Nanticoke Flood Area (Wilkes-Barre, Hazleton, Hanover: amusement parks, house, neighborhoods)

[Jungle George]

Hi!! I currently live in Florida and am looking to retire in the Nanticoke area. My question, if any out there can give some help, is how high did the flood waters reach when hurricane Agnes stalled in '72??

Here in Fla I live on a small island in the intercoastal and am at 14 feet above sea level (high for the coast) but do not want to look in an area of Nanticoke that flooded out since Mother Nature has a way of repeating herself!! I remember as a kid visiting my grandmother in Honeypot area that at a point around Main st and the railroad tracks the town started up a hill with a church, funeral parlor, cemetary and some nice homes.

By looking at a map of Nanticoke, so much has changed since then I am not sure where things are....also heard San Souci is gone too!!

If anyone can give some guidance I would appreciate it!!
Thanks & Happy Holidays!!!

[PAman]

From what I recall from my last visit to nanticoke, the neighborhoods up by nanticoke high school and pope john paul II appear high enough where the floodwaters wouldn't be a big problem..I assume you already know that Nanticoke is not the most diverse place on earth, pretty much everyone there is Polish,Slovak or Irish(small percentage).

[ScranBarre]

Nanticoke was never affected by the 1972 Agnes Flood. The eastern bank of the Susquehanna River in this area is too high to promote inundation; however, West Nanticoke is quite low-lying, and Route 11, the main thoroughfare through this quite hamlet, floods whenever the river reaches a height of just 27 feet (The flood this past June had a crest of over 34 feet, just to put that into perspective). At 28 feet, Route 11 becomes impassable, and other nearby streets on the west side start to flood. At 35 feet, the Dundee section of nearby Hanover Township floods, and at 41 feet, Wilkes-Barre would be submerged. Nanticoke, thankfully enough, is "high and dry."

[WasPA]

Originally Posted by Jungle George

Hi!! I currently live in Florida and am looking to retire in the Nanticoke area. My question, if any out there can give some help, is how high did the flood waters reach when hurricane Agnes stalled in '72??

Here in Fla I live on a small island in the intercoastal and am at 14 feet above sea level (high for the coast) but do not want to look in an area of Nanticoke that flooded out since Mother Nature has a way of repeating herself!! I remember as a kid visiting my grandmother in Honeypot area that at a point around Main st and the railroad tracks the town started up a hill with a church, funeral parlor, cemetary and some nice homes.

By looking at a map of Nanticoke, so much has changed since then I am not sure where things are....also heard San Souci is gone too!!

If anyone can give some guidance I would appreciate it!!
Thanks & Happy Holidays!!!

Nanticoke only floods in the lower area.....lower Broadway, well away from most of the city (I refer to its as a city because it is one...there were over 30,000 people in Nanticoke which isn't the case these days; it isn't thriving...Main St. has few stores---the Leader Store has been gone for some time, as has Neisner's, etc. and the State Theater was leveled a while ago.....

What caught my eye was your mention of Sans Souci park being gone...the site is now occupied by Hanover Township HS...I loved Sans Souci!!--the wooden coater (the "Bear Cat" ) remains one of my faves.....the dark ride, the Wild Mouse and rare "Tumble Bug" ; what great memories...even Neil Diamond sang there back in the day when getting his career started as did many big names....Hanson's park at Harvey's Lake is long gone...Sans Souci was the better park, however.....

[phoebe64]

I've been surfing & surfing looking for info on Sans Souci Park in the 50's & 60's. I really came of age at the dances they used to have there. Does anyone have any links I could follow about this. It was such a part of my growing years. I loved that park! Also would love any memories or info/links about Sandy Beach at Harvey's Lake.

[Polaris]

Boy I loved San Souci Park! I miss it so much. I remember all our school picnics were there. I have one or 2 pictures of it but that is about all.
I remember Sandy Beach to. Thats where my father taught me how to swim.
And you can't forget Angela Park in Hazleton when you talk about parks.

[ashley19]

Originally Posted by phoebe64

I've been surfing & surfing looking for info on Sans Souci Park in the 50's & 60's. I really came of age at the dances they used to have there. Does anyone have any links I could follow about this. It was such a part of my growing years. I loved that park! Also would love any memories or info/links about Sandy Beach at Harvey's Lake.

I have several books on the San souci that were in the house I bought. If there is anythng I can look up for you, I will be happy to do so. You may find more info at a library then on line.

I could not find much on the net about the park. The best one I found was http://www.course.wilkes.edu/ed360/discuss/msgReader$246?mode=topic. There are not pics though. Another link - http:NEPA Defunct Park List - NEPA Lost Amusement Parks has limited info on several parks but nothing on Sans Souci. Unfortunately, I was not born when it was around but heard many stories from my mom.

[ashley19]

WOW! I must really be brain dead today. I just remembered that the books were from the Agnes flood not Sans Souci Park. I know my mom has one book that was written by Chiesla (?spelling) who is a local resident. She had a hard time finding it because there were a limited amount of copies. I will ask her to borrow it though.

[Vagus]

Originally Posted by Jungle George

Hi!! I currently live in Florida and am looking to retire in the Nanticoke area.

Ummmm, don't you have this backwards?