Dover in Strafford County, New Hampshire — The American Northeast (New England)
Dover's Black Day
Photographed By Cosmos Mariner, July 9, 2019
1. Dover's Black Day Marker
Dover's Black Day began with a record breaking rainfall March 1 & 2, 1896 which ravaged downtown Dover. The Central Avenue bridge was swept away by torrents of rushing water and ice floes; several stores and offices in the Bracewell Building were destroyed as well.
Merchants occupying the southern portion of the building included Fred Foss's stationery store, Roberts Bros. Boots & Shoes, the Misses Flynn millinery shop, Drew & Boomer photography studio, and the law offices of William Roberts. Combined, their losses totaled over $23,000. Building owner, Col. John Bracewell, estimated additional structural damage of at least $20,000 more.
The bridge began to sink at 4 PM on March 2 when immense ice cakes from upstream continually hit its piers. At 4:55, two spans, 30' wide, went down. Not five minutes before, the bridge was filled with people resolved to see in spite of the danger. They were removed by the City Marshall just in time.
The Bracewell Block caved in at exactly 8 PM with "crashing glass, snapping of timber, and a cloud of plaster and lime." Debris flowed swiftly over the dam. Electric poles then fell into the streets with live wires sparking. Lots of merchandise and equipment from these Dover businesses were found in Portsmouth the next day: "everything from lead pencils to fine bonnets to brogans.”
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Erected 2015 by Faces of Dover, and Dover Main Street, Inc. (Marker Number 9.)
Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Disasters. A significant historical date for this entry is March 1, 1896.
Location. 43° 11.796′ N, 70° 52.462′ W. Marker is in Dover, New Hampshire, in Strafford County. Marker is on Central Avenue (New Hampshire Route 9) south of First Street, on the right when traveling south. Marker is mounted on the west-side bridge railing, overlooking the Cocheco River. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Dover NH 03820, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. Dover's Early Settlers (a few steps from this marker); Early 19th Century Storefronts (within shouting distance of this marker); The Dover Mill Girls (within shouting distance of this marker); The Two Morrill Blocks (about 500 feet away, measured in a direct line); Central (Lower) Square (about 500 feet away); Dover NH WWII Memorial (about 600 feet away); The American House Hotel (about 600 feet away); Dover’s Two Largest Retail Chain Stores (about 600 feet away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Dover.
Related markers. Click here for a list of markers that are related to this marker.
Also see . . . Dover's Black Day. Faces of Dover entry:
Constructed for $40,000 in 1877 by Col. John Bracewell, the Bracewell commercial block
2. Marker detail: Bracewell Block Damage
Photographed By Cosmos Mariner, July 9, 2019
3. Dover's Black Day Marker
Credits. This page was last revised on March 2, 2023. It was originally submitted on July 2, 2020, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida. This page has been viewed 448 times since then and 50 times this year. Last updated on March 2, 2023, by Diane Starkey of Rochester, New Hampshire. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on July 3, 2020, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida. • J. Makali Bruton was the editor who published this page.
