1913 Chromolithograph View of the Dayton, Ohio Flood and Fire

This is a dramatic 1913 George Ring chromolithographic view of Dayton, Ohio, in the midst of the Great Dayton Flood of 1913 - one of the worst natural disasters in United States history. As a product of lithography, this is a rare example of a lithographic city view printed outside one of the great centers of American lithography by otherwise little-known makers.

A Closer Look

The view looks east on Dayton from a high point above Williams Street. The streets are inundated with water and debris - including whole houses swept along in the tide. In the middle and background, huge explosive fires, ignited from gas leaks, further devastate the city. The view exhibits the drama and terror of an artist either sketching the event from life or in its immediate wake when the memories remained vivid.

Dayton Flood of 1913

The Dayton Flood of 1913 (March 23 - 27) was one of the most catastrophic natural disasters in U.S. history, devastating the city of Dayton, Ohio, and the surrounding Miami Valley. Triggered by relentless rainstorms that dropped 8-11 inches of rain over 5 days, the flooding overwhelmed the levees of the Great Miami River and inundated downtown Dayton with up to 20 feet of water. The disaster killed 360, displaced 65,000, and caused damages estimated at over $100 million (billions today). Explosive fires ignited by gas leaks compounded the chaos. The flood exposed the inadequacy of regional infrastructure and led to the creation of the Miami Conservancy District in 1914, one of the first large-scale flood control systems in the United States. This engineering feat, comprising a series of dams and levees, successfully protects the region to this day.

Chromolithography

Chromolithography, sometimes called oleography, is a color lithographic technique developed in the mid-19th century. The process uses multiple lithographic stones, one for each color, to yield a rich composite effect. Generally, a chromolithograph begins with a black basecoat upon which subsequent colors are layered. Some chromolithographs used 30 or more separate lithographic stones to achieve the desired effect. Chromolithograph color can be blended for even more dramatic results. The process became extremely popular in the late 19th and early 20th centuries when it emerged as the dominant method of color printing. The vivid color chromolithography made it exceptionally effective for advertising and propaganda.

Publication History and Census

This view was drawn by George Ring, a Dayton resident, and published in Dayton by Kling Lithography. We note several states with slightly different color schemes, including 2-color (as here), 3-color, and 4-color models. Some versions of the view feature additional text below the image that reads 'now being rebuilt with a vigor...' In the present example, this text is visible as a ghosted image below the title. This view is a great rarity. We note an example in the Library of Congress, two others in Ohio institutions, and at least two in private hands. All exhibit slight variations in color and printing. Otherwise, it is unknown.