Weather rambling: December 1886 and 1885

It was an early freeze in December 1886.

“Teams cross the river on the ice of Feeder Dam,” The Morning Star of Glens Falls reported on Dec. 8, 1886. “Lake Champlain is frozen over, and teams cross the lake near Rouses Point.”

Lake George still had open water, except in the bays, but smaller lakes in the region were frozen over.

“The ice on Glen Lake is five inches thick.”

In villages, ice made pedestrian traffic dangerous.

“Our village fathers caused seeds of kindness, in the shape of salt, to be scattered along our ice sidewalks yesterday,” the Fort Edward correspondent reported in The Morning Star on Dec. 7.

Snow came early too.

“We have three feet of snow and winter not here yet. … Last Saturday and Sunday were the coldest days we have had thus far this winter. Twelve degrees below zero,” The Morning Star reported on Dec. 10.

Sleighing is very good on the main roads, which makes business quite lively,” the Luzerne correspondent reported.

“The last snowstorm made very good sleighing and farmers are improving their time by using the snow path,” the Fort Edward correspondent reported in The Granville Sentinel on Dec. 10.

Yet, it was not too cold for a Christian open-air baptism.

“Two young ladies were immersed in the pond near the church last Sunday morning,” the North Hebron correspondent reported in The Granville Sentinel on Dec. 10.

The sleighing weather was interrupted.

”A warm wave has succeeded the recent cold spell, and wheeled vehicles have again been called into service,” The Morning Star reported on Dec. 13.

The warming trend did not last long.

“The sleighing is very good, and many of our farmers are drawing their potatoes to market,” the North Hebron correspondent reported in The Granville Sentinel on Dec. 17.

The ice was sufficient for harness racing.

“The excellent condition of the ice at Glen Lake sent a large number of local horsemen hither yesterday. Some of the best known in town were on the ice yesterday,” The Morning Star reported on Dec. 18.

“The boys have commenced skating on the ice, rather risky business,” The Morning Star reported on Dec. 31.

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

1885

“Whew! The tail of the promised cold wave has arrived. A snowstorm set in after midnight and was followed by a regular blizzard. Those having heavy garments would do well to put them on at once,” The Morning Star reported on Dec. 7.

“The first snow blockade of the season occurred on the Delaware and Hudson road Sunday morning. The night freight and the morning express got stalled about three miles north of Port Kent, and remained there until between ten and eleven o’clock, when they were released and proceeded to Rouses Point,” The Morning Star reported on Dec. 7.

“Brant Lake is frozen over. Sleighs are now used, but the sleighing is rather thin,” the Horicon correspondent reported on Dec. 18.

“The lumbermen have begun to think of log drawing,” the Minerva correspondent reported.

“The sleighing is very good north of here, but wagons are used going south for merchandise,” the Lake George correspondent reported.

“Sleighing is good all through the north part of the county,” the Pottersville correspondent reported.

“Most of the snow which fell Friday night disappeared under the influence of a warm sun and a south wind, and in the streets where there was much travel sleighing was badly whipped,” The Morning Star reported on Dec. 21. “The mercury dropped yesterday, however, and continued to fall during the night, leaving a good bottom, which, with a few inches more of snow, will give us fair sleighing.”

Harness racing wasn’t the only sport competed on frozen waterways.

“A game of shinney (a 19th century version of pond hockey) was played on the frozen surface of the river yesterday afternoon above the third setting platform. More than fifty skaters were present, who formed themselves into opposing forces,” The Morning Star reported on Dec. 30. “The game was played with vigor throughout, and after an hour of exciting sport the contest was decided a draw.”

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