From 1936: Middletown Today Curbs Sightseers

The great flood of 1936 happened 75 years ago, washing away buildings, bridges, and riverfront property in Middletown, and displacing thousands from their homes. Remarkably, I could find no news accounts of any deaths in Middletown as a result of the flood. As the river receded, Middletown became a tourist destination, and authorities were forced to block cars from entering our city.
The following article is from about 75 years ago, published on March 29, 1936, in the Hartford Courant. The photos are from a one-year retrospective pictorial essay published on March 28, 1937 in the Hartford Courant.

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River Bridge Will Be Shut to Pleasure Cars and Main Arteries of City Guarded.
Middletown will be isolated as far as possible from out-of-town motorists on Sunday, as a precaution against a possible serious traffic jam, it was decided Saturday at a conference of police and other officials.

A.R. Collier, superintendent of state bridges, announced the Middletown-Portland Bridge will be closed to all motor traffic except interstate buses and other utilities necessarily using the span. Portland or Middletown residents desiring the use of the bridge must travel by bus, as no cars of any residents of either town will be allowed to cross. Today, one-way traffic was maintained, pending completion of repairs to the bridge. In addition to the bridge, other main arteries to the city will be guarded against an influx of persons eager to see the flooded sections. The rule applies between 11 a.m. and 7 p.m.

Cromwell Bridge Safe.
Similar restrictions against out-of-town traffic and sightseers have been adopted for Portland and Cromwell, Sunday. State Police will assist local officers and the National Guard is enforcing the rules.

An inspection Saturday afternoon of the Little River Bridge on the Hartford-Middletown Road between here and Cromwell by Mr. Collier disclosed the structure had withstood the flood without damage and would be used when the highway is repaired [SHD note: I presume this is the old, defunct bridge across the Coginchaug that is visible from Route 3 just north of Washington Street]. Mr. Collier said shoulders of the road had been washed away in many places and highway department workers, having removed five houses from the highway, were repairing the shoulders so that the road might be opened on Monday morning. The road is the last principal highway into this city closed by the flood. This summer it is to be repaved with concrete and the damage caused by the flood will not delay the work, it was said today.

Cromwell Assured Aid.
A committee of Cromwell officials, which met with State Welfare Commissioner Frederic Walcott and Red Cross officials at Hartford has received assurance that the Town will receive every assistance to rehabilitate the many families affected by the flood.

A Red Cross representative from Washington headquarters is expected Sunday to be in the town to confer with officials and secure a summary of the extensive damage there. It is believed some method will be arranged whereby homeless families will be enabled through Red Cross or government funds to rebuild their lost homes. In all, 141 homes were affected by the flood and at least 10 of them have been swept away.

Rehabilitation work in Middletown continued today, with about 50 families no back in their homes. The cleaning up work is to continue throughout Sunday.