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View of the concrete arch bridge across the Grand Canal. By photographer Walter J. Lubken, February 5, 1909.

On This Day In History…

On Dec. 23, 1883, the Salt River rose 14 feet after what seemed like a never-ending rain, tearing out the dam and headgate of the Grand Canal. The Phoenix Gazette described the flood as “an ocean of water pouring down Salt River.”

View of the concrete arch bridge across the Grand Canal. By photographer Walter J. Lubken, February 5, 1909.
View of the concrete arch bridge across the Grand Canal. By photographer Walter J. Lubken, February 5, 1909.

The Grand Canal had been constructed just five years before, in 1878, by the Grand Canal Company. The canal, which was built on the north side of the Salt River, was one of largest of the nine that makes up the Valley’s canal system.

“It was, probably, the breaking of this dam that caused the tidal wave of four feet breast that is reported to have swept down the river about eight or nine o’clock in the morning,” the Phoenix Gazette continued. “The head gate of Mr. Calderwood’s canal was carried away, and how many more is not known at this writing.”

“To keep the country from flooding the canal was cut where the water would return to the river,” reported the Weekly Phoenix Herald four days later.

The Grand Canal is now considered the oldest original canal on the north side of the Salt left standing.

About Jenn Walker

Jenn Walker began writing for Globe Miami Times in 2012 and has been a contributor ever since. Her work has also appeared in Submerge Magazine, Sacramento Press, Sacramento News & Review and California Health Report. She currently teaches Honors English at High Desert Middle School and mentors Globe School District’s robotics team.

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