Here’s a little story about the ice-jam flood in 1950.
Two gentlemen who lived on our block as children visited us a couple of years ago. (Our block is the 1600 block of Broadview Road in Hillhurst, once called Westmount). They said the ice-jam flood filled all the basements on the block, up to the side door. If you are familiar with 2-storey houses built circa 1912, the stairs to the basement have a landing down about 3 steps and the side door is located there. The water came up to that landing. We have also heard rumors that the flood happened very fast.