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Cover of photograph album created by Bob Obenhaus, 2501 Ohio, Topeka, Kansas in 1951. Bob was a high school student at the time and was in the photography club.
Cover photo of Mrs. Obenhaus reading the front page of the July 13, 1951, issue of the Topeka Daily Capital. The headline states "Worst Flood Paralyzes Topeka." She is seated in a chair in a room in their home.
A view of the flooded Kansas river, including a flooded or washed out bridge, possibly a railroad bridge. There is a sign saying Kansas River.
Mrs. Obenhaus is holding the front page of the July 13, 1951, Topeka State Journal. The headline says "Brickyard, Sardou Bridges Go Out." She is seated in an overstuffed chair in a room in her home.
View of flooding. The water in the foreground is apparently overflow from the Kansas River, which is in the background. There is some type of a flooded automobile bridge in the middle of the photo.
This photo shows detail of a metal bridge for automobiles. This view shows the previous view in the background.
This is a view of a flooded road and bridge. Two automobiles and a portion of a billboard are in the foreground as well as debris.
This photo is similar to the previous photo but is shot from a different angle.
Mr. Obenhaus is reading the Topeka State Journal. The date is not visible but the headline reads "Crest Above '03 Forecast On Kaw."
View of Third Street and Kansas Avenue, looking north. Two trucks and a row boat with three men in it are in the middle of the street. A man is also walking in knee high water. Businesses visible include a Budweiser distributor, the "Motor Inn Garage"
This photo shows a flooded Socony-Vacuum Oil Co. Inc. Grain elevators are in the background.
The Atchison, Topeka, and Santa Fe freight depot is shown in the photo with flood water in the foreground.
A flooded street with Ripley's Cleaners and Laundry in the background, as well as what appears to be a bar/tavern. A young boy in a row boat is in the foreground.
Looking northeast from the Capitol dome. A number of business buildings are visible as is the flooded river.
The Obenhaus pet cat Elmer is posed by a copy of the Topeka Daily Capital. The headline reads "Worst Flood Paralyzes Topeka."
This is a view of the AT&SF passenger depot and nearby buildings. Several portions of trains are on the tracks in front of the depot but flooded tracks are in the background.
A view of The Railways Ice company building with flood waters in the foreground.
A concrete bridge, possibly near West First Street.
The Capital City Lumber Yard with lumber strewn in the flood water and a partially collapsed roof on a storage shed.
This view looks north on Kansas Avenue toward the Kansas River. It shows people that have come to the area to view the flood waters. Various cars from the era are parked along the street.
This shows flooded railway tracks in front of the Capital City Lumber Yard building on Curtis Street. The Railways Ice Company is in the background.
Flooded business building exteriors. One is possibly a cement mixing company as concrete mixing truck is visible.
This photo shows Robert Obenhaus reading the Topeka State Journal with the headline "Brickyard, Sardou Bridges Go Out."
This photo looks north from the Capital dome. Various business buildings are visible as is the flooded river.
This photo looks west from the Oakland neighborhood, towards Kansas Avenue. A railroad bridge is right center and silt and sand left by flood waters are in the foreground .
An unidentified flooded street.
Flooded streets in a residential neighborhood.
This view of Third Street and Kansas Avenue, looking a is similar to an earlier view of the businesses in the area-- a Budweiser distributor, the "Motor Inn Garage", the Chesterfield Hotel, and a packing company. Also visible are the Capital City Laundr
This photo is approximately Fifth Street and Kansas Avenue. It includes the Merchants National Bank and the Topeka Post Office, the columned building on the right.
This photo shows the businesses on the east side of the 200 block of Kansas Avenue--Kaw Valley Produce Company, the Fleming Company, and a store that sold Country Club Beer. A pickup is also visible, as are sand bags in front o the buildings.
Flooded railroad yards.
Bill Roberts, first cousin to Robert Obenhaus, climbing on to a box car.
One side of the Atchison, Topeka, and Santa Fe freight depot is shown at the back of the photo. Sand bags are stacked along the wall.
Flooded street in an unidentified residential neighborhood.
Kansas Avenue looking north. Business visible are the Norva Hotel on the left side of the photo and Owl Drugs, first building on the right. The flooded street is visible in the background.
This photo shows the interior of the Obenhaus home. Mr. and Mrs. Obenhaus are listening to radio reports of the flood, while reading local newspapers.
The Merchants National Bank is in the foreground. Flooded streets and the river are in the background.
A crowd of people beside a flooded street.
