Guy Krisay can’t help but get nostalgic when he talks about his business. The building that houses Krisay’s Appliance & Bedding in Johnstown, Penn., has survived three major floods in U.S. history. The first natural disaster dates back to the 19th century: Johnstown’s “Great Flood” of 1889 occurred after a dam collapsed due to heavy rains. When rubble accumulated at the Stone Bridge (a historic landmark today), it caught fire and caused the water to back up. The building that would eventually become Krisay’s floated upstream to its present location. The building’s story of survival is in the annals of “Ripley’s Believe it or Not!” It wasn’t until 1979 (and two floods later), Krisay and his dad, Steve, started the appliance business in the steel, iron and coal mining town. May

Join for free to read