In May of 1930 the Tay River overflowed its banks in the spring and Perth suffered the worst flood in its history. Mr.Wm. Tippins lived in Perth then and was employed in the C. P. R. shops and lived on Beckwith street, and had as a neighbour called Mr. Boyer who was an engine driver on the C P. R.

As the river rose and flooded the streets neat its banks Mr. Tippins and his neighbour decided they would have to get a boat to go to work. That night as soon as they got home from work they began to make a punt and a pair of oars. The boat was completed before breakfast time next morning and was water tight That morning they rowed to work. The flood lasted almost a week and in some parts of town the water was four feet deep. The flood was a big hindrance to business.

Clipped from

The Ottawa Journal,
20 Apr 1887, Wed,
Page 3

Adams (Glen Tay) Mill

The Glen Tay Mill, also known as Adams Mill, was built by Abraham Parsall in 1816. The mill, located on lot 20 of the 2^nd concession of Bathurst, was purchased by Colonel Joshua Adams in 1820 following the death of Parsall. The Glen Tay mill complex would eventually include a saw mill, oatmeal mill, grist mill, tannery shop, woolen mill, wagon shop and blacksmith. Henry Moorehouse owned the mills in 1863; however, this was not the last time they would be in his possession.

Adams mill was bought by John Hargrave in 1863, and unfortunately, disaster struck the complex only a few short years later. A fire tore through the buildings, beginning in the woolen mill and destroying other parts of the complex as well in 1865.

The mill complex was rebuilt and Henry Moorehouse would once again own it in 1872. Beginning in the late 1800’s, the mill became a hydroelectric plant which would be purchased by Perth Electric and Water Power Co. in 1897 to produce power for the town until 1918. The dam gave way in 1926, destroying the Glen Tay Bridge and flooding parts of Perth. The mill fell into disrepair; however it was restored by the Drennan family and is now used as a private residence. The mill can be viewed from the pocket park in Glen Tay while sitting at the public picnic table. Historic Mills –Tay Valley

Perth Remembered

March 24, 2015

FLOOD 1980. Perth residents awakened to find the Tay River in their back yards. Photo: Katherine Waugh as it appeared in the Kingston Whig-Standard, Rideau Lakes Section, Monday, 24, 1980. Clipping sent in by Frieda Ellenberger.

THE PERTH COURIER APRIL 23, 1926

A Flood in Perth Last Week. Perth Shoe Co. Employees Ferried to Work – Streets and Cellars Flooded. —

Perth Remembered

Perth was the scene of a flood last week, the most serious experienced in the town for upwards of forty years. Fortunately, it only lasted for a short time and no great loss was incurred. As announced the Courier last week the two tributaries of the Tay River here overflowed their banks on Thursday and at night following that situation the section of the town from Beckwith Street embracing James Brothers Foundry, Perth Shoe Co. plant and the C.P.R. property became flooded and beyond the C.P.R. main tracks the fields were covered with water and presented a large lake-like appearance. The 2nd line road more familiarly known as the “Long Swamp” road was completely submerged with water from near the tracks to past the beginning of the McLaren swamp, the water easily reaching to the height of an ordinary wagon box, Friday and Saturday operations were ceased in James Brothers Foundry. On Friday it was impossible to use steam at the plant of the Perth Shoe Com and many of the employees were dismissed from work. The office staff and a few in other departments, however went to work but had to be ferried by boats from the foot of Foster Street and on Sherbrooke Street to the plant. The basement of the plant was cleared of certain of the stock in storage there and the firm’s loss in that respect was slight. The residences on Sherbrooke Street were practically islands as they were all surrounded by water. Beckwith Street from the skating rink corner to near the boy’s playground of the Public School was submerged by a couple of feet of water and many of the cellars of the houses in the vicinity were flooded. Saturday and Sunday the water began to gradually lower and on Monday the streets were almost in their normal condition again. Since last week the waters of the Tay have also lowered considerably and thus ended any further anxiety.

Photo shows Arthur Ralyea making his way around in a boat at the corner of North and Sherbrooke Streets in front of the Perth Shoe Factory. Wampoles and Jergens in the background.