Augusta, Georgia, 50 years ago today!!!! I had never seen so much snow. My Canadian father, overly familiar with snow storms and blizzards, went to work knocking snow off the roof of our house, clearing the driveway, etc. I asked him, sarcastically, why don’t you just wait until the sun comes out and let it melt? He did not like my sarcasm. But honestly, I thought that would be the best thing, let it melt. It’s less work!
In the haze of the blizzard in this photo, you can see on the left, vaguely, DAVISON’S, (with the top of a water tower above it) which was the department store where I worked from 1972 to 76. It was owned by Macy’s and now has the Macy’s nameplate but in a Mall. It left downtown around 1977 I think.
7 comments:
Father McDonald, have you read the following?
https://www.augustachronicle.com/story/news/2016/02/07/you-remembered-big-snow-1973/14338573007/
-- You Remembered: The big snow of 1973
Editor's note: We asked for your memories of Augusta's record 14-inch snowfall of 1973. Here are some of those memories.
Pax.
Mark Thomas
Down South, and unless it's ice, "let it melt" actually makes sense.
Up in the Northeast, this approach is not advisable as I remember a few years back having to move snow banks that my snow blower had made back to make room for the next storm that was coming that week. If it's heavy/wet, the snow blower can only blow it so high. Heavy snow accumulation with more being forecasted means shake off the bushes and less hearty trees if you don't want them to be broken. Last, I would plow drainage so when the melt comes, and usually it becomes abruptly warm, there's somewhere for the runoff to go and not make ice that's inches thick!
That's just insane!
Here in southern Indiana our winter has been fairly mild this year. But, back in the 70s, we had fairly good snow totals from 73-79.
Father McDonald, perhaps you would consider the following:
Record a tape, audio, or video (typing may be too involved), as to your memories of Augusta. The initial tape could be just a few minutes long.
Then, send the tape to an Augusta historical society...a local university that may have a program dedicated to local history.
Or, of course, phone them first to determine their interest.
Perhaps you have copies of photos of Augusta that local historical societies would accept.
Father McDonald, I am certain that you have valuable insights into Augusta's history that has coincided with your time there.
Pax.
Mark Thomas
Father McDonald, this may be way off topic...but speaking of heavy snowfall:
On December 16, 1960 A.D., a United Airlines DC-8, and a TWA Super Constellation, had collided above New York City. Prior to that crash, a substantial amount of snow had fallen upon New York City.
All passengers, save one, aboard the two planes, had died upon impact.
The one exception, Stephen Baltz, 11-years-old, had plunged 5,000 feet. He had landed on a snowbank. He was conscious when rescued. He had lived until the following day (requiscat in pace).
At the 2:30 mark:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3g26fv2h-KE
Here is the plaque at Brooklyn's Presbyterian Hospital, where Stephen had been treated.
Stephen had 70-cents in his pocket. His family placed the five dimes, and four nickels, into the collection plate at the hospital's chapel.
The New York Times reported:
"Churchgoers on that Friday night, during the Christmas season, carried newspapers with Stephen’s picture and prayed for him. Calls flooded the hospital from New Yorkers offering their blood for transfusions for the boy.
"Throughout the night, the nurse at his bedside would later remember, he would wake up and speak, sounding healthy.
"In the end, Stephen was too badly burned to survive. He remained the crash’s sole survivor for only a night, dying at 10 a.m. Saturday morning.
"But for that one night, he was the source of hope for a city where two planes had gone down."
Here is a photograph of Stephen, on the snowbank, with several persons helping him..one held an umbrella above Stephen.
https://ephemeralnewyork.files.wordpress.com/2016/01/aircrashdailynews.png
Pax.
Mark Thomas
I have a first cousin who lived in Brooklyn and was at his Catholic school that day and saw the jet coming down as he looked out of the window of his classroom. It crashed not too far from that school building.
Father McDonald, thank you for having shared that story. That must have been an amazing sight for your first cousin to have witnessed.
Pax.
Mark Thomas
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