Day: September 23, 2017

Big Thanks to Richard Tuttle for sending us this documentary

PART 1 OF 4: Documentary by Video Arts Studios

Come Hell & High Water is the story of the Ada, Minnesota flood of 1997 as told through interviews and archival footage.
End Credit Music written by Richard Tuttle and arranged by Karl B. Swenson

The flood of 1997 was both tragic and inspiring. The tragedy of losing power, evacuating homes and leaving our community…the uncertainty of it all. Left on our own, we never would have been able to recover and rebuild.

Yet, our story is also inspiring. Ordinary people did extraordinary things. People from all different walks of life came together for a common cause and what emerged was a stronger sense of community than we ever knew before. It is by no means an exhaustive recount of the Flood of 1997, but is just enough to preserve our story for future generations

Over 145 different individuals, businesses, and organizations funded this documentary. The community came together donating their time, their memories, videos and photographs, to contribute to the documentary’s completion. In addition, many talented area musicians volunteered their time and talent, under the Direction of Richard Tuttle, for the performance of Karl Swenson’s moving musical composition for the flood memorial concert, also included on this DVD.

Psalm 124:1,4-5,8
If the Lord had not been on our side— the flood would have engulfed us,
the torrent would have swept over us, the raging waters would have swept us away. Our help is in the Name of the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth.

Big Thanks to Richard Tuttle for sending us this documentary

PART 2 OF 4: Flood Memorial Concert

Area Musicians come together to perform an original three movement piece for band and choir by Karl B. Swenson: Surging Waters, Community Cracked by Ice & The Aftermath
End Credit Music written by Richard Tuttle

The flood of 1997 was both tragic and inspiring. The tragedy of losing power, evacuating homes and leaving our community…the uncertainty of it all. Left on our own, we never would have been able to recover and rebuild.

Yet, our story is also inspiring. Ordinary people did extraordinary things. People from all different walks of life came together for a common cause and what emerged was a stronger sense of community than we ever knew before. It is by no means an exhaustive recount of the Flood of 1997, but is just enough to preserve our story for future generations

Over 145 different individuals, businesses, and organizations funded this documentary. The community came together donating their time, their memories, videos and photographs, to contribute to the documentary’s completion. In addition, many talented area musicians volunteered their time and talent, under the Direction of Richard Tuttle, for the performance of Karl Swenson’s moving musical composition for the flood memorial concert, also included on this DVD.

Psalm 124:1,4-5,8
If the Lord had not been on our side— the flood would have engulfed us,
the torrent would have swept over us, the raging waters would have swept us away. Our help is in the Name of the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth.

Big Thanks to Richard Tuttle for sending us this documentary

PART 3 OF 4: Memorial Performance Documentary by Karl B. Swenson

Swenson combines 1997 footage from local news stations along with his own drone and digital camera images from 2017 to create a film to accompany his Come Hell & High Water piece at the Flood Memorial Concert

PART 4 OF 4: Civic Leader Speeches
1997 leaders share memories while 2017 leaders share their vision for the community prior to an emotional Come Hell & High Water Memorial Concert