Aren’t You Glad We Have Snow Blowers Today?
Friday, February 12th, 2010 | railroads, snow storms
First train to reach Toughkenamon during the Bizzard of 1899.
Yesterday I measured 25 inches of snow in my yard. The Blizzard of February 10, 2010 has made national news headlines. Local government and schools were closed for the past two days, even CCHS! So after doing my share of running the snow blower and lifting a shovel, here is a little look back to the Blizzard of 1899.
On February 12, 1899 the mercury in thermometers in Chester County plunged to zero and the sky looked ominously grey. The snow fell for two days dumping three and half feet of snow. The temperature dipped to 17 degrees below zero as winds raged and snow drifted ten feet deep in places. The headline of the West Grove Independent for February 16, 1899 declared: “Former Blizzards Out-Blizzarded.”
The only way to get around, if you could, was by sleigh. Even the railroad had to suspend train travel for three days until the tracks were cleared. The West Grove Independent told of James Wilson who was heading for jury duty in West Chester on Monday’s train. He did not arrive until Thursday.
People had trouble keeping their homes warm, with heat supplied by wood or coal. It was especially hard for the greenhouse owners to keep the temperatures constant for their plants. The growing of carnations was a big industry at that time. It was noted that the employees of Dingee and Conard dug out the road in order to get coal for their greenhouses.
The most curious report was of a 15 foot high snow drift that looked by an Egyptian Sphynx in the backyard of Dr. M.E. Conard in West Grove! - Pamela Powell, Photo Archivist
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