Wayland, MA

Hello Greg,

I was only 8 in 1954 when Carol hit Providence. It was big news to us living in Wayland, MA because so many of out family lived in and around Providence.

I remember little of the hurricane itself; lots of rain and wind, the blowing down of ancient apple trees in our neighborhood, followed by a beautiful clear day, September 3. The Concord River, not more than a short walk from our house had swollen from a minor stream that you walk across, to a raging flood. Some of my friends wanted to go see the river, some of us wanted to see the twisted trees. Two of my four brothers chose the river and died that day, swallowed by a force too great to contemplate. One, sitting on the edge of a quaint concrete bridge, fell into the river, followed by his older brother, trying to save him. He received a medal for his brave and futile gesture which I keep.

I remember the whole day in vivid detail, and the days that followed. Third grade was not my best year. Our family moved on and seemed to recover from the incident, although even fifty years later the memory is still vivid. You don't forget some things,and those things change you forever.

Jeff Lind