A flooded street with the Curtis Companies Incorporated (wood work) in the background.
View from the Capitol dome, looking northwest toward the Topeka Boulevard bridge.
Unidentified flood scene.
Looking north on Kansas Avenue. Several bars and a café are visible as are cars parked along the street. People are standing at the edge of the flood waters.
Bill Roberts walking on the top of a box car in a flooded rail yard.
This photo shows detail of a metal bridge for automobiles.
View of flooding, from the left side of a bridge.
View of flooding, from the right side of a bridge.
The Merchants National Bank is in the foreground. Flooded streets and the river are in the background.
View of the flooded Kansas River
The Railways Ice Company building is a the right end of the photo at Curtis Street.
Front view of Atchison, Topeka, and Santa Fe freight depot.
Flooded residential street with a young boy on grass at the left side of the photo.
Looking northwest from Jackson Street and 5th. The police station is on the northwest corner with the radio tower. The Peacock Laundry and other businesses are visible. The spires of a church are visible as is the Topeka Boulevard bridge.
Street level view of a flooded Kansas Avenue, with sand bags piled beside the buildings.
Chicago, Rock Island, and Pacific engine and cars under a bridge.
View of the flooded Kansas River with submerged bridges in the background.
Flood scene along the Kansas River.
Man standing on dry pavement along a flooded street.
Flood debris along a railroad track in Topeka.
Flooded street in front of an unidentified bar. The roof of the building is reflected in the water.
Flooding at the Kaw Paving Company.
Looking north from the dome of the Kansas Capitol building.
Looking north along a business street toward the Kansas River. A car is in the foreground as well as a couple of law enforcement officers.
Bill Roberts and his father John standing beside Chicago, Rock Island, and Pacific railroad engine #1961
A flooded street with several business buildings on each side.
A view of a flooded area with several submerged items in the foreground. There is a bridge in the background.
View of Chicago, Rock Island, and Pacific engine #1916 with several people on tope of the engine and others standing on the ground. It is parked under a bridge.
A view of a bridge with some water on it.
Flooding underneath an unidentified bridge.
Unidentified flood scene with trees on either side of a flooded street or tributary to the Kansas River.
People standing at the end of a blocked off bridge, apparently looking toward the flooding.
Automobiles parked on Kansas Avenue near the flooding.
Flooding next to the Capital City Lumber & Planing Mill, Inc.
Skyline view which includes the Shawnee County Court House
There are four men with a small power boat in the foreground. Businesses visible are Capital City Laundry and Cleaners, a Budweiser distributor, the "Motor Inn Garage", the Chesterfield Hotel, and a packing company.
Vehicles packed along a street near the river. There is a paneled station wagon nearest the camera.
Bill Roberts on a blocked off bridge.
Bill Roberts and another person on a bridge with flood waters in the background.
A view of a flooded creek or tributary to the Kansas River.
Flood scene along the Kansas River.
Flood scene along the Kansas River.
Myers & Co. Inc., Pictorial Yearbook Publishers
View from 5th and Kansas, looking north to where the street is flooded. Merchants National Bank and the U. S. Post Office are visible.
Debris from trees damaged by the flood.
A view of an airplane aloft.
Business street with flooding in the background. Cars are parked along the street and people are viewing the flood. The sign for the Norva Hotel is on the left.
This photo looks north west from the Capitol dome.
Flooded street with an apartment building on the left side of the photo along with a few parked cars.
Flooded street with blockades and sand bags.
A view of an airplane aloft.
A view of flooded railway tracks with several cars sitting in the water. The Railways Ice Co. building is in the left back along with several other buildings and a smoke stack.
Flooded street scene with an Ohse delivery truck.
Two men with a power boat in a flooded street.
A flooded street with several trucks in the street. Businesses visible on the left are Capital City Laundry and Cleaners, a Budweiser distributor, the "Motor Inn Garage", the Chesterfield Hotel. On the right are the Seymour Packing Company and the Tope
Men in a small power boat are in the foreground. Another boat and a truck are visible. There is a road sign for U.S. 75. The Chesterfield Hotel is on the left.
People watching activities on a flooded street. Identifiable businesses include the Fleming Co., Kaw Valley Produce Co., and the Topeka Fruit Co.
View of the Kansas Capitol dome and upper floors.
Apparently a washed out bridge that had a load limit of 9 tons. The flooded river dominates the photo.
A view of dirt and silt next to the river.
Mud in the driveway of a Cities Service gas station. One person is shoveling mud and two gas pumps are visible.
Photo of mud and slit left by the flood at an unknown location.
