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Centennial History Book
Then there were DISASTERS
DECEMBER 31, 1948 - JANUARY 1-2, 1949
There was a blizzard the first of the week. It tied up all activities. The snow came Sunday night with a strong wind. It was very cold; only two degrees above zero. The snow and wind continued through Monday and some into Tuesday. Ten inches of snow piled due to the wind. Highways and roads were blocked. There were no trains Monday, Tuesday or Wednesday. School was to convene on Monday following the Christmas vacation, but it was put off for another week. The snow was three feet deep on sidewalks making traveling by foot difficult. This was the third blizzard since November 18, 1948.
A diary that was kept of January contained the following information: January 3, 1949 -- Snow, wind, drifts and three degrees above zero. There were tornadoes in Kansas, Texas and Louisiana; January 4, 1949 -- It was 12 degrees for a short time. Snowing, strong winds and drifts; January 5, 1949 -- Wind continued and blowing snow, eight degrees; January 18, 1949 -- Snow, wind and drifting, temperature was zero; January 19, 1949 -- 12 degrees below zero; January 22, 1949 -- One and a half inches of frost; January 27, 1949 -- Blizzard again; and January 29, 1949 -- Cold, 14 degrees below zero.
February 3, 1949
The tail end of two snowstorms this week. There was enough to stop the train and traffic on the highways. The trains tried to run but one car derailed near silica mine east of town. After the snowplow and section men got the car back on the track the train went on east only to get stuck in a snowdrift before reaching Holdrege.
There was no mail from Thursday until Monday. The north and northwest part of the state was declared a disaster district by Governor Peterson.
This was the worst blizzard since 1888. Feed for cattle was flown by helicopter to the pastures and the feed lots where the cattle were located.
April 7, 1949
A late season blizzard last week hit the area. Lightning, thunder, twelve inches - fifteen inches of snow fell. It was said by some to be the wettest snow they had ever witnessed. The wind came up and drifted it badly in spite of its bein^ heavy. On Saturday it snowed again, but it melted as fast as it fell. The highways and roads were blocked in all directions. One drift near Hudson’s dairy barn was eight feet deep and about three blocks long.
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