from The Evening Guide  Thursday February 28, 1878
On Friday last this town was visited by one of the most disastrous and devastating floods ever witnessed in this part of the country, destroying thousands of dollars worth of property, and sweeping everything that came a within its reach. The first indications of the flood were received on Friday morning. It had been raining the whole of Thursday afternoon and night, and the waters of the creek had greatly swollen, ice coming down in such large quantities as to cause a jam in the pond just below Walton Street bridge.

About 7 o'clock the jam gave way, causing the water and ice to flow over the banks and run in torrents down Mill and Queen Streets.
On Queen Street the ice came with such force as to tear away a part of Dr Grigg's verandah, and to fill up the street so as to make it literally impassable. At Beamish's Pond they were unable to get the gates of the dam open, and the water not finding sufficient room to escape, had gradually worked its way through the embankment of the Midland Railway. The break gradually became larger, and at three o'clock it was about 300 feet long. By this time the gates of the dam had been raised. At about four o'clock the whole body of ice and water seemed to be in motion and the torrent was getting larger every minute.

Shortly after the water and ice seemed to come down in one mass, tearing up trees, carrying away fences, etc. About the first thing it struck in its course was one of the buildings belonging to Mr Craig's tannery, tearing away one corner so that it fell partially down; a little farther on it came to Barrett's dam, which stood several minutes, but at last gave way, taking with it the new bridge across the creek at that place.

The water had risen so high as to flood Cavan Street, and it was thought every minute that it would take the buildings on either side.
It did a large amount of damage here, breaking in one end of Cummings & McMullen's brick building, filling Wallace's machine shop with ice, water and mud to the depth of three feet, and carrying away all the lumber and two or three wagons. The flood had risen so rapidly as to prevent the workmen in Cummings & McMullen's from escaping, and they had to remain in the shop over night, expecting every minute to have it fall on them, as all the while it shook terribly.

After taking Barrett's bridge and dam, it flooded all the flats as far as O'Brien's Carriage Shop and the property of the Midland Car Works, taking away all the loose lumber, two or three sheds, and every fence, also flooding Lambert's Hotel yard, filling his cellar, and as the water rose it ran down Ontario street, flooding John Walker's Furniture Store so as to cause the furniture and coffins to float around the floor.

On going down farther it filled Herr's cellar, Thompson's harness shop, and even west as far as to flood Clemes & Son's cellar in which he had a large amount of goods stored, and also into Mr F Lockwood's cellar. When the water had got at its highest, the large frame stable at Lambert's Hotel, which was filled with bailed hay, was seen to move from its foundation and float down against the railway bridge, which had stood till now, where it was broken to pieces like a paste board box.

This being too much for the bridge to stand, it broke the irons and heavy rails which held it like so much hoop-iron, and moved off like the Norseman leaving her dock, taking with it the Ontario Street Bridge, and sailed down stream.

At this juncture the family of Alex Perrie, living in the frame house opposite the steps leading to Protestant Hill, seeing the railroad bridge coming and taking everything before it, and expecting that it would come against the house and crush it, rushed out (the water by this time was running over the road at the depth of four feet at a terrific rate, carrying with it ice, timber, lumber, etc), and the mother, with her three children was struggling to get over the road.

It became apparent that she could never reach the other side by her own exertions, and a young man named Alex McCurdy, at the risk of his own life, rushed in and took two of the children from the mother, who got across all right with the youngest child, but Mr McCurdy was struck by something and knocked off his feet, and was carried down the stream. He gained a high place on the bank of Salter's Pond in a very exhausted condition, and one of the children (a little boy three years old) died in his arms. He laid the dead child out of the reach of the water, was thrown a rope and landed safely with the other child. When it became known that the child was drowned, and was lying within sight, the excitement became intense, and large crowds rushed to the scene.

