Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1920-04-08
BLIZZARD YEARS
woodstock Representative Recalls Tn
uaunI winters

Thinking that possibly a history Of
some other Vermont winters will interest
the readers of The Standard. is my reason
for writing this article, says Representa-
tive c. NJ. White in Woodstock Standard.
A few Of the older residents will re-
member the winter of 1862. or perhaps bet
ter the spring Of that year. when the
snow was of sufficient depth to cover
walls and fences until nearly the middle
Of April. Another ong-to-be-remembered
feature OF that spring was that for many
weeks there was crust Of sufficient
strength 80 that teams travelled ecrosslots
as they pleased, paying no attention to
roads. As [ remember the break in win
ter commenced the 18th OF April and In
weeks time the snow was nearly all
gone: and but little maple sugar was made
that spring.
FLOWED OUT APRIL End
In the spring OF 1872 the snow was level
over walls and fences the first Of April
and the main road between the villages
Of Woodstock and South Woodstock had
to be plowed out the second day OF April
80 that Elder Kidder could attend a
funeral at the south part of the town.
March meeting day of that year was one
Of the worst days to be out in have ever
known and but comparatively few voters
outside of the village attended it. On
Christmas day OF 1872 the thermometer
registered 40is degrees below zero with a
brisk wind. and in several instances young
cattle and sheep were frozen to death in
the barns.
The beginning of tho year 1879 was very
cold and continued so during the entire
winter Snow in the spring OF that year
80 60
18th. In both of these last named years
winter broke about the 9Th of April and
after this date the snow disappeared
rapidly,
SUGARING MARCH lST IN "a
The winter of 1874 was what we call an
open winter with very little snow. Many
commenced sugaring March LIST, the
ground at that time being very nearly
bare OF snow, and kept so until the first
OF April. when the real sugar season OF
| that spring began. After this date we
had SHOWS frequently during the entire
month OF April, and one OF the best sugar
seasons Vermont ever knew to finish up
winter. A foot OF snow fell the last day
OF April or the first OF May and sugarine
was continued back among the hills In
| some instances until May Is
u
remember the blizzard of 1883. March II
IL and 10. when two and a half feet OF
heavy snow fell and our main highways
were impossible for nearly a week. The
stage between Woodstock and Felchvillt
| did not run for five days. The wors
nights storm OF that blizzard the veteran
stage driver, William Billings. got lost ir
tho village OF Woodstock on his return tril
from Bridgewater and stopped to inquire
where he was: and some OF US olde
ones, when told the SHOWS OF the presen
| winter are the worst we have ever had
simply laugh and reply. Not much the!
aren't" and refer you back to 1883
SNOWFALL MAY 10 IN 1892
In May of 1892 we had a fall of nearl,
two feet of snow commencing. ! think
May 10. and lasting three days. At thi
time corn was planted and up out of tn,
ground; sheared sheep and young cattl,
were in the back pastures and had to b.
gotten home as best they could. Farm
work had a set back of nearly two weeks
, but after that we had a very favorabl,
season for all farm crops, and corn planted
as late as June 5th fully ripened in thu
fields.
So with this record OF the winters AM
springs of other years II is hard to predic
what this spring may yet have in stor'
for US; but after all there is much that Il
the native Vermonter is really enjoyable
in Vermont winter. and the only wa,
to really enjoy 1t IL to be out every da.
regardless OF heat or cold. storm OF shine
Then let's take courage, some signs OF re
turning spring are at hand. Crows ar
out in large numbers, robins have beef
seen and heard. and soon the children will
be bringing pussy-willows and wild flower
from the woods and fields. and then W
shall surely know that spring is here.
This record of the winters and spring
OF other years is entirely from memory
l believe il will be found to be substantial
~ correct.