6 Friday, June 5, 2020brooklintowncrier.com Brooklin Heritage Society The StormBy Jennifer Hudgins On Wednesday, June 4, 1890, one of the most disastrous storms ever experienced in the history of the town hit Brooklin. Driving wind and pelting rain transformed streets into rivers. Without storm drainage systems, floodwaters took the easiest route downhill to swell Lynde Creek, turning it into a churning torrent, eroding it's banks and carrying away everything in its path. The destruction was widespread. Every wooden bridge was damaged and about half were washed away. Buildings and property were ruined and livestock carried off. Local industries that were powered by water suffered severely. The Toronto Globe and Mail wrote: "Between concession lines, six bridges and roads are washed out in all directions. There is hardly a bridge or mill dam left in the township." Brooklin and Whitby lost all communication as fields flooded and lines were knocked down. The Canadian Pacific Railway line was washed out. Town Council authorized the purchase of a pile driver to construct new bridges while Councillor John Vipond and Deputy Reeve Alex Wilson acquired the necessary cedar. It was estimated the damage to roads and bridges alone would cost over $25,000 to repair or replace, over $70,000 today. Members of the community came together to help repair roads, culverts and bridges or provide materials. Council approved the repayment of money to these individuals for lost wages or for those who used their own materials to help make repairs. The bridge and dam at Lynde Creek on Mill Street, now Cassels Rd., were the first to be replaced due to their proximity to the centre of town and the heavy demand of the Brooklin Mill. Repairs to other bridges and dams quickly followed. By June 7, it was all over. Most of the rain fell on the first two days and after that everyone faced the laborious task of cleaning up. It was described as the worst flood in Brooklin history. Wooden Bridge over Lynde Creek. Photo courtesy of Whitby Archives.