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Description
In the Shadow of the Dam: The Aftermath of the Mill River Flood of 1874Early one May morning in 1874, in the hills above Williamsburg, Massachusetts, a reservoir dam suddenly burst, sending an avalanche of water down a narrow river valley lined with factories and farms. In just thirty minutes, the Mill River flood left 139 people dead and 740 homeless and a nation wondering how this terrible calamity had happened. In this compelling tale of a man made disaster peopled with everyday heroes and arrogant scoundrels,
Early one May morning in 1874, in the hills above Williamsburg, Massachusetts, a reservoir dam suddenly burst, sending an avalanche of water down a narrow river valley lined with factories and farms. In just thirty minutes, the Mill River flood left 139 people dead and 740 homeless -- and a nation wondering how this terrible calamity had happened. In this compelling tale of a man-made disaster peopled with everyday heroes and arrogant scoundrels, Elizabeth Sharpe opens a rare window into industry and village life in nineteenth-century New England, a time when dam failures and other industrial accidents were widespread and laws favored factory owners rather than factory workers. In the Mill Valley, the townsfolk depended upon generally benevolent patriarchs who assured them that the dam was safe, when most people could see that it was not. The story of the Mill River flood is the story of those townsfolk: of George Cheney, the dam keeper whose repeated warnings about leaks in the dam had been ignored by the mill owners; of his wife, Elizabeth, who watched in disbelief as the dam burst open from the bottom; of Isabell Hayden, the mother who saw her young son swept away in the river's torrent; and of Fred Howard, a box maker who spent the days after the flood searching for bodies, burying friends, and waiting to see if the button factory he relied upon for his livelihood would be rebuilt. It is also the story of the well-meaning but overconfident businessmen who built the dam: of Onslow Spelman, the manufacturer who dismissed the dam keeper's flood warning, irrationally insisting that the dam could not break; of Lucius Fenn and Joel Bassett, the engineer and contractor whose roles in the construction of the dam would be questioned during the public inquest into the causes of the flood; of William Skinner, the factory owner who struggled to decide whether or not to rebuild his silk factory in the village that bore his name; and of many others. The flood highlighted class divisions between worker and owner, as well as the disorganized state of professional engineering, then still in its infancy. As the flood exposed the dangers of allowing mill owners -- who were not trained engineers -- to design their own dam, legislation to regulate the building of reservoir dams in Massachusetts was enacted for the first time. Engineers, politicians, and business owners battled over control of the reform measures to prevent similar tragedies, yet saw them continually repeated. In the Shadow of the Dam is the story of an event that reshaped a society. Told through the eyes of villagers like Collins Graves, lauded as a hero for his desperate ride through the valley to warn people of the impending flood, and industrialists like Joel Hayden Jr., entrusted with the responsibility of disaster relief despite his culpability in failing to maintain the leaking dam, In the Shadow of the Dam is a history of our uneasy relationship with industrial progress and a riveting narrative of a tragic disaster in small-town Massachusetts.Binding Type: Paperback
Publisher: Free Press
Published: 08/10/2007
ISBN: 9781416572640
Pages: 304
Weight: 0.99lbs
Size: 9.00h x 6.00w x 0.68d
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4.4 ★★★★★
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Product Reviews
★★★★★ 4
Good tray
Color: Black, Color: Black
Build
These rectangular valet trays are perfect for placements on nightstands, sofas, end tables, etc. They are very compact and unobtrusive. Their size is ideal for holding daily essentials without taking up excessive space, and blending seamlessly with various decor styles.
Material
Constructed with a soft and durable synthetic surface, the tray is gentle to the touch and provides a wipeable and easy to clearn finish. The black color complements any decor and the materials prevent damage to surfaces they are put on.
Functionality
These trays serve as excellent catch-alls for remotes, phones, earbuds, glasses, jewelry, watches and other small items, helping keep sofas, nightstands and tables organized and clutter-free. The sturdy, level construction ensures stability, and the trays hold essentials like phones, TV remotes, and personal accessories effectively.
Value for Money (VFM)
Given their functionality, design, and affordability, these valet trays offer good value. They enhance organization without compromising style and are suitable for various rooms in the home. Will definitely recommend them.
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Reviewed in the United States on September 30, 2025
★★★★★ 5
Looks luxe
Color: Green
Love this for my vanity. A good size, great quality and the deep green is perfection.
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Reviewed in the United States on March 31, 2026
★★★★★ 5
Great quality
Color: Black
I was really surprised by the quality. It's very nice and larger than what I thought perfect to organize a bathroom or room
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Reviewed in the United States on February 5, 2026
★★★★★ 5
Great tool for organization
Color: Beige
Ahhh perfect for my hubby who loses remotes daily! Sleek and good quality
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Reviewed in the United States on January 17, 2026
★★★★★ 5
Works great, good quality and colors
Color: Beige
Just love this remote control holder. Have two in the living room, two in the bedroom and gave some to our children. Sure beats the mess of having remotes laying all over the furniture. And at night I can reach for a remote to change the height of my adjustable mattress in the dark, because I know the location right at the beginning of the holder. Pretty colors and blending with furniture well. Built to last and perfect size.
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Reviewed in the United States on November 15, 2025