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A water main break left Midtown Atlanta wet also a century ago

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In the Atlanta Journal of October 30, 1929, reporters reported good news and bad news. Rejoicing was in the air as WSB Radio prepared to broadcast “the familiar strains of Georgia Tech’s famous football march song, ‘Ramblin’ Wreck'” to a national audience. Halloween was the next day, but scarier was the water main break at Spring Street and 14th Street.

On January 27, 1925, a water main break on a busy section of Marietta Street forced water across the sidewalk.

Credit: AJC Print Archives

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Credit: AJC Print Archives

“One of the city’s largest water mains ‘burst’ and flooded the surrounding area, cutting off the water supply for about an hour,” the Journal reported. “Approximately 100 square feet of flooring on Spring Street was mined and washed away. »

There was, according to the Journal, the usual closing of the floodgates, the opening of others and the scramble to resolve the problem. Although “a limited supply of water was thus made available…the regular flow throughout practically the entire city was affected.”

Pedestrians, automobiles, and streetcars converged on Peachtree Street in downtown Five Points in the 1920s, just as they do today. AJC PHOTO ARCHIVES

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If West Peachtree became an impromptu river when last week’s water main broke, Spring Street was Midtown Lake in 1929. At least temporarily.

“Thousands of gallons poured into the breach, and the intersection of streets was submerged in water for some time,” the Journal noted.

Being that this is Atlanta, even back when the automobile was still somewhat new, the inevitable procrastination began, adding to the misery.

“Traffic was diverted and police were called to restrain spectators,” according to the Journal.

A memoir in the Journal on August 15, 1915 explained how a young person described a broken water main as a problem. "geyser."

Credit: AJC Print Archives

icon to enlarge the image

Credit: AJC Print Archives

As the taps ran dry, citizens vented their frustration on city officials, but without the benefit of social media posts or even local television coverage, something WSB only brought to the city. ‘in 1948. Yet Atlantans of nearly a century ago could thank the late Alexander Graham Bell for giving them the means to contact those responsible.

“Hundreds of phone calls flooded into town hall asking why the water supply was shut off,” the Journal reported.

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