When the River Took the Town: The Littleton Flood of 1936
Joshua Smith
January 08, 2026
In March of 1936, the people of Littleton, New Hampshire learned just how quickly a familiar river could turn into a force of destruction. After a long winter, heavy snowpack, and days of warm rain, the Ammonoosuc River rose fast — faster than anyone expected. What followed became one of the most damaging floods in Grafton County’s history.
The winter of 1935–36 had been severe, with deep snow across the North Country. When temperatures suddenly climbed in mid-March, melting snow poured into already swollen waterways. Then came the rain. As runoff surged down from the hills, the Ammonoosuc pushed past its banks and into downtown Littleton.
By the time the river crested, streets near the water were submerged. Businesses along Mill Street and surrounding areas took the brunt of the damage. Basements filled, stock was ruined, and bridges were threatened. Residents watched from higher ground as familiar storefronts sat in muddy water, their windows dark and silent.
Rail service — the lifeline of many northern towns — was disrupted as tracks were damaged and approaches washed out. Power and communication lines failed in places, leaving parts of town cut off. The flood arrived during the heart of the Great Depression, making the damage even harder to bear. Many families and business owners had little savings to fall back on.
Yet, as was so often the case in Grafton County, response followed hardship. Neighbors helped neighbors. Volunteers worked to clear debris once the water receded, hauling ruined goods into the streets and shoveling mud from floors. Local officials coordinated relief, while state and federal aid slowly followed.
The flood of 1936 was not unique to Littleton — rivers across New England overflowed that spring — but its impact here reshaped how the town thought about flood control and river management. In the years that followed, attention turned toward dams, improved bridges, and better planning along riverbanks. The disaster became a reference point, often mentioned whenever high water threatened again.
For older residents, the memory lingered for decades. Stories were passed down of boats moving through streets, of water lapping at doorsteps, of the sound the river made when it finally broke free of its bounds. It became part of Littleton’s shared identity — a reminder that even a well-known river demands respect.
Today, when the Ammonoosuc flows calmly under the bridges, it’s easy to forget what happened in 1936. But the town remembers. The flood left marks not just on buildings, but on how Littleton prepared for the future.
It was a hard lesson, learned in cold water and mud — and one that shaped the resilience of a community that refused to be washed away.
Sources
• The Littleton Courier, March–April 1936 flood coverage
• History of Grafton County, New Hampshire, county historical accounts
• New Hampshire State Library, records on the 1936 New England Flood
• U.S. Geological Survey, historical flood data for the Ammonoosuc River
The winter of 1935–36 had been severe, with deep snow across the North Country. When temperatures suddenly climbed in mid-March, melting snow poured into already swollen waterways. Then came the rain. As runoff surged down from the hills, the Ammonoosuc pushed past its banks and into downtown Littleton.
By the time the river crested, streets near the water were submerged. Businesses along Mill Street and surrounding areas took the brunt of the damage. Basements filled, stock was ruined, and bridges were threatened. Residents watched from higher ground as familiar storefronts sat in muddy water, their windows dark and silent.
Rail service — the lifeline of many northern towns — was disrupted as tracks were damaged and approaches washed out. Power and communication lines failed in places, leaving parts of town cut off. The flood arrived during the heart of the Great Depression, making the damage even harder to bear. Many families and business owners had little savings to fall back on.
Yet, as was so often the case in Grafton County, response followed hardship. Neighbors helped neighbors. Volunteers worked to clear debris once the water receded, hauling ruined goods into the streets and shoveling mud from floors. Local officials coordinated relief, while state and federal aid slowly followed.
The flood of 1936 was not unique to Littleton — rivers across New England overflowed that spring — but its impact here reshaped how the town thought about flood control and river management. In the years that followed, attention turned toward dams, improved bridges, and better planning along riverbanks. The disaster became a reference point, often mentioned whenever high water threatened again.
For older residents, the memory lingered for decades. Stories were passed down of boats moving through streets, of water lapping at doorsteps, of the sound the river made when it finally broke free of its bounds. It became part of Littleton’s shared identity — a reminder that even a well-known river demands respect.
Today, when the Ammonoosuc flows calmly under the bridges, it’s easy to forget what happened in 1936. But the town remembers. The flood left marks not just on buildings, but on how Littleton prepared for the future.
It was a hard lesson, learned in cold water and mud — and one that shaped the resilience of a community that refused to be washed away.
Sources
• The Littleton Courier, March–April 1936 flood coverage
• History of Grafton County, New Hampshire, county historical accounts
• New Hampshire State Library, records on the 1936 New England Flood
• U.S. Geological Survey, historical flood data for the Ammonoosuc River
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