5 Things That Happened on March 11th in History (Plus a Bonus Event for Utica, NY)
1. The Great Flood of 1936 Begins (1936)
On March 11, 1936, a warm front stalled over the northeastern United States, triggering what would become one of the most devastating floods in American history. After an unusually cold and snowy winter, this sudden warmth combined with heavy rainfall caused rapid snowmelt across New England and the Mid-Atlantic states. The first of two major storms dumped five inches of rain on Maine, New Hampshire, and parts of Vermont, setting the stage for catastrophic flooding.
The 1936 Northeastern United States flood affected communities from Maine to Pennsylvania, including Utica, NY. Rivers throughout the region reached record heights, with ice jams causing significant damage to infrastructure. This natural disaster ultimately claimed 150-200 lives and caused hundreds of millions of dollars in damage (equivalent to about $2.2 billion today).
The flood’s devastation led directly to the Flood Control Act of 1936, which empowered the Army Corps of Engineers to build hundreds of miles of levees, flood walls, and reservoirs that continue to protect communities today.
2. Fukushima Nuclear Disaster (2011)
On March 11, 2011, a massive 9.0 magnitude earthquake struck off the northeastern coast of Japan, triggering a devastating tsunami with waves reaching heights of over 130 feet. The natural disaster caused widespread destruction, but the situation worsened dramatically when the tsunami overwhelmed the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant’s protective seawall.
The flooding disabled the power supply and cooling systems of three reactors, leading to nuclear meltdowns, hydrogen explosions, and the release of radioactive materials. It became the most severe nuclear accident since Chernobyl in 1986 and the only other disaster to be classified as a Level 7 event on the International Nuclear Event Scale.
The Fukushima disaster forced the evacuation of over 150,000 people and sparked global debates about nuclear safety. Japan temporarily shut down all its nuclear reactors for safety inspections, and many countries reassessed their nuclear energy policies in response.
3. COVID-19 Declared a Pandemic (2020)
On March 11, 2020, the World Health Organization officially declared COVID-19 a global pandemic. WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus made the announcement after the disease had spread to 114 countries with over 118,000 cases and 4,291 deaths worldwide.
“We have never before seen a pandemic sparked by a coronavirus,” Ghebreyesus stated during the press conference. “And we have never before seen a pandemic that can be controlled, at the same time.”
This declaration marked a turning point in the global response to the virus, prompting countries to implement unprecedented measures including lockdowns, travel restrictions, and mask mandates. The pandemic would go on to cause millions of deaths worldwide and fundamentally alter daily life, work patterns, and social interactions across the globe.
4. The First Daily Newspaper Published in England (1702)
On March 11, 1702, England’s first daily newspaper, “The Daily Courant,” was published for the first time. Printed by Elizabeth Mallet, it was a single-page publication with two columns that focused primarily on foreign news. The Courant promised to present only facts without commentary, stating it would not “take upon itself to give any Comments or Conjectures of its own.”
This pioneering publication marked the beginning of daily journalism in England and helped establish the foundations of modern newspaper reporting. Though The Daily Courant only ran until 1735, it paved the way for the vibrant newspaper industry that would follow and established important principles of journalistic objectivity that continue to influence media today.
5. Alexander Fleming, Discoverer of Penicillin, Dies (1955)
On March 11, 1955, Sir Alexander Fleming, the Scottish bacteriologist who discovered penicillin, died at the age of 73. Fleming’s groundbreaking discovery occurred in 1928 when he noticed that a mold (Penicillium notatum) had contaminated one of his culture dishes and was preventing the growth of staphylococci bacteria.
This accidental observation led to the development of penicillin, the world’s first antibiotic, which revolutionized medicine and saved countless lives. Fleming shared the 1945 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine with Howard Florey and Ernst Chain, who helped develop penicillin into a usable drug.
Fleming’s discovery fundamentally changed modern medicine, providing effective treatments for previously deadly bacterial infections and launching the antibiotic era. His work is considered one of the most significant medical breakthroughs of the 20th century.
BONUS: The Erie Canal and Utica’s March 11th Connection (1817)
While not precisely dated to March 11th, March 1817 marks a pivotal moment in Utica’s history that would transform the city forever. That month, construction began on the Erie Canal, with Irish immigrants arriving to help build what would become America’s most important inland waterway.
The Erie Canal, completed in 1825, connected the Hudson River to Lake Erie, passing directly through Utica. This engineering marvel reduced the cost of shipping goods by 90% and cut travel time in half, turning Utica into a major commercial and transportation hub.
The canal’s construction and operation attracted thousands of Irish and German immigrants to Utica, dramatically transforming the city’s demographics and cultural landscape. By 1900, Utica’s population had exploded from just 3,000 in 1820 to 56,000, making it the fastest-growing city in New York State during this period.
Today, the Erie Canal remains an important part of Utica’s identity and history. The Erie Canalway Trail offers recreational opportunities for hiking and biking, while the canal’s legacy lives on in the city’s diverse cultural heritage and historic architecture. The Irish Cultural Center in Utica continues to educate local children about the canal’s significance through programs like their “Lunch and Learn” series, ensuring this vital piece of local history is passed down to future generations.