A 'no dumping' sign dumped debris nearby. The flooded river is in the background.
Flood water, mud, automobiles, and a Blatz Beer billboard.
Three men in front of a road grader.
Dirt and silt from the flood near a storage tank. A grain elevator is in the background on the other side of the river.
View of a man walking on a country road that is covered with flood water at the end of the road.
Debris along the river's edge.
Man standing on a country road with flood waters rushing behind him,
Several people walking along a road that appears to being repaired. Fence poles are being replaced.
A view of the flooded Kansas River.
View of the flooded river with a portion of a fence in the foreground.
Flood scene along the Kansas River.
Flooded fields near the Kansas River. Railroad tracks and power lines are visible.
View of flooding around power lines.
Flooded fields, railroad tracks, and a dirt road. Power lines are also visible.
Flood waters surrounding a wooden barn and farm house.
Image of the barn and farm house from the previous photo after the flood waters has receded some.
Two women and a man walking on a bridge, a portion of which has been washed out.
A view of the flooded river with trees in the background.
Unidentified bridge undergirding and flood water
Another view of the bridge undergirding and a railroad track.
Bridge undergirding, water, mud, and railroad tracks.
A footing from the Topeka Boulevard Bridge and railroad tracks surrounded by water.
Flooded river with trees on the banks.
Railroad tracks and power lines with flooding and silt
View of extensive flood waters with almost submerged power lines.
Later view of the previous image after the flood water had receded some.
View of the flooded river with trees on both sides and, possibly, a submerged bridge.
View of silt left by receding flood waters.
Another view of almost submerged power lines.
Partial view of a frame house after the flood.
Pasture and fence in foreground with flood water in the background.
Pasture and fence in foreground with flood water in the background.
A man and woman standing on a dry portion of a flooded road.
A dark image with trees and sky.
Silt dried and cracked on a road but the road is still flooded in the background.
View of flooding including a railroad bridge with trains parked on it to try to stabilize it. Part of the Topeka skyline is in the background.
Silt and mud covered street with a house in the background.
Bill Roberts and three women on the porch and in the front yard of a home. A porch swing is visible.
A man and a woman standing in a backyard garden after the flood. A clothes line is visible.
A view of a partially flooded garden with a water pump in the foreground. Bill Roberts is standing in the water.
An unidentified backyard showing the results of the flood.
Flooded river with trees on the banks.
Flooded river with trees on the banks.
Partially submerged power lines, probably along railroad tracks.
A later view of the previous image. The flood water has receded leaving the tracks covered with mud.
Partially submerged power lines, probably along railroad tracks, but a different view from the earlier set.
A later view of the previous image. The flood water has receded leaving the tracks covered with mud.
Robert Obenhaus eating a sack lunch and sitting in a wagon/cart.
Part of a dock or destroyed bridge.
This is a view of a washed out bridge. Robert Obenhaus is standing a the front left of the photo.
A number of people walking in an area that had been flooded.
A corral and barnyard after the flood waters receded.
Debris from trees damaged by the flood in front of a house.
A house and out building with a windmill. Dirt/silt is visible on the road.
Two houses with debris from trees damaged by the flood in the yard.
A man and a woman peering into a business--possibly a bar with Drum as part of the name. A portion of the side of the building is collapsed.
A side view of the business in the previous photograph, showing the collapsed side and a large tree on its side next to the building. The business sold Country Club Beer.
An unidentifiable collapsed building at the back of the photo, mounds of dirt and silt, and a building at the right of the photo.
This photo shows a large tree that has fallen across the road. A man and a woman are standing near the tree in the middle of the photo.
This is the Owl Ball Park after the flood. Several small buildings are tipped on their sides. This view is from the exterior of the entry way to the ballpark. A press box is visible.
This is a view of the outfield of the Owl Ball Park from the first base side. The scoreboard and signs advertising Gibbs Clothing, Muehlebach Beer, KTOP radio station, Scott Puffer Chevrolet, The Palace and Ray Beers are visible.
This photo shows the outfield of the Owl Ball Park from the third base side. The field is wet and has debris from the flood. The scoreboard is visible also with advertisements for The Palace, Ira Price Cafes, Scott Puffer Chevrolet, Country Club Beer,
Clean up efforts, perhaps at the rail yard. A road grader is visible.
This photo shows several unidentified buildings and mud left by the flood.
This is a view of mud covered sand bags next to a building. Robert Obenhaus is on the right side of the image.
A man is operating a type of bulldozer to move mud. He is working near what appears to be a loading dock of a brick building.
