Arthur Morgan
and the
Miami Conservancy District
Resource Unit
Chad Armentrout
Introduction
As a citizen of the Miami Valley it is important that the students have an
understanding of the engineering feats that keep our Valley safe from flooding. The unit
on Arthur Morgan and the Conservancy District will be broken down into four weeks.
The first week focuses on the geography strand. The students will study maps of
the Miami Valley to learn the interrelationship between the physical environment and
human activity. In the second week of the unit the students will focus on the history
strand. They will learn about the 1913 Flood of Dayton. In the third week of the unit the
students will focus on people in societies. They will explore Arthur Morgan, the chief
engineer of the Conservancy project and the men who helped build the dams. In the
fourth week the students will focus on social studies skills and methods. The students
will draw their own conclusions regarding flood control on the Miami Valley.
Concepts
Flood
watershed
runoff
Mad River
Stillwater R.
Miami R.
Miami Valley
A. Morgan
J. Patterson
Engineer
philosophy
social
Flood-control
legal
Conservancy District
Eminent domain
unprecedented
litigation
Earthen dams
dry dams
hydraulic jump
Levees
revetments
channels
Conservancy Court
conclusive engineering analysis
Reservoir
competence
integrity
Common laborer
skilled labor
unions
Trades
fool proof
TVA
Conservancy Code
Appalachia
human wreckage
Water management
land conservation
Ohio G.A.
Ohio Conservancy Act
revolutionary
Army Corps of Engineers
human fallibility
Content
Arthur Morgan was instrumental in influencing the building of flood control for
the Miami Valley. Morgan brought a new and fresh perspective in the discipline of flood
control. Morgan’s influences included the drafting of legal means of setting up a
Conservancy District, unprecedented study of rainfall and run-off, overcoming opposition
in many forms, dry dams, the hydraulic jump to just name a few. Arthur Morgan was
also revolutionary in his social philosophy. It was here in the Miami Valley that Morgan
put into action a humane social vision for workers. He made sure his workers had proper
housing, labor codes and education for themselves and their families. Arthur Morgan
engineered a flood control project that includes five dams, which stand watch without
human aid to guard against flooding. His five dams have kept the Miami Valley flood
free for the past 80 years. Being a citizen of the Miami Valley it is important that one has
knowledge of the many safety tools that keep our Valley safe.
Objectives
The students will be able to accomplish the following:
1. Identify the geographical area known as the Miami Valley
2. Identify the Stillwater, Mad and Great Miami Rivers
3. Summarize the 1913 Dayton Flood
4. Design own flood control device
5. Label and locate the five dams
6. Justify the cost of building flood control for Valley
7. Explain how hydraulic jump works
8. Analyze Arthur Morgans’ social philosophies
9. Explore one of five dams
10. Compare/Contrast past labor practices in America with Conservancy Code
11. Give opinion of Arthur Morgan
12. Quote Arthur Morgan
13. Rank the five greatest floods in the Miami Valley
14. Memorize names of the five dams
15. List the benefits of the Metro Parks due to Conservancy
16. Pretend you are a common laborer working on a dam site. Describe your day.
Activities
Week 1 Geography
During this week students will look at maps of the Miami Valley. They will learn
the interrelationship between the physical environment and human activity.
Day 1 Geography of Miami Valley
The students will learn concept of living in a Valley.
Day 2 Environment of Miami Valley
The students will study rainfall averages and rain run-off.
Day 3 Population Density
The students will study population density within flood plain.
Day 4 Rivers
The students will study major river systems of the Miami Valley
Day 5 Dams
The students will find and label the five dams using a map of the Valley.
Week 2 History
During week two the students will learn the significant event of the 1913 Dayton
Flood.
Day 1 Conditions for flooding
The students will learn what conditions allowed for flooding in Dayton.
Day 2 Communities Upstream
The students will learn what happened to the communities north of Dayton during
the flood.
Day 3 Dayton’s Experience
The student will learn what happened to Dayton during the flood
Day 4 Rescue Efforts
The student will read stories of rescues during the flood.
Day 5 Answer to Flooding
The student will explore Dayton’s options and final answer for flood control.
Week 3 People in Societies
During week three the students will study Arthur Morgan, his ideas and the work
of his men.
Day 1 Arthur Morgan
The students will study Arthur Morgan and his revolutionary ideas.
Day 2 Common Laborers
The students will explore the day-to-day life of a common laborer on the job of
building dams.
Day 3 Skilled Laborers
The students will explore the day-to-day life of a skilled worker.
Day 4 Farmers
The students will explore the concerns the farmers of the Valley had about flood
control.
Day 5 City Fathers
The student will come dressed to school as either a common or skilled laborer or
farmer of this period.
Week 4 Social Studies Skills and Methods
The students will be able to demonstrate the ability to research, organize, evaluate
and draw conclusions regarding flood control in the Miami Valley.
Day 1 Costs of Flood Control
The students will learn the cost of building dams and decide if it was justified.
Day 2 Metro Parks
The students will learn of the consequences of the dams, our metro parks.
Students will list benefits of parks.
Day 3 Compare/Contrast
The students will compare and contrast the working conditions and rights of
contemporary America with the Conservancy Code.
Day 4 Design
Students will design own flood control.
