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Before the flood

from Johnstown by Caterpillar

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the picture is the original south fork clubhouse, above the dam

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The journey was difficult. We left St. Gallen in February. We traveled across Northwest Italy and on to Southeast France, to Marseille, all the way by land. We boarded ship, sailed the Mediterranean, past Gibraltar, and out to sea. The crossing was eventful – there were several storms, and some periods where there was no wind at all.

Joseph, when we arrived in Philadelphia we set our sights Westward, with hopes of finding a place to settle. We have arrived! This is good land. We can clear the land and farm. There are streams, so water is plentiful. There is plenty of lumber, and the mountains surrounding us on all sides are rich with minerals. Let’s build our home here, on the banks of the Conemaugh.

Our village will develop and prosper. But little do we know that in time the actions of our arrogant neighbors from the west will devastate our town. Fools will establish their holiday residence up the valley to our north on Lake Conemaugh, a lake contained by a dam patched with mud and straw. A great wall of 20 million tons will flow down the valley. John Hess will tie down his whistle in warning, as his locomotive steams backward into town. The Great Flood will take 2,200. But many will survive to see a new day. We will rebuild. We will thrive. We are the people. We are Johnstown.

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from Johnstown, released November 11, 2011

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Caterpillar Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

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