1929, July 28

The following is a report from the Boulder Daily Camera from August 5, 1955.

CLOUDBURST CAUSED GREAT DAMAGE
IN BOULDER AREA 36 YEARS AGO.

"Thirty six years ago Boulder and much of northern Colorado was recovering form a cloudburst that struck first at Lyons the afternoon of July 30, then Boulder the following afternoon and night. The "Switzerland Trail" railroad bed in Four Mile canon was so badly damaged that the railroad, which was seeking permission to discontinue, never ran again. 'Both Boulder creek and its south tributary overflowed their banks in places', said the Camera of August 1. 'Water in Boulder Creek reached the height of the retaining walls at the 12th St. bridge. Dry gulches, noticeably that of Gregory and its tributaries, became raging torrents. Water ran in streams down Boulder streets and across University hill lawns and sidewalks.'

"Rain fell throughout the night. The storm in Boulder broke at 5:30 and grew in intensity until 7 o'clock when it became a veritable cloudburst which continued until 9. The rain continued to fall practically all night. The heaviest rain fell in the front foothills. Mr. Ford of the Denver-Boulder and Western railroad was told there was very little rain above the Gold Run mine in Four Mile canon. Bummer Gulch was the storm center. The wall of the new road up that gulch from Boulder canon was washed out. The article said 4.8 inches of rain fell. Three hundred feet of interurban track was washed out across South Boulder, two miles east of Boulder. A Colorado and Southern freight train's engine tender and seven coaches were wrecked near Marshall.

"Streets and Lawns Badly Damaged. City Engineer Salter placed an estimate of $4000 on the damage to roads, bridges and culverts in Boulder. Principal damage was on 10th St. from the Chatauqua to University avenue; 12th street from University avenue to Arapahoe. A large section of the Armstrong bridge in Gregory canon was washed out and 150 feet of Baseline in front of the Chatauqua golf course was covered with rock and gravel. Cement sidewalk across Gregory ditch on Marine was washed out. 'Reports of the flood attracted large crowds to all parts of the affected district' the Camera reported. 'The most interesting place from a spectacular standpoint was at 9th and Arapahoe. The water filled the cement ditch that runs through Highland school lawn and made an inspiring appearance as it sprayed up over the artistic bridge recently constructed for Riverside Drive. The bridge diverted the water across the new lawn, that has been the object of much admiration, onto 9th St., badly damaging the road." Daily Camera, August 5, 1955, referring to Daily Camera article of August 1, 1929

Information compiled by Elizabeth Black.