Recollections About 1913 Dayton Flood by Ivonette and Harold Miller, 1988

This is an oral history of Ivonette and Harold Miller about their recollections of the 1913 Dayton Flood in commemoration of the 75th anniversary.

This video presents an extended oral history interview with Ivonette Wright Miller, niece of Orville and Wilbur Wright, and her husband, Harold Stuart Miller, focusing on their firsthand experiences during and after the catastrophic 1913 Dayton Flood and on Miller’s personal recollections of the Wright family. The interview was conducted by Brian, Joe, and Tracy Jayne, whose last names are unknown. The interview offers detailed accounts of community life in Dayton before the flood, rescue efforts in the Riverdale area, the immediate aftermath and cleanup, and the collective civic response that led to the creation of the Miami Conservancy District. Interwoven with these memories are Ivonette Wright Miller’s reflections on family life with the Wright brothers, including her vivid recollection of flying with Orville Wright in 1911 at the age of fifteen and her observations on the brothers’ personalities, ingenuity, and family relationships. Together, these narratives provide valuable personal insight into both a defining moment in Dayton’s social history and the private world of the Wright family.