Summertime flooding on the south side, 40 years ago

Pammel Creek on La Crosse’s south side overflowed in July of 1978.  In a day-and-a-half, almost 7 inches of rain fell on La Crosse, according to weatherman James Bagnell.  An Illinois youth drowned near Dresbach, but dragging operations stopped because of heavy storms.  Some cars were stuck in manholes, 28th and Farnam looked like Venice to some, standing water was high at 17th and State in La Crosse, and in downtown Norwalk in Monroe County.  La Crosse’s Ward Avenue bridge was destroyed.  St. Thomas More Church was used to shelter people who had to leave their homes.  Pammel Creek was turned into a concrete-lined waterway after that flash flood. 

Local theater groups had their shows planned for that summer.  The Wisconsin Touring Theatre Company based at UW-L was presenting the comedy “Arsenic and Old Lace,” and the Agatha Christie whodunit “The Mousetrap”…and the La Crosse Community Theatre put on a farce called “Scapino.”  Forty years ago, 1978, yesterday in La Crosse.