In 1936, there was a terrible flood in the Northeast, with about 10 inches of rain falling on a still-frozen ground with a four-foot snowpack. The Blackwater River flows into the Contoocook which flows into the Merrimack River. “The Merrimack Valley experienced some of the worst flooding in all of New England…In total, 87 municipalities in New Hampshire reported at least some level of flood damage… “The Merrimack River crested at a record 68.4 feet in Lowell, MA.” [Wikipedia]
The resulting flood devastated parts of Webster, with the loss of several mills and milldams as well as six of the seven bridges in town.
In 1937, the Army Corps of Engineers started surveying in Webster with the intent of building a flood control dam. This meant the loss of about 1,100 acres of land in Webster, and almost 2,500 acres in Salisbury. So, in addition to the losses in 1936, the town also lost another 15 buildings in this flood control area. Three buildings were moved and the rest either torn down or dismantled to salvage parts.
Webster photos