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Schenley chairman Lou Rosenteil chartered an amphibian airplane to carry emergency supplies to the marooned area. Additional supplies were brought to the foot of Ludlow Hill and then ferried to Greendale.
Hilltop farmers donated milk for children.
People all over Greendale opened their homes to refugees, many of whom were complete strangers.
Those who were among the hundreds of people housed at Old Quaker were awakened at 5:30 each morning, given a half hour to dress, and then served breakfast. Because of lack of space, they ate in shifts of 50 people, men first, and then women.
Schulz’s restaurant near the entrance to Old Quaker was also taken over so that workers and others could be fed.
A commissary was established in the Greendale Community Building, better known as the present Police Station on Ludlow Street, and the Red Cross supervised a community kitchen at the A.D. Cook Factory.
Church services were held at both the Old Quaker and A.D. Cook plants.
Works Progress Administration teams went to work almost immediately to erect a “tent city” near Ridge Avenue just outside the then Greendale town limits.
Each 12 by 16 foot tent was set up on a wooden floor and was equipped with a coal cook/ heating stove, and each would accommodate six people.
Safe water was supplied and a makeshift school operated until the city school reopened in April.
A separate cluster of tents was set up at the Diehl Fireworks Factory for African-American families forced from their homes by the flood. Eight of the tents were
occupied by families and a ninth was set aside for religious services. A few families took up residence in small buildings scattered about the property.
Despite the great need, the first families were not moved to the tent area from their temporary quarters in various factories until February 13.
Eventually, the “tent city” grew to 220 units and sheltered about 1000 people.
Miss Annabelle O’Brien was put in charge of a special tent set aside for activities to keep younger people occupied. She was assisted by members of Tri Kappa sorority.
Supervisor Mac Lamphere insisted on proper behavior in the camp, allowing for no drunkenness, fighting, quarreling or gambling. One man was reportedly carted off to jail after he had too much to drink.
An official post office was opened by Postmaster Al Spanagel at Old Quaker on January 25. Several denominations held Sunday church services at Old Quaker and at the A.D. Cook pump factory.
Every church in Lawrenceburg had been heavily damaged and the Union Valley Baptist Church had been swept completely away.
By January 30, there was even a barbershop in operation.
The worst tragedy to hit Lawrenceburg also had its lighter moments.
A twelve-pound fish was reportedly caught on the second floor of a building in Newtown. One Saturday night a live band played for a special dance to which the inhabitants of Tent City were invited.
Above, top to bottom: Baby George Hooten’s life was saved by an improvised oxygen tent constructed by Old Quaker Company employees. Little Georgie is pictured with two of his caregivers, Col. Nanz and nurse Higgins. Doctors and nurses provided typhoid inoculations, repaired broken bones and all measures of medical care; Red Cross relief teams set up a community kitchen at the
A.D. Cook factory; a commissary was set up at the Ludlow Street community building and hundreds of people in Greendale opened their homes to refugees. The Schenley Distillery chairman chartered an amphibian airplane to carry emergency supplies; other supplies were brought to the end of Ludlow Hill and ferried to Greendale.