Welcome to Arkham: River Docks & Water Street

Arkham has been forever changed by the “inundation,” a disastrous flood caused by a mysterious storm that seemed to come out of nowhere. The ever-diligent Arkham Historical Society continue to document the changes in the city in the form of new entries for their esteemed Welcome to Arkham. Read on to learn about the Waterfront District’s River Docks and the artificial riverbank and seawall along Water Street.

River Docks

The Waterfront District’s River Docks are the city’s gateway to the North Atlantic, as the slow-flowing Miskatonic River provides the perfect channel to the sea. Overlooking the docks is the Peabody Avenue Bridge, the easternmost bridge out of Arkham’s three bridges. Since the inundation, Arkham’s elite have jested that whoever could raise the funds to restore Rivertown’s wharves should have their name immortalized on the Peabody Avenue Bridge. However, since Miskatonic President James Erwin’s well-known philanthropy and fundraising have resulted in a bridge already bearing his name on the other end of the Waterfront District, the public have teased that James Erwin must spare Arkhamites from a bridge named “Erwin Junior.”

While the docks in the Merchant District can easily accommodate smaller, river-going vessels, the newly rebuilt piers at the Waterfront District are notable for being large enough for ocean ships to berth there—a notable result of the recent catastrophe. After the flooding, it became quite apparent that Arkham’s unique geography had transformed once again, but particularly in this area. After an initial underwater survey by Miskatonic University’s oceanographic department, oceanographers noted that the lower Miskatonic River had deepened significantly. While this new study is still evaluating the scientific reasons for this strange occurrence, it now means that Arkham’s shipping industry can be even more capable than ever as the additional depth allows larger vessels to travel and navigate upriver to the River Docks. Ships from across the globe have come to berth on Arkham’s shores, and freighters traveling all the way from the Black Sea and the Bay of Bengal have moored in Waterfront’s River Docks.

Strangely, the area surrounding the lone island that locals refer to as the “Unvisited Isle” does not share the same increased depth as the rest of the nearby surrounding environment. While the island did sustain incredible flooding, the shallows surrounding the isle still prevent sea-going crafts from docking there and make it a precarious adventure for those seeking to travel further upriver in larger vessels.

Water Street

After the storm surge, the city of Arkham performed all manner of geologic and engineering assessments, attempting to determine whether any of Rivertown could be salvaged, particularly along Water Street, which runs parallel to the river itself along the north bank. Luckily, engineers determined that the area could remain, provided that a new seawall be constructed. With that determination, one of the initial and most pressing projects for Arkham’s reconstruction took shape: an artificial riverbank and seawall along Water Street.

This new, modern seawall allowed for the construction of sturdier warehouses along the street. Cranes and other cargo equipment operate at all hours, lifting crates from freight cars onto pallets, ready to be transferred onto ships or new trains and transported to their next destination. While the River Docks themselves facilitate the heaviest levels of cargo movement in Arkham, the warehouses of Water Street serve as that transitory hub.

With these warehouses established, other businesses and even rowhouses soon followed. Water Street now features a quiet strip of residences and apartment buildings along the seawall, and is notable for its many water towers. Electric lights have replaced gas lamps, making the Waterfront a leading district in modern electric advancements. Citizens can even promenade along the artificial bank and enjoy the sun illuminating the water. A new establishment, the Water Street General Store, has opened, providing a direct competitor to the long-standing Schoffner’s General Store across the river. The store’s owner, German expatriate Hermann Wolff prides himself on providing the newest labor-saving devices for Arkham’s citizenry, in addition to the more typical supplies for keeping a new home. Wolff’s latest acquisitions include an electric chainsaw, a spin clothes dryer, and a “Perc-O-Toaster” capable of making both coffee and breakfast in one solitary, time-saving device.

Not two blocks away from Water Street General Store, signs have already been hung for Romero’s Antique Shop, selling all manner of artifacts and curiosities from across the globe and sourcing unique colonial furniture for those admiring American Revolutionary War era pieces.

Text by A.P. Klosky.