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“The most famous snowstorm in American history, the Blizzard of 1888, has acquired an almost legendary status. Although there have been many heavier snowfalls and significantly lower temperatures, this blizzard's combination of inclement conditions has been unmatched in 110 years.
The ‘Great White Hurricane,’ as it was called, paralyzed the East Coast from the Chesapeake Bay to Maine. It began as a weak area of low pressure that formed in the northern Gulf of Mexico on March 10 before tracking up through Georgia to the North Carolina coast by March 11th. Moving slowly northward on March 11th and 12th, the storm remained relatively stationary off the southern New England coast on March 12th and 13th.
Light amounts of snow fell from the mountains of Tennessee up through the state of Maryland, while heavier snow fell from New Jersey up through eastern New York, Vermont, New Hampshire and much of southern New England, except Rhode Island and Cape Cod…”
to read more, click here: The Great White Hurricane March 11-14, 1888
In Albany, N.Y., it was reported that a fire at the storm's height had destroyed much of Stamford. Fortunately, the report proved false, the blaze was contained to a telegraph office at the Stamford depot. (from the book: BLIZZARD! The Great Storm of '88)
The Marcus Research Library has a copy of an article in the Stamford Advocate under the dateline of Friday, March 16, 1888. (551 A). Here are some excerpts:
"...By 10 'clock Sunday night the storm increased , and took the character of a "Dakota" blizzard. The air was so filled with particles of fine snow that even after day-break Monday morning one could scarcely see a distance of seventy-five feet. There was no intermission in the fury of the wind or the fall of the snow all day Monday nor during the night, nor in fact until day-break Tuesday morning when there was a subsidence of both wind and snow fall, though the temperature was low, reaching to ten above zero."
Business came practically to a standstill: "Milkmen gave up their routes, grocers and butchers for the time being abandoned all attempt to supply their customers, and congratulated themselves that for the most part the telephone lines were down so they could receive no orders which it was impossible to fill. The coal wagons were laid up also…"
Children slide in the snow outside the Old Town Hall on Atlantic
Square. Congregational Church in the background.
The North Side of Main Street after the blizzard.
Union House Hotel and two small frame buildings housing the restaurant
of Mrs. William E. Knapp, the Tailor Shop of Samuel Lang, the meat market
of Stiles C. Stevens, and the "Stamford Comet", which was then published
by William A. Royce. On near left is Stark & Wilson.
"Photographer Havee, also Mr. Mansfield Toms, took
a large number of photographs of scenes in the various streets with their
mountainous banks. These will be interesting mementos of "The great snow
storm of 1888." In Cottage street the snow was in places as high
as the second story windows. On Main and Atlantic streets when the
snow was shoveled
off the sidewalks the heaps on the streets were raised in places to
the height of eight and ten feet deep and even more. In front of Wycoff's
an archway was cut through the drift to the middle of the street. In
front
of Faucett's harness shop a similar arch was built and surmounted with
the American flag [seen in photo below].
The structure bore the following legend:
And here is a bit of sarcastic editorializing: "It does not appear that our great railroad has earned much glory in its dealing with the situation. The storm, to be sure, was something unprecedented in the history of railroading in Connecticut, but it does seem as if the great railroad with all the power of man and machines that it can command, should not be practically dead so far as the needs of the traveling public is concerned for forty-six to forty-eight hours after the snow storm, however extensive, has ceased." |
"Many western railroads have to contend every
winter with not one but several such storms, and such a thing as entire
suspension
of traffic for nearly a week is unknown except of the weakest of the
roads. The fact seems to be demonstrated that our great railroad is
not suitably
equipped to contend with a first-class snowstorm, and it is very lucky
they don't come often in this section."
Indeed, many commuters and other passengers, said to be some 1500, were stranded in Mount Vernon for several days - and the residents of Mount Vernon highly lauded for their hospitality, as described in a lengthy letter from a Stamford commuter. It ends a follows: "...It being Monday morning, most of us had left our spare funds in the care of our wives or on the church plate, but Mr. Thomas W. Hall was reported to have sixty dollars over, and when he arrived home fifty-five dollars had been borrowed. Messrs. Phelps, Julian Curtiss, Weston, and others walked up from Mount Vernon to Greenwich, Mr. Curtiss feeling the need of the walk to work off his surplus vitality, having spent two nights in Mount Vernon entertaining his companions and landlady with remarks on various subjects, varied with vocal music. I would not in my ignorance criticize the management of the road, but I think there was a general feeling that a little of the Curtiss energy in charge of things could have been inspiring and comforting if not useful. A COMMUTER" |
The Union House Hotel a few days after the storm.
The men on horseback are: Fitch A. Hoyt, Colonel Tallmadge, and George Meeker. Observe the flag in front of Faucett's
harness shop…
Store of E.S.Webb, dry goods and gents' furnishing goods,
on 94 W. Main Street, looking towards Atlantic Street.
| "...The New York daily papers have but little telegraphic
news either from eastern points or from the interior towns of the west.
The storm was very severe in New Jersey and is supposed to have been felt
heavily far to the westward, though it is believed that beyond Chicago
there was no great storm or its approach could have been earlier reported.
In the absence of reliable news the papers have many sensational reports,
which must be taken with a great deal of allowance."
The railroad problems get some assist from a Stamfordite: "...Henry R. Towne, Esq., President of Yale & Towne Co., offered to construct a snowplow powerful enough to clear the road. He also loaned electric batteries to the company which will be put in use to-day on such portions of the line as can be restored." |
New York City: "From New York papers of yesterday we obtain the following particulars: The city is in a paralized condition, the wheels of business motionless, traffic and communication suspended and the peril of scarcity of food and fuel imminent. It will be a gigantic job to raise the blockade and again put the wheels of industry in motion, but good progress has been made and better feelings are hourly growing. The elevated roads are running, but up to this morning the horse cars were stopped. The streets were choked with ice and snow varying in depth from two to fifteen feet. Narrow thoroughfares were blockaded completely. On some of the cross streets there were drifts as high as the second stories, and mountainous ridges extended along the curbs. The East River was gorged with ice, and below the bridge many crossed on foot." |
For a full review of this instructive and often entertaining article come visit us at the Stamford Historical Society at 1508 High Road.
Upper Atlantic Street & Park Row, behind Central Park
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