'78 blizzard in CT and MA

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Friday, February 8. 2013

'78 blizzard in CT and MA

h/t, Laughing Squid. We like storms. Our mettle must be tested, and humility taught. The only people who get hysterical about snow are the retarded people on the TV news.

Posted by Bird Dog at 04:59 | Comments (14) | Trackbacks (0)

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Anyone remember the Blizzard of '47? 27 inches in NYC -

#1 Claritas on 2013-02-08 09:29 (Reply)

Yes!! I was 5-going-on-6, and we had just moved to Danbury, Connecticut. We had tunnels and little rooms under the snow, which I remember as being over my head. Those burrows probably would not be allowed nowadays, but it was wonderful. Of course I decided that that was what winter was always like in Connecticut, and was quite disappointed the following year.

#1.1 Jeannette on 2013-02-08 20:48 (Reply)

Yes! I was 4 and I have a picture of me standing on 5 feet of snow with just 2 inches of the top of a five foot fence showing sticking out of the snow at my feet. I lived just North of Boston and we would typically get increased snowfall as a result of the effect of the ocean moisture.

#1.2 GoneWithTheWind on 2013-02-09 12:37 (Reply)

Ah, but you see, back in '78, you didn't have all this global warming. When it stormed it was because that was the nature of nature not because of something we did to provoke it.

#2 JKB on 2013-02-08 10:41 (Reply)

The only people who get hysterical about snow are the retarded people on the TV news.

The part of TX where I live gets snow once every 5-10 years, and icy roads a little more than that. You can bet your bottom dollar that with snow or icy roads you will see incessant broadcasts of some TV personality freezing his toes at some freeway overpass near downtown. You would have thought the bomb had dropped, considering the coverage they give it.

The blizzard of '78 was something. It closed down institutions that hadn't been shut down in 100 years. With two feet of snow, TV coverage is more justified than with a dusting.

#3 Gringo on 2013-02-08 13:37 (Reply)

My NH-raised son now works in Houston. He finds TX snow behavior a hoot.

To be fair, he does notice that it takes New Englanders one first storm every year to get their sense back as well, and he's right. Even people raised here still act like fools until they get sense smacked into them every year.

#3.1 Assistant VIllage Idiot (Link) on 2013-02-08 21:28 (Reply)

As a Deputy here in WI, I know a bridge that I will visit every first snow of winter, as it ices up fast, and everyone will have forgotten that it has done that every snowfall for the last 30+ years, since it was built. After that snow, everyone remembers. People, we are silly creatures!

#3.1.1 SCOTTtheBADGER on 2013-02-09 03:29 (Reply)

Storms cost me money. I hate wasting money.

#4 Rob on 2013-02-08 14:37 (Reply)

When 23 inches plus fell on Chicago in less than 23 hours back in 1967, we found ourselves hosting a dozen salesmen in for the furniture convention whose accommodations were given away and, thankfully, we had several roasts in the freezer. The youngsters ran to the corner stores for bread, coffee and whatever. Never did find our car, which had been parked on the street around the corner. The city finally had tow trucks clean up the side streets as serving the fire lanes and garbage pick-ups was getting dangerous. I think Dallas sent in some vehicles to clear the airport runways.

We survived and have had multiple bad storms since. Northern Wisconsin and some areas of Wyoming have not been pleasant memories.

Cheers to all those on the coast. As my grandfather used to say, "What God bringeth...." Stay safe.

#5 jma on 2013-02-08 16:31 (Reply)

Yep, I was there. My girlfriend's brother lost his car in the snow, and by the time he found it, it was demolished by a snowplow.

#6 Jim on 2013-02-08 17:30 (Reply)

Check out the vintage Toyota FJ40 in the far right lane. I'm surprised it's stranded.

#7 Mike M on 2013-02-08 19:20 (Reply)

My brother owns a Cruiser just about like that FJ. I'd hope the driver just felt trapped among the other vehicles, and didn't want to leave the road, rather than being someone who didn't know how to lock in the hubs.

#7.1 Mark on 2013-02-08 20:12 (Reply)

That '67 blizzard was wild. I was attending U of IL and left around noon to play bridge in the Union. It was warm enough [low 50s maybe?] to wear only a long-sleeved shirt. I came out at midnight and it was about 22 and snowing like crazy. I like to froze to death walking the 10 0r so blocks to my rented room. Next morning there was 2 feet of snow on the ground and drifts 5 feet deep in places. Worst I remember.

#8 JorgXMcKie on 2013-02-09 00:23 (Reply)

I see there is a place for my story of the Great Blizzard of 1947:
Just before Christmas that year, my father's mom in Scotia, NY was feeling poorly, and he got the idea she was on her way out. So, in an effort to bond with his son and heir, we boarded a Greyhound (or Vermont Transit?) bus in Springfield, Mass. and took the 80 mile trip over the Berkshires. Grandma was abed, where she had spent her last 15 or 20 years, and we had a two- or three-day stay with in the big old house on Lincoln street.
When it came time to leave, uncle Erwin drove us to the bus depot and we waited for the next bus East. Dad bought me a red ballpoint pen about 4 inches long (they were hot stuff in 1947, you'll remember) and we boarded the bus about 8 or 9PM on Dec. 27.
That day and night, New York City accumulated 27 inches of snow. We drove right into the storm, trying to reach Springfield. The bus driver got lost. As I recall, we got to Springfield just before dawn, and got home by another bus in full daylight. I don't recall how much was on the ground at home that day, but it was a lot. It kind of put us off long bus trips for quite a while. Grandma lived a couple more years after a good long life.

O tempora, o mores - where are the snows of yesteryear?

#9 Claritas on 2013-02-09 12:51 (Reply)

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Friday, February 8. 2013

'78 blizzard in CT and MA