Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1870-02-18
For thr Democrat
The Winter of 1919.


The Winter Of 1919.
Persons who are old enough. will re-
member the winter of 1919. 81 years ago.
when there was no snow TO make sleigh
ing in any portion OF this State, to reach
market, until March. Like The present
winter. there were frequent SHOWS, which
were followed by warm sun or rain. max
ing icy and muddy travelling, through
December. January and February. so
that people were troubled 10 get up their
fire wood OF manures.
On Sunday night. previous to the FIRST
Monday in March. 1t commenced to snow
and continued three days. with high
wind. giving US two feet of snow. which
blocked up the roads in all directions
Upjto this time The farmers in Oxford
County had not marketed their produce.
rs there had been no sleighing TO Port.
land. As soon as the roads had been
broken ont. which required the week OF
the storm. everybody was on the move !;
and the week following, the roads were
full of teams to market. On the second
Monday of March. Mr. Bennett and Mr..
Crockett OF Norway. who had been wait
ing all winter before killing their hogs.
started for market; they arrived in Port
their loads, and returned to Gray Corner,
and put up with the late I. o. Brown.
well known by all travellers ut that time,
on Tuesday night, expecting to get home
the naxt dav with ease. About daylight
on Wednesday morning. James Longley,
the veteran stage-driver and mail-carrier
between Portland and Paris. in those
DAYS. drove up from Portland. having
started nc four A. VI. He told those who
had stopped at the House, If they expect
ed to get home during the week, they
must got under way as soon rs possible,
n there was raging out side. one OF the
most violent snow storms he ever knew.
Mcssrs Bennett and Crockett OF Norway,
with many others belonging in Oxford
County. immediately hurried their teams,
and started towards home. With much
difficulty they arrived at the old Atkins
tavern, six miles from Gray, with their
horses. being obliged to leave their sleighs
one mile back. The house and stable
were both filled with men and horses.
waiting for The storm 10 cease.
On Saturday, the Shakers, who resided
3 or miles from The Atkins House. start
ed large OK. team, and broke tho roads
down 10 the tavern, enabling the teams
that were blocked up there 10 proceed
on their journey. Mr.. Bennett and Mr..
Crockett, with others, started Tor home !;
they arrived al the village in the fore part
OF the evening, and after unloading their
sleighs at one oil the stores. started Tor
home--Mr. Bennett living miles, Mr..
Crockett mile from the village. Both
teams had to be put up in Mr.. Crocketts
barn Mr.. Bennett, by The help OF snow
shoes. succeeded in getting home, but his
horses remained in tho Crockett barn 4
whole week, before the road was broken
out sufficient TO allow the horses to travel
home.
This was about the middle OF March.
On OF about the 23d Of the same month,
there was another great storm, which
was the third great snow. making in the
aggregate about feet, during the month
OF March, 1919.
On the first monday of April, Qhe an
ual election for Governor under MasSa.
chusetts) the snow had settled but little,
and people were troubled exceedingly to
get through the drifts to attend town
meeting.
During the winter of1Sl9, the family of
shakers residing in Gorham. Maine, under
took TO change their location from Gorham
to Poland. They commenced TO move in
January, and after waiting several weeks
for snow, succeeded in getting the family
and a part of their household furniture
through to Poland on wheels. The bulky
and heavy articles were loaded on sleds,
and by the help OF slight snow, they
started their OK teams, and got as far as
GRAY, when the snow left them, and after
remaining there or weeks. and after
the first great snow storm in March, they
yoked their oxen. and landed their stuff
at what is called the upper Shakers, after
a very hard winters work.
The present winter, so Tar. is very
much like the winter referred to, as
regards warm weather and the scarcity
of snow, and ii February, which COM
mences to day. shall be equally mild and
barren of slcighing, we have March left
which will. like 1919, be time enough to
give US all the snow and cold weather,
we can reasonably desire.
Eff. B.
Norway Feb. /, 1870,