Milford chronicle., 1940-02-02
Recent Blizzard
Is Compared With
Those Of Yesteryear
lconlInusd ion - 10

period Of life recallin gthem.
However, we will delve a little
deeper into history. Records dis
close that from Monday, January II
to Wednesday, February 2, 1888
Peter David DeVries' ship, exploring
Delaware and founding the Swedish
Colony. was frozen up in Wingert's-
kill, 3S1s and SO degrees north lati-
tude.
In 1914, the weather was as cold
as in northern Sweden. In one night
during the winter of 1914, ice form
ed on the Delaware River so thick
that deer-and there were plenty OF
deer in Delaware in those days
could pass over near Tenicum. Ships
were blockaded from Monday, Janu-
cry IA, 1869, until February 8 Of that
year.
The Delaware River was frozen
over in one night on Thursday night,
December IL, 1851.
The Delaware and Christiana Riv-
ers were nearly frozen solid during
the winter of 1897, and people could
walk with safety on both rivers al
most anywhere. The weather was ex-
tremely cold in 1888, 1857, 1851, 1897
and 1904.
Three feet of snow fell about the
middle of January in 1904 and laid
on the ground so long that deer and
birds froze to death in great num-
bers for lack of food.
Snow to the depth of three feet
fell in 1888, during the latter part
of December and the first half Of
January, 1740 The crust was so
hard that it bore horses and sleighs.
The Delaware River was frozen over
all winter and up until Sunday,
March Is. Residents in rural sec
tions had to depend for much of their
subsistence on birds and deer which
had frozen or starved to death. Many
hundreds of cows, mules and horses
perished.
The greatest snowfall on record
since the settlement of jamestown,
Va, in 1907, and Plymouth, Mass,
on December 16. 1920, occurred on
Monday, March II, 1860. In sheltered
places where wind caused no drifts
it was seven feet on the level.
While Mason and Dixon were max
ing their survey to establish the
lines between Maryland, Pennsyl-
yania and Delaware, there was a
heavy snow storm which impeded
their progress and tied them UP for
four weeks. The storm occurred on
Wednesday, March 20, and continued
to March "a, 1855. The snow attained
a depth of sc inches. The Delaware
River was closed from Tuesday, De-
cember IS, 1870, until Friday, jan
uary Is, 177l.
On Wednesday night, December rs
(Christmas) George Washington,
Commander-in-Ch of the Conti-
mental Army, crossed the Delaware
in a binding snow storm, which is
reported to have attained a depth Of
more than two feet, and captured
1000 Hessians in Trenton. N. J.
The Delaware River was closed
for more than two months during
the winter Of 1779-17S0 The ground
throughout the State was frozen to
a depth of more than five feet.
In 1907 the cold swept the coun-
try, invading the states in the South
On Monday, February 10, 1910, the
thermometer registered seven de-
grees below zero and a cold wave
swept throughout the Delmarva PEN
insula.
The year of 1916 is known as the
year not having any summer. There
was frost or snow in every month
of the year. June was the the cold
est ever known since the formation
of the Colonies, ten inches of snow
having fallen in Vermont, seven
inches in Maine. three inches in
Pennsylvania and New York and two
inches in Delaware. Crops failed to
mature and corn sold for $500 per
bushel, almost equalling the price |
during the World War, SO years |
later.
In 1924, the fruit crop was de-
stroyed by snow, hail and high winds.
The Delaware River was frozen
from Wilmington and Chester to the
Jersey shore on Friday, January 10,
1927.
There was a severe snow storm on
Wednesday, January 70, 1881. All
traffic was at standstill, both rail
roads and stage coaches, because of
drifts in many sections ten feet high. z
Many people during the winter of
1S33-1S34, drove in two-horse sleighs
on the ice from Wilmington to Ches-
ter and Philadelphia because the Del {
aware River was frozen over. The [
river was closed for many weeks {
and hampered business from Phila- {
delphia, Chester and Wilmington. h
For two days, beginning Thursday, q
May z, 1S46, snow fell and blocked
frnf1o Tsba froinc of tho D w and =
W. were stopped for that period and b
most of the State, including Will +
nington, had no mail service. hi
On Friday, April 3, 1S46, there 4
was three inches of snow. a
On Thursday, November IS. 1888, I
here was a thTee-day snow storm. {,
Over twenty inches fell and there v
was sleigh-riding for over six weeks h
4 sudden thaw washed away many
bridges. In that year there was a Fl
lrought lasting from July to October 8
ind farmers had to combat grass v
loppers as they never have before d
n the history of the State.
The winter of 1852 was severe and N
he Susquehanna River froze over. 3,
The winter of 1856 was a severe c,
me. During the middle Of March, &,
'eople were able to go on the ice
rom Wilmington, Marcus Hook, Pa, a
nd points in lower Delaware to the d
lew Jersey shore. 70,
1t is recorded that all of the ponds, II
he Broadkiln, Nanticoke, Mispillion q,
nd Broad Creek Rivers in Sussex ~
ounty, as well as the Brandywine, II
D Wilmington, froze over on Satur II