Just west of the City of Corning, residents of Painted Post heard the flood warnings. On June 22, residents began reinforcing the riverbanks with sandbags. Despite their efforts, around 5:00 am on June 23, the Chemung River rose above the dikes and sandbags. Water began rushing through waterfront neighborhoods and commercial districts. Windows were smashed as wreckage and detritus were swept along by the raging water.
Al Hall’s Diner. Courtesy of the Corning-Painted Post Historical Society and Steuben County Historical Society.
Al Hall's Diner was located on Hamilton Street in Painted Post. This picture shows the shocking height of the flood water.
Looking West under the I-86 Overpass on 415/Victory Highway in Painted Post. Courtesy of the Corning-Painted Post Historical Society and Steuben County Historical Society.
This photo was taken under the NY-15 (now I-86) overpass looking west down High Street into Painted Post. As the ripples show, this water was flowing rapidly.
Tillman’s Pharmacy. Courtesy of the Corning-Painted Post Historical Society and Steuben County Historical Society.
Tillman's Pharmacy in Painted Post was a local landmark; here it is under several feet of water. After the flood, the entire square block behind it was replaced with a new shopping area.
Oral History with Mary-Carol Lindbloom. Courtesy of the South Central Regional Library Council.
Mary-Carol Lindbloom, formerly of Painted Post, New York, describes the flooding of 1972 as it affected her and her family. They lived near Coopers Plains, a hamlet within the Town of Erwin that is two miles west of Painted Post, and through which the Cohocton River flows. Mary-Carol attended West High School and recalls helping classmates residing in the village of Painted Post clean flood mud off their family's furniture.
Oral History with Marji Young and Norma Hoover. Courtesy of the South Central Regional Library Council.
Marji Young and Norma Hoover of Painted Post discuss their memories of the flood. Norma is Marji's mother. They evacuated but did not anticipate the flood to be as severe as it was, and nearly left their pet poodle in the house. Fortunately, they took their dog with them, at the urging of the youngest son.
Marji's father was the first to return to their home after evacuating. He was allowed back on July 4, 1972. Their new carpets had to be ripped out and their walls had to be hosed down.