Flood Details - 1909-01-04 - 1909-01-07

Several washouts were reported on the Inter-Colonial and Canadian Pacific Railways. These were at Rothesay, Chatham Junction, Fredericton, and Clarendon, Queens County. Another washout was reported at Tay Creek in the Nashwaak River Basin. Nashwaak River Basin: An ice jam near Penniac resulted in flooding of the I.C.R. railway line to depths as great as four feet [1.2 m]. Piles of large ice blocks, up to three feet [0.9 m] in depth, had to be removed from the tracks after the floodwaters receded. Kennebecasis River Basin: In Kings County, 14 bridges were damaged or destroyed between Sussex and Saint John. Among these were the Stony Brook Bridge, Ryan Bridge and Musquash Bridge, Sussex; Mayes Bridge, Bell Brook Bridge and Malone Bridge, Studholm; Albert Hill Bridge and Danfield Bridge, Cardwell; Pickwacket Bridge, Norton; and Carr's Bridge, Waterford. In Sussex, Main and Maple streets were reported under water and many residents were isolated from the rest of the town. The road between Sussex and Sussex Corner was reported to be impassible, and O'Connel Park was inundated. Three other bridges damaged or destroyed were the Canaan Bridge, Queens County; York Mills Bridge, York County; and the Chipman Bridge, Queens County. At Norton, flooding resulted in the evacuation of several barns, and the only method of conveyance was by boat.At Waterford, Adair Mill, near the church, was reported to be carried downstream along with its contents. Miramichi River Basin: In the Miramichi River Basin, the ice broke up on the Southwest Branch, at Indiantown between Blackville and Black Rock on the 6th. The ice was piled 10 to 11 feet high [3.0 m to 3.3 m] along the shores of the Southwest Branch. The ice swept away the form work for the piers of a new bridge and tore out the cable crossing the river at Indiantown. The Renous River Bridge was also damaged. The I.C.R. railway line was submerged at McNamee due to an ice jam. Southeastern New Brunswick: At Kouchibouguac, Kent County, both steel spans of the bridge were swept away. The booms and piers of R. O'Leary and Curren Bros. were carried away. A number of families near the river were compelled to evacuate their homes. Atkinson's Store was reported to have lost considerable stock due to water over the first floor. Cattle had to be evacuated from some barns. The highway bridge over the main river at Mortimore was carried away. The breast work of the dam at Cameron's Mill was destroyed. At Coates Mill, the dam broke sweeping away 500 000 feet [1 180 m3] of logs of which most were saved. Flooding along the Buctouche River also caused some damage to the highway bridge at Coatesville. At Notre Dame, C. E. Lockhart's Mill dam sustained damage and logs were lost. Flooding along the Cocagne River also caused damage similar to that of the freshet of March, 1902.

Mild weather and heavy rains on January 5 and 6th caused ice to run and possible ice jam.

Southeastern New Brunswick: The freshet was reported to be very heavy in Kent County. Nearly 3.5 inches [approx. 96 mm] of rain was reported in less than a 24 hour period.

An unofficial estimate of damage to highway bridges and roads was placed at $100,000.