Weather rambling — January 1890

“The boys have had fine skating on Lake Sunnyside for a few days past,” The Morning Star reported on Jan. 3, 1890.

But what the local economy needed was snow.

“There will be a great demand for teams to work in the woods when snow comes. Lumbermen who have large jobs are in a hurry for snow.”

The lumbermen would have to patiently wait.

“Talk about June weather!” The Granville Sentinel reported on Jan. 3. “Today the mercury registers 65 degrees above zero. For balmy weather we can knock the stuffin’ out of southern California.”

On Jan.4, it was warm enough for a pick-up baseball game in a field on the Platt farm in Glens Falls.

“The players, with their coats off as they ran around the diamond, was an unusual site.”

“We nevet knew of such weather. … This is the first winter that we can recollect when coal has not advanced from summer prices,” The Granville Sentinel reported on Jan. 10.

The wait meant the lumber companies paid hired men and boarded workers and horses without revenue, cutting into the overall profit for the season.

“The continuance of mild weather with no snow is causing not only a delay in lumbering operations in the north woods but it adds considerable expenses, as there are many men and teams in waiting to commence the usual work as soon as there is sufficient snowfall,” The Morning Star reported on Jan. 8. “It will not do to send them home, as the snow might come at any time, therefore they are retained.”

The temperature turned cold again, and about three inches of snow fell overnight in Chestertown on Jan. 9.

“Even a prospect of snow enough for sleighing makes merchants smile. The prayers of our liverymen may yet prevail,” The Morning Star reported on Jan. 11.

The Morgan Lumber Co. of Glens Falls and South Glens Falls dispatched six lumbermen and six teams to Hamilton Country on Jan. 13.

Lumbermen were not the only ones happy about cold weather.

“More cold weather is promised to reach here tomorrow. Icemen are hopefully waiting for it,” The Morning Star reported on Jan. 14.

The promise was kept as Mother Nature created a makeshift skating rink.

“The cold wave that reached here early Friday evening froze the pond that had formed near the depot, and yesterday many boys and young men enjoyed skating on it,” The Morning Star reported on Jan. 18.

“The fine skating on the canal is being enjoyed by many,” The Fort Edward correspondent reported.

Icemen were hoping it would get colder.

“It does not do any good to be over anxious about anything, of course, but to dealers in ice, the prospect for getting a good crop of it this season is not very promising,” The Morning Star reported on Jan.21. “It is true that there is time enough yet, but the cold wave, and it should be a severe one, ought to be on the way here if the ice harvest is to amount to much this winter.”

A dusting of snow was encouraging.

“The ground was speedily whitened last night by snow flurries, which many hope are avant (advance) couriers of a good-sized snow storm,” The Morning Star reported on Jan.22. “The cry of the merchants is still for snow.”

“This is bad weather for the lovers of snowshoeing hereabouts,” The Morning Star reported on Jan. 23. “The cold wave is welcome and already everybody about town feels better.”

The ice on Lake Luzerne was about eight inches thick on Jan. 25.

The snow did come.

“The snow fall Sunday night and yesterday morning was sufficient for tolerable sleighing yesterday afternoon after the rays of the sun had settled the fleecy blanket. A gentleman from Minerva informs a representative of the paper that the sleighing in that section and Newcomb will commence operations at once,” The Morning Star reported on Jan.28.

“Four inches of the beautiful snow last night, and more coming. It gives lumbermen a sigh of relief.”

Sleighing started to improve.

“The sleighing in town is quite good and is also very fair on the Plant Road, but on the roads leading out of the town it is not as good as could be desired,” The Morning Star reported on Jan. 29.

“About four inches of snow fell Monday morning, affording the first sleighing of the season — such as it is,” The Granville Sentinel reported on Jan.31.

The cold arrived, too, bringing reassurance to ice harvesters.

“Ice is reported ten inches thick on Lake Sunnyside. Farmers will soon begin filling their ice houses,” The Morning Star reported on Jan.31.

Ice ten inches thick was being harvested at Bond’s Pond, now known as Echo Lake, in Warrensburg.

“ice as clear as crystal and on an average of nine inches in thickness is now being taken from the Hudson at Sandy Hill near what is known as Richards’ Dam and above the ferry way. The local dealers are busily engaged in laying in the usual supply, as are also a number of private families and business firms.”

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