A small building is tipped over in the foreground of this photo. There is a sign that says "Official City Scale 3 Blocks" to the right. In the background is a business building with a sign for T. I. Brown. Several other buildings are visible.
A flooded yard with a structure in the middle back. Sand bags are on the left side of the image.
This photo shows Melan arched bridge to the right of the image with flood water running beneath it.
A view of the Melan Bridge in the previous photo but the flood waters are higher. A grain elevator is in the background. Debris is piled up around the footings.
Photograph of baseball park with collapsed bleachers and water in the outfield. Several buildings are visible in the background.
A view of the Topeka Boulevard bridge over the river and behind it is a collapsed railroad bridge.
A view of a partially destroyed railroad bridge with several structures on the far bank.
A view of the inside of a railroad bridge spanning the river with flood waters flowing beneath it. Some buildings are on the shore at the far side of the bridge.
This appears to be some sort of an earth dyke with flood waters on the right.
Debris at the side of the river with a duck.
Flood waters in the foreground with a freight train loaded with chunks of stone on railroad cars on the background.
View of water in the foreground, a field, and a freight train in the background.
Robert Obenhaus at an unidentified location.
This photo shows a portion of a collapsed railroad bridge with an automobile bridge behind it. Buildings on what is probably North Kansas Avenue are visible.
A concrete wall with Topeka Water Department on it.
Clean up efforts with a crane putting what appear to be sand bags in a dump truck. A man is standing beside the crane.
Dirt and silt on an unpaved road.
A view of receding water on farm land.
A small crater with dirt and silt from flood waters and some sort of a drain (?).
Two people are standing by piles of sand bags near a railroad track.
Caked silt on the ground in front of railroad ties.
Railroad tracks are the foreground beside a tipped over building. The building under the trees at the back left says River Sand Company.
A view of the tipped over building in the previous photo, taken from the opposite side.
A view of the flooding river in the background and equipment at the right side of the photo.
Railroad ties that appear to be slightly displaced by the flood waters.
This photo shows a portion of the Topeka water plant building.
This photo appears to be of forms build to rebuild a concrete bridge or other structure
A man is working on a road grader that is mired in mud.
A dirt road with receding flood waters in the background. There appears to be a picnic table in the area.
This railroad bridge is being repaired after several sections had been washed away by the flood.
A closer view of the repair work on the railroad bridge.
This photo shows several men working on repairing the railroad bridge that had been damaged by the flood. There is a piece of machinery on the bridge that, perhaps, is placing "piles" for the bridge structure.
A view of a Conoco Oil storage facility. Several of the storage tanks are tipped over.
This photo shows a damaged buildings at a railroad crossing. The buildings, possibly, are part of a grain elevator.
A house damaged by the flood. The wall of the first floor is gone and there is a great deal of debris in the yard. A portion of a picket fence is still standing.
This photo shows furniture that has been removed from the house to the front yard. The porch of the house is visible as is debris in the front yard.
This photo shows a house with extensive flood damage.
This image, possibly, is a house that collapsed. The roof and part of the eaves are intact.
Bob Obenhaus standing at the corner of the 500 block of Topeka Boulevard. A roof with no walls is on the ground beside him and part of it is in the street.
A house with a collapsed porch roof. The porch railing is still intact but there is debris in the yard.
A house that is mostly intact but with lots of debris from trees around it.
A close up view of the previous house, showing damage to the walls and debris in the foreground.
A pool of flood water surrounded by ground.
Sage Grocery located at the corner of Gordon and Central Avenue. The front of the store has been removed in order to make repairs.
Workers and equipment are in front of a Ben Franklin store which is next to Cora's Café and a bar selling Budweiser, probably on North Kansas Avenue.
A small white hamburger stand tilted on its side with mud in the foreground.
A Safeway grocery store with the front windows removed.
A view of debris around the Melan Bridge with industrial buildings in the background.
A structure (garage?) destroyed by the flood. On the left is a vehicle partially submerged in mud.
Debris from a structure that may have been an A&W Root Beer stand or a building that had an advertisement for A&W on it.
A two story house with one wall gone. A one story wing is still attached.
A small house tipped on its side.
A close up of a partially destroyed house.
A collapsed out building with the roof intact. A two story home is in the background.
A muddy street in a residential neighborhood.
A collapse garage in front of a two story house. Two people are standing by the garage roof.
Interior view of furniture damaged by flood water in an attic
Another interior view of damaged household items.
Bill Roberts and a woman looking at flood damage inside a home.