Wellfleet Public Library

The Hurricane of 1938

The storm came without warning. On September 21, 1938 everyone went about business as usual, expecting just another rainy day. By evening Norwich had been battered by 120 mph winds, rivers surged over their banks, and a tidal wave raced up the Thames leaving Franklin Square under 10 feet of water.

Bridges and dams washed out. Streets were blocked with downed trees and roofs. The Rose City was devastated. The 1938 Hurricane still remains the most destructive storm in New England history. Chris Wisniewski and The Norwich Bulletin partnered on this book on the 1938 Hurricane in 2013, to commemorate the 75th anniversary of the storm. The book contains personal accounts from over 65 residents of Norwich and the surrounding towns and over 60 photographs, many never published before. Experience the storm through the eyes of the people who lived through it.

Chris Wisniewski is the founder of Saving Stories, a personal history business dedicated to preserving memoirs, milestones, and personal history. She works to help individuals, families, businesses, and non-profits preserve their stories and memories. She lives in Wellfleet.

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