Last Snow of Winter- Hopefully

Well, just when I thought we made it through the winter without a significant snow storm, mother nature stepped up to the plate for, hopefully, one final last swing. We got just over a foot of the white stuff Sunday night into Monday morning. It then turned colder, so we probably won't see any melting until this afternoon. Rain and temperatures in the 50's are forecast for Friday which should take care of most of the snow.

For those of you Blog-a-maniacs now ensconced in a warmer climate (Murray & Jean Harris and Clif Brown in Arizona and Don Maxwell in the Florida keys, etc.), here are some photos taken around my house on Monday.

Not a creature was stirring  .   .   . except the photographer.

Looking down the driveway toward the road.

You've heard of a "No Fly Zone." This is a "No Drive Zone."

Back yard view.

My official snow gauge bench.

I'm sure many of you out there can remember some pretty dramatic New Gretna snow storms. The following November, 1862 letter from Franklin Adams, proprietor of the Bass River Hotel, to his brother mentions a whopper. Unfortunately, Franklin does not mention the depth of the snow fall, but it must have been something to behold. We got about a foot of snow from a 16 hour snowfall from 7 PM to 11 AM. Franklin reported that it snowed for four days. Any amateur meteorologists out there who could give us an estimate of how much snow was likely outside Franklin's window on Monday morning? Or, perhaps, there's an old Almanac out there that recorded the snowfall.

New Gretna, N.J. Sunday Morning

10 o’clock, AM  Nov. 9, 62

Dear Brother

It being a stormy day and thinking of you I concluded I would write you. Till I hear nothing very interesting to communicate to you only that we have the greatest snowstorm we’ve had for many years. It commenced storming last Thursday and is still storming yet.

The Democrats have elected their Governor and one State Senator from our district. They have accomplished a greate [sic] victory in N. Jersey. Phebe Allen has married Josiah Adams of Martha Furnace. Humphey P. Adam’s sister Phebe Crane died last week. The times are very hard now about hear, not much to do, and how some are to get over this winter I can’t immagin [sic].

Libby & Eugene are expecting a letter from you everyday. Will close now till morning.

8 ½ o’clock Monday morning. All is clear and fine. Sun shines beautiful – nothing new this morning.

 

Your Affectionate Broth [sic]

Franklin Adams

(Handwritten letter transcribed by Pete Stemmer.)

One of the interesting things about digging into history is the rabbit trails that pop up that present mysteries just begging to be solved. Such is the case with Franklin's letter. Anyone with an interest in history can't help but ask a few questions such as: Who was Frankin's brother? Who were the Democratic New Jersey Governor and local State Senator who were elected? What was the relationship of the new groom, Josiah Adams, to Franklin? What was the relationship of the diseased Phebe Adams Crane and her brother, Humphrey P. Adams, to Franklin? And, who are Libby and Eugene?

Unfortunately, I don't have the time right now to look into these questions. I'm hoping that the curiosity of one of our Blog readers will get the best of him, or her, and that we'll see the answers posted here at the Blog. Curiosity may have killed the cat, but it's the lifeblood of the historian. Any takers?

Pete S

PS- Click on the following link to see a photo and the previous Saturday, January 31, 2009 Blog entry about Franklin Adams.

http://bassriverhistory.blogspot.com/2009/01/memories-of-hopalong-cassidy-and-old.html