Penny Moore (front, wearing hat), owner of Tabletop Puzzles & Games, and employees move store items from the U-Haul back to the 106 Front St. location. (Photo by Kristen Heinkel)
MARIETTA — Signs of life are returning to Marietta as store owners return to their shops on Front Street after last week’s flooding.
Penny Moore, owner of Tabletop Puzzles & Games, was moving items back to 106 Front St. She said the main store didn’t get any damage, just the basement. She said she took all the items out of the store on Wednesday and returned on Sunday.
“We got a lot of help from friends, strangers and volunteers,” she said.
However, Charlie Clay of Dad’s Primitive Workbench said the flood was “destructive” to him and his co-owner and wife Stephanie due to water damage in the back room and showroom.
“We had four inches of water in our back room and two inches in the showroom. We just had new carpet installed in our showroom in December. We had also received new inventory a day or two prior,” he said.
Water levels on the banks of the Ohio River next to the Lafayette Hotel have dropped. As of 6 p.m. Sunday, the river was measured at 27.83 feet by the National Weather Service at the Marietta pump. (Photo by Kristen Heinkel)
Charlie Clay said between the damage to the store’s interior and being closed for a week due to flooding, the store took a financial hit. However, he also said he is grateful to the city of Marietta for helping the store owners.
“The city of Marietta gets all my flowers. They worked so hard for our blocks. Once we had water in the building, they brought in a pump and ran it all night.” he said.
Charlie Clay said he was also impressed by the number of volunteers who offered to help as he and Stephanie cleaned up the store Tuesday in preparation for the flood.
“It’s crazy how many people have come out to help. We had enough help between our staff and contractors, but we felt supported.” he said.
Charlie Clay said shops like Dad’s Primitive Workbench don’t just need support during disasters like floods. Communities can show their support in other ways.
City of Marietta work crews used excavators, dump trucks, water spray trucks and giant brushes to clear mud off Virginia Street Saturday afternoon. The receding Ohio and Muskingum rivers left streets throughout the city covered in a layer of slick mud. (Photo by Art Smith)
“When these stores are open, please show yourself to them” he said. “If you can’t afford it, it’s absolutely free to share a post on social media letting people know the stores are open.”
Local volunteers were also distributing supplies Saturday to help anyone affected by the flooding. Belpre Church of Christ assisted community members by distributing flood supplies from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday. Items include clothing, cleaning products, food boxes and baby supplies.
The church initially received $80,000 worth of supplies from the Tennessee Church of Christ Disaster Center.
They gave some to Marietta, Belpre and Reno police and fire departments to distribute on Friday. As of Saturday afternoon, Jim Nolen, director of Belpre Church of Christ, estimated they had distributed supplies to help 300 families.
Nolen said there is still some stock left. Those interested can call the church on Monday and a secretary will put them in touch with someone to pick them up.
Kristen Heinkel can be reached at [email protected]
Gretchen Dowler can be reached at [email protected]
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Penny Moore (front, wearing hat), owner of Tabletop Puzzles & Games, and employees move store items from the U-Haul back to the 106 Front St. location. (Photo by Kristen Heinkel)
