Thurs 7/13/1933:
…one of the most devastating floods last Friday afternoon [7/7/1933], ever to visit the Bear Creek water shed in Jefferson county. A cloud burst at about 1 o’clock sent a wall of water down Saw Mill gulch leading to Bear creek at Idledale and another raging torrent down Vernon creek, which empties into Bear creek at Mt. Morrison. At Idledale the flood waters were estimated to have been 200 feet wide and with a depth of eight feet as the torrent swept into Bear creek. At Mt. Morrison the Vernon creek water reached a height of about fifteen feet as it swirled down in the narrow passage between business houses and out onto the Main Street and on across to Bear creek, which had already assumed flood stages by the surging water emptied into the creek at Idledale. …
A victim’s gratitude 7/13/33: In the midst:
Threshing water coming down Mt. Vernon caught us in the alley before we could reach the Cliff House. We made it as far as the board fence and held on until the fence gave away, as also did my sister-in-law. I caught her around her neck with my right arm and with my left arm strove to work our way to some sheds, fighting desperately to keep from going into the current which would have carried her into Bear creek.
We were only in the midst of it a few minutes but it seemed ages as I frantically fought to save my sister-in-law from going under the raging water. My strength was exhausted just as the men came to my rescue. So again I wish to extend my gratitude for their assistance.
—Mrs. Gladys Blakeslee
Morrison History 