Weather rambling — December 1879

It was an early start for ice skating season at Schroon Lake.

“Skating upon the mill pond has been enjoyed for some days, and venturesome boys have tried the ice at the head of the lake,” the Schroon Lake correspondent reported in the Elizabethtown Post & Gazette on Dec. 4, 1879.

It was the start of what would be a colder than usual December all around Essex County.

“The weather indicator stood ten degrees below zero on Sunday morning, the 21st. Rather a hard squeeze so early in the season,” the Moriah correspondent reported in the Post & Gazette on Dec. 25.

“Winter, grim winter, is upon us at last,” the Mineville correspondent reported.

“A fearful storm commenced the 20th, and at this writing is racing with double furry and the God of wind seems to be asserting his power,” the Essex correspondent reported.

In other 19th century December weather news collected from historic newspapers of the region:

1877

“Jack Frost has disposed of the mud question. Consequently, we see many of our farmers in the village again,” the Ticonderoga Sentinel reported on Dec. 7.

“Two days skating on the pond, which the boys improved. We are glad to have them enjoying the sport, as their lessons show their evening is not all spent in play,” the Crown Point correspondent reported.

“The ground is white with snow. The prospect is favorable of good sleighing for Christmas and New Years,” the Willsboro correspondent to the Ticonderoga Sentinel wrote on Dec. 12.

1878

”Never mind the weather. The slush and mud is once more hidden beneath the pure white snow,” the Mineville correspondent reported in the Ticonderoga Sentinel on Dec. 6, 1878.

“The young folks have been improving the skating on the pond, while the old folks take advantage of the snow for a day’s sleighing,” the Crown Point correspondent reported in the Ticonderoga Sentinel on Dec. 13.

“We are having a little colder weather, and the lake will soon be cold enough to cross,” the Ticonderoga Sentinel reported on Dec. 20.

1882

“Monday morning was sharp and frosty, the thermometer being reported in this locality as anywhere from 5 to 14 below zero,” The Glens Falls Messenger reported on Dec. 8. “During the following evening, a sudden warm change came on, and, before the next morning a warm rain set in, the soft weather continuing for about twenty-four hours, when the gradual approach of another cold wave felt. Yesterday was cold and blustering.”

The weather was following the pattern of the winter of 1867-’68.

“The swamps are as dry as in mid-summer, creeks are nearly all dried up, and never-failing springs very low. The Hudson River is at the lowest water mark,” the Messenger reported on Dec. 15. “In the winter referred to, many farmers either had to melt snow or drive their cattle a long distance to water. It looks to be just as scarce this winter.”

1887

“The thermometer indicated four degrees above zero at ten o’clock last night,” The Morning Star reported on Dec. 2.

“The warm weather of the past few days opened the river and enabled sawyers to resume operations at the mill,” The Morning Star reported on Dec. 6.

“A robin was recently seen in a tree near the residence of William Wendell — an indication of warm weather,” the Wevertown correspondent to The Morning Star reported on Dec. 12.

“The ‘oldest citizen’ tells us that he has known of but one or two instances of such continuous mild weather as we are now experiencing,” The Morning Star reported on Dec. 15.

The warm weather did not last.

“All the men engaged repairing the canal quit at noon yesterday on account of the snow,” The Morning Star reported on Dec. 16.

The eastern portion of Lake George, from Kattskill Bay as far north as Grove Island, froze over on Dec. 26.

The head of Lake Geroge froze over Dec. 27.

“The cold wave found its way to Glens Falls Thursday night (Dec. 29) and did a lively business yesterday,” The Morning Star reported on Dec. 31. ”At the Caldwell railroad depot at seven o’clock yesterday morning, the thermometer registered twenty-three degrees below zero.”

The ice was sufficient for harness racing.

“A three-mile race for a purse of fifty dollars is announced to take place on the ice at Lake George next Thursday under the management of the Pelkey Brothers,” The Morning Star reported on Dec. 31.

1888

“This winter sets in as did the winter of 1867–8. The swamps are as dry as in midsummer, creeks are nearly all dried up, and never-failing springs are very low. The Hudson River is at its lowest low-water mark,” The Glens Falls Messenger reported on Dec. 15. “In the winter referred to farmers had to either melt snow or drive their cattle a long distance to water. Water promises to be just as scarce this year.”

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