Day 5 Presentations
Students will present their flood control ideas to class
Evaluation
Unit Test-Arthur Morgan and Conservancy District
Name:________________________________
Fill In the Blank.
1. The three major river systems in the Miami Valley are:
2. The names of the five dams that comprise the Conservancy are:
3. List the benefits of the Metro Parks:
4. Name one revolutionary idea of Arthur Morgan:
Short Essay
1. Summarize the 1913 Flood.
2. Explain the Hydraulic Jump.
3. What concerns did the farmers have about flood control?
4. Summarize Arthur Morgan’s ideas about his working men:
Teacher Resources
Flood of 1913 Collection Dayton and Montgomery County Library
This collection is a historical sketch of the 1913 flood. It is a great summary of the flood
of 1913.
The Miami Conservancy District www.conservancy.com/floodmain.asp
This internet site focuses on the history of the flood protection system. It is explained in
a simple yet informative fashion.
Grand Plans The University Press of Kentucky
This book is divided into sections that explaine the progressivism of the Dayton area at
the turn of the 20th Century. The section on flood control is a great resource for
understanding the epic story of flood control in the Miami Valley.
A Road To Creativity The Christopher Publishing House
This book gives a great account of the life of Arthur Morgan and his creativity.
Student References
Becker, Carl (1988) Keeping the Promise Dayton: Landfall Press
This book provides easy to read account of the Conservancy District with plenty of
pictures.
Bernstein, Mark (1996) Grand Eccentrics Wilmington: Orange Frazer Press
This book explains the story of Arthur Morgan with popular history.
Brentlinger, Dora (1973) Beside the Stillwater Evansville: Page Design
This book gives a detailed history of the Stillwater River region.
Conover, Charlotte (1995) Dayton Ohio An Intimate History Dayton: Landfall Press
This book gives an intimate and easy to read history on the Dayton area.
Eckert, Allan (1965) Time of Terror Dayton: Landfall Press
This book gives an account of the 1913 Dayton Flood
Mayfield, William (2000) Dayton Album Dayton: Viewpoint Pub.
This book provides many photographs and stories of historical landmarks in downtown
Dayton.
Morgan, Lucy (1927) Finding His World Yellow Springs: Kahoe and Spieth
This is a biography of Arthur Morgan.
Ronald, Virginia and Bruce (1996) The Land Between The Miamis Dayton: Landfall
Press
This book gives a detailed history of the Miami Valley in the last two hundred years.
Sanders, William (1963) Dayton Gem City of Ohio Dayton: Dayton Daily News
This book potrays the cities major institutions and its pioneers.
Media References
Video
1913, the great Dayton flood (1997) WSU Theater Arts
Film of play about Dayton flood. Performed by Wright State.
The great flood of 1913 (1993) Miami Conservancy District
A photographic experience of the flood.
Common Ground (1995) Old North Dayton Dev. Corp.
Stories from old North Dayton
Keeping the Promise (1993) Global Village
Story of Miami Conservancy District
Reproducible Activities
Reading in the Content Area Social Studies (2002) Glencoe McGraw-Hill
Offers reading strategies and student activities for American history, World
History, Geography and Civics
Geography Teacher’s Success Kit (1983) Weston Walch Pub.
Guide for teachers that provides a unit format for teaching about individual world
regions.
Games, Activities and Puzzles for Teaching (1987) Stevens and Shea Pub.
Includes reproducible games and activities for teachers to use to promote learning.
The Social Studies Teacher’s Book of Lists (1992) Prentice Hall
Gives a broad range of interesting and challenging information to use in teaching
U.S. and World history.
Social Studies Teachers Survival Kit (1988) Simon and Schuster
Provides a unique store of teaching ideas and activities to stimulate active student
involvement in all seven areas of the social studies
Geography Key Concepts and Basic Skills (1987)
A program to introduce students to basic skills and concepts of physical,
economic, and cultural geography while developing concepts of place and location
Books
Becker, Carl (1988) Keeping the Promise Dayton: Landfall Press
This book provides easy to read account of the Conservancy District with plenty of
pictures.
Bernstein, Mark (1996) Grand Eccentrics Wilmington: Orange Frazer Press
This book explains the story of Arthur Morgan with popular history.
Brentlinger, Dora (1973) Beside the Stillwater Evansville: Page Design
This book gives a detailed history of the Stillwater River region.
Conover, Charlotte (1995) Dayton Ohio An Intimate History Dayton: Landfall Press
This book gives an intimate and easy to read history on the Dayton area.
Eckert, Allan (1965) Time of Terror Dayton: Landfall Press
This book gives an account of the 1913 Dayton Flood
Mayfield, William (2000) Dayton Album Dayton: Viewpoint Pub.
This book provides many photographs and stories of historical landmarks in downtown
Dayton.
Morgan, Lucy (1927) Finding His World Yellow Springs: Kahoe and Spieth
This is a biography of Arthur Morgan.
Ronald, Virginia and Bruce (1996) The Land Between The Miamis Dayton: Landfall
Press
This book gives a detailed history of the Miami Valley in the last two hundred years.
Sanders, William (1963) Dayton Gem City of Ohio Dayton: Dayton Daily News
This book potrays the cities major institutions and its pioneers
Chad Armentrout