A view of the aftermath from Depot Square looking toward Main Street. The Unitarian Church can be seen in the background. MONADNOCK CENTER FOR HISTORY AND CULTURE / Courtesy Credit: MONADNOCK CENTER FOR HISTORY AND CULTURE / Courtesy

On Sept. 21, 1938, Peterborough was rocked by floods, fires, and devastation left in the wake of a major hurricane that ripped through the region.

An article written by David Ballard in the Peterborough Transcript printed on Sept. 29, 1938, set the scene:

“September 21, 1938, was a day of flood, fire and hurricane that left the town of Peterborough completely altered in appearance, and dazed by a property loss of at least $500,000 exclusive of heavy forestry destruction throughout the township that amounted in many places to fully 100 percent. Miraculously, no one was seriously injured. It was the most terrible day in the memory of any of the present inhabitants, and undoubtedly the most disastrous in the town’s 199 years of existence.”

Days of heavy rain before the hurricane raised the Contoocook River and flooded streets. This is a view from the Peterborough Town Library. COURTESY
The Transcript building ruins on September 22, 1938. COURTESY
A view of what is today the Mariposa Museum. COURTESY
A view of the flood waters from Main Street, viewed from the current Mariposa Museum. COURTESY
The view of the flood from the steps of the Unitarian Church. COURTESY

According to reports in the Peterborough Transcript, before the hurricane hit, torrential rains caused the waters of the Nubanusit and Contoocook rivers to rise at least three feet higher than the next highest record — floods in 1936 — and swept through the town. School, Depot and Summer streets were all flooded, and residents of Summer Street and Concord Street had to be evacuated.

The flood impacted the business district, including the First National Bank, the American Guernsey Cattle Club and the Liscord building.

Fire totally destroyed buildings on the south side of Main Street, between the river and Depot Street. Among those buildings destroyed was the Transcript Printing Co. and grain store, the Farm Service Stores and the Robertson Motor Co. Garage, Peterborough Bakery, Wyman’s Market and Gautreau tenement on Depot Street. Property losses from the fire were estimated to be about $175,000.

The next morning everything from the Roy's Market corner to the bridge had burned to the ground. COURTESY
A view of the aftermath from Depot Square looking toward Main Street. The Unitarian Church can be seen in the background. COURTESY
The Transcript building ruins on September 22, 1938. COURTESY
The fire department fought the fire through the hurricane, finally bringing it under control about 10 p.m. COURTESY
The Transcript Printing Company building and a grain store were located where the Bar Harbor Bank is today. The fire broke out before the hurricane passed over Peterborough. COURTESY

At about 3:30 p.m., the Transcript building caught fire, orginating at the rear of the grain store. Fire engines were unable to get across the bridge or navigate around flood waters to put out the fire, and firefighters could only stage at the Unitarian church and wait for flames to come within reach. The fire spread to the adjoining Taylor building, and firemen from Wilton, Milford and Nashua were able to approach the fire from the opposite side of the Contoocook to fight the fire, but wind conditions carried the flames to other buildings.

The full force of the hurricane descended upon Peterborough between 5 and 6 p.m., blowing down trees and ripping rooves off of homes. Trees came down in the roadways, and the tin roof of Moulton’s Drug store ripped free and flew 100 feet down the road.