Helen Combs Johnson
Grundy Virginia Flood Control Project
This series consists interview releases, invoices and reference material relating to the Klines' work for the Huntington District, Corps of Engineers. Interviews were conducted mainly during the late 1990s with Grundy, Virginia residents, Corps employees, and community planners in connection with the development of a flood control plan in response to the severe flooding of the Levisa Fork of the Big Sandy River in 1977.
Helen Combs Johnson was born on February 7, 1912, in Grundy, Virginia, where she was also raised. She was delivered by her uncle, who was a doctor, in her family home located downtown, where the Combs Building currently stands. Her early childhood was marked by a significant event when the town burned down on Christmas Eve in 1915. Johnson, along with her brother, was rolled up in a blanket and taken to safety by her parents, who managed to save most of their wedding presents before their home was consumed by the fire. After living in several places, her family eventually settled in a house built by her father on a hill above the Flowler Apartments, which was out of town at that time. Johnson's father also built the Rife Chevrolet and the Virginia Mountaineer Building. Throughout her life, Johnson maintained a close relationship with the river, witnessing its ebbs and flows and observing the men letting logs come down the river during the spring rains. Johnson's father, a prominent lawyer known as Big Combs, graduated from the University of Virginia Law School in 1905 and moved to Buchanan County in 1906.
Scope and Content Note
The interview with Helen Johnson provides a rich and detailed account of her life and experiences growing up in Grundy, Virginia, in the early 20th century. The narrative begins with Johnson's birth and early childhood, including a vivid recounting of the town fire in 1915 and the subsequent rebuilding of their home. Johnson also shares her memories of the river and its significance in her life, as well as the role her father played in the community as a prominent lawyer. The interview also includes contributions from Pat Johnson, who shares his experiences of living in Grundy through two floods. He provides a brief account of the 1957 flood, which he experienced as a five-year-old, and a more detailed account of the 1977 flood, which he experienced as a young adult. The interview provides valuable insights into the history and culture of Grundy, Virginia, as well as the personal experiences and memories of its residents.
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