Clubhouse.' Both of these are significant to the story of the Johnstown Flood as they represent the life and role of club members both before and after the flood.”