Winnipauk
Flooding began at the Broad Street Bridge at about 9 pm. This was an area known to flood and police were sent with loud speakers to warn the area residents of approaching danger. Lumber from the Grossman Lumber Company in Wilton got hung up at the Perkin Elmer Bridge causing the river to back up and flood the plant.
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“Our house on Pearl Street used to flood every spring and we would go and tell Mayor Freese that something needed to be done about it. Of course, when we had the flood in 1955 – it really flooded! We had to leave our house for about a week.”
Susan Sulla, 2005
Resident of Pearl Street in 1955
“When the Perkin Elmer management got into the building after the flood, there was early speculation that this might do the company in – there was such widespread damage. The manufacturing plant was under 4 ½ feet of water and the desks were covered with mud and debris.
But the employees came in and started to clean up. It was a massive effort. The wives of the executives came in and helped to wring the water out of the blueprints. It was due to the dedication of the employees that the company got back on its feet and was able to ship the first order in one month.”
Donald Mahon, 2005
Perkin Elmer employee
“I was working at Perkin Elmer at the time of the flood. Since I was a pilot, they asked me to hire a J3 Piper Cub at the Armonk airport and take the company photographer, Eric Haggenberger, up to take pictures of the destruction of the plant from the air.
All employees who returned to assist in the clean-up were administered typhoid shots. The decontamination process was set up on the north side of the plant, using brushes, etc. in washing components with chemically treated solutions. As a matter of fact, Mr. Richard Perkin, co-president, worked right alongside us.”
Jim Congelosi, 2005
Perkin Elmer Employee in 1955