The bridge shaped its course to the building occupied by J A Smith, sweeping about 20 feet of the brick wall of the outer building completely down, and going against Walton Street bridge with such force as to break itself about half way through. Thousands of people had gathered on the streets to see the grand spectacle, and when the railroad bridge went, crowds rushed down Walton Street to see it pass. When it struck it stopped the channel partially up; and the water and ice came out on the road, and gave some of the crowd a drenching.

The Express Office and the old Post office were flooded, the water rising nearly to the top of the counter. The cellars on both sides of the street were filled. The American Hotel was flooded, as were also the stables, where there was a cow, which if left there would be drowned. She was therefore brought to the street through the hall of the hotel. When the immense volume of the water and ice had passed farther down, it filled Queen Street completely, tearing away part of Salter's dam, and a piece of ice broke a large hole in the Water Works building. The bridge below the dam still stands, but is in such a damaged condition that it will require some considerable repairs.

The water flooded all the houses in the immediate vicinity of the Grand Trunk Railway Viaduct, and heaped up huge piles of ice, timber, lumber, etc against the structure. On the other side it demolished about 20 boat houses, destroying many boats, and washing several others out into the Lake. Large quantities of of ice blocked up the roadway here so as to render it impassable. The vessels in the harbour received no injury as far as we can learn.

At 6 o'clock the only available means of communication with Protestant Hill was by the Railroad Viaduct. We learn, however , that some of the 'boys' made a good thing at carrying passengers across the street on their backs. During the evening the flood continued unabated, and it became evident that the fine new brick building occupied by Mr J A Smith would succumb to the very heavy pressure of water and ice which came with such herculean force against it, and about 9:30 Mr Smith was warned to that effect, when the family vacated the building. At 10 o'clock a loud crash was heard and many rushed to the scene from all parts of the town, only to discover that the entire structure had fallen. The wall on the west of the store had been caved in at the bottom and had fallen into the stream, where it was speedily washed away.



from The Times  Dec 18, 1879 page 2
A walk through Lambert’s Hotel, Ontario street, Port Hope, would astonish any one who judged of its size and convenience from its front elevation. It has every convenience suggested by a long experience in the hotel business.

The dining room is large, and being fitted up with dumb waiters from the kitchen, heaters, side-boards, etc., will accommodate a very large number of persons in the course of one day. The bar and cellars are replete with the choicest of wines, liquors, and cigars; the sitting rooms are numerous, convenient and comfortable; the arrangements for the proper carrying on of the dining and bar business are first-class, and comprise large and commodious storerooms, cellars, ice-house, etc., and all of these in the house are presided over by the genial and courteous proprietor Mr. G. W. Lambert, assisted by a staff of bar-keepers, and servants who cannot he beaten in the province in their endeavor to please the patrons of their employer.

And they succeed, for as regards courtesy, attention, and knowledge of the wants of the travelling public and farmers, coupled with ability to do just the right thing at the right time, their efforts have already gained a more than local fame.

The stabling of the Lambert house has always been noted for cleanliness and comfort, and also for amplitude. On Saturday next the new stable, in place of the one washed away by the flood of 1878, will be ready for occupation and consequently the stable room is greatly augmented. The stables and driving sheds of Lambert’s hotel will now accommodate comfortably over 100 horses.

The new stable is to be protected from the ravages of the ice in the spring by a strong breakwater, and in addition to this it is securely bolted down to the rock, so that it will be almost impossible for any but a most extraordinary flood to sweep it away.

It is extremely well-finished, the stalls (which are to be numbered to correspond with the boxes in the storing room) being double planked, and fitted up with the very best facilities for feeding.

The new stable is possessed of a most commodious driveway, and one that will not necessitate turning around the vehicles which are driven into it. It is 50x35 feet, while the dimensions of the old one are 75x30, thus furnishing the most ample accommodation.

A large loft overtops it all, and the stables are certainly very complete, comfortable and conveniently situated.

The proprietor is also going to considerable outlay in the matter of furnishings for the house, and with these facilities at his command there can be no doubt that he will continue to do, as he has in the past, a very large trade. We can confidently recommend Lambert's hotel to all classes of the travelling public.