Flood in Moscow in 1908 in old photos and postcards

2024 Author: Seth Attwood | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-16 15:55

Moscow was not flooded as often as St. Petersburg, and there were practically no serious destructive floods. And yet there are unique photos of streets filled with water.

In mid-April 1908, on the eve of Orthodox Easter, Moscow experienced one of the largest floods in history - and the largest in the 20th century.

“The flood of the Moskva River, which came extremely late this year, assumed monstrous proportions that exceeded all expectations … five sections on the right side of the Moscow River were particularly affected: the second Khamovnichesky (Dorogomilovo), both sections of the Pyatnitskaya section and both sections of the Yakimanskaya. This year's flood covered in total 1/5 of the city, - says the report of the Moscow City Council.

The Birzhevye Vedomosti newspaper wrote: “So far, of course, it is difficult to calculate the losses. There was no time for this on holidays. So far, it is only known that more than 1,500 houses were affected by the flood, an area in one Zamoskvoretsky district of about 4 million square fathoms [almost 2,000 hectares] has been flooded. " Later it became known that about 25 thousand houses were damaged, and the flooded area was 16 square meters. km.

The newspaper “Russkoe Slovo” even somewhat romanticized the flood: “Boats with passengers returning from churches with lighted candles met every minute. Just like on the Grand Canal in Venice. Only there were no serenades. The boatmen transported people who could not get there on their own - and became the heroes of the postcards.

“The picture of the river between Moskvoretsky and Kamenny bridges was especially beautiful. On the one hand, the Kremlin walls, brightly illuminated by the electric lamps of both bridges, were drowning in the water, on the other, beautiful houses and mansions of the Sofiyskaya Embankment were reflected in it,”Russkoye Slovo also wrote.

Wealthy merchants immediately created a fund to help the victims, and very quickly a fundraiser was also organized. On holidays, people willingly donated money - all the more, many people gathered for services in churches and the money was collected quickly.

Another postcard issued after the flood depicted the inhabitants of Ushakovsky Lane (in the present-day Khamovniki district). They climbed onto the roof during the flood - and celebrated Easter right there.

Eyewitnesses also said that the water of the Moskva River turned yellow - a flood flooded a chemical plant and large stocks of yellow paint dissolved in the water. The foundations of some houses remained yellow when the water subsided.

More than 100 km of streets were flooded with water - in the photo one of the streets of the Zamoskvoretsky district of Moscow. The losses from the flood were enormous - for example, the Gepner Sugar Factory was damaged. As a result, more than 5 thousand tons of sugar (350 thousand poods) were found in the waters of the Moscow River.

The water rose in some places by more than 9 metro. The place of folk festivities - Vorobyovy Gory - is also flooded, it is clear that water flooded the wooden houses right over the roof. The photo was taken from the side of the Novodevichy Convent.

Flooded streets of the Yakimanka district, not far from the Kremlin. The nearby Tretyakov Gallery was miraculously saved - a brick wall was built around it.

“On the first day of Easter, Moscow was plunged into darkness. The electric station was flooded, and only on the second day of the holiday did they manage to transfer the cable from the city station and illuminate Tverskaya and three theaters: Korsha, International and New, and the morning performances on the second day did not take place, Russkoye Slovo wrote.

With this view of Bolshaya Dorogomilovskaya street, even a postcard from the series “Historical Moscow. Stories of Moscow Life.