On June 18,1949 the town of Stokesville felt the wrath of a truly devastating flood.  After heavy rains the Staunton Dam, about five miles from the town, gave out causing damage throughout Augusta and Rockingham Counties. Stokesville received the brunt of the run-off from the North River. Close to fifty buildings in the town were destroyed inlcuding homes, outbuildings, and businesses. Many of the abandoned buildings and structures of the town's boom years were destoryed in the flood, leaving little remaining of the original town. Over the next several decades the area faced similar although less destructive floods resulting in a flood protection project up river from the town.