Weather Rambling — May 1895

May is the month of elbow grease.

“Carpet whipping and gardening have opened auspiciously,” the Fort Ann correspondent reported in The Granville Sentinel on May 3, 1895.

There was still a threat of frost.

“Keep delicate plants covered these nights,” The Morning Star of Glens Falls advised on May 1.

Yet, early vegetables were being harvested.

“Mrs. John H. Leonard, 118 Uncas Street, had on her table last Sunday asparagus grown in her own garden.”

Wardrobe change was in order.

“The conductors and motormen on the electric street railway donned their new summer uniforms yesterday. They are of dark navy blue, of the regulation style, and were made to order by the Rochester Clothing Company,” The Morning Star reported on May 4.

“Almost July weather here the past few days,” the Shushan correspondent reported in The Granville Sentinel on May 10.

The warm spell contradicted predictions.

“Where is the weather prophet, I think it was Brady, who said this would be a cold summer?” the Stony Creek correspondent quipped in The Morning Star on May 11. “Whoever he was had better follow Nathan Davis’ example, in Johnsburg, and give up the job, as, for the last four days the mercury has been climbing up near ninety in the shade.”

Cold weather resurfaced in some communities.

“A heavy frost on Tuesday morning May 14. The ground was frozen half an inch deep, and the front blossoms all turned death yellow, and some leaves dropped off the maple trees,” the North Creek correspondent reported in The Morning Star on May 18.

“The temperature yesterday averaged forty degrees lower than on Saturday. Those who had doffed their winter underclothes last week pressed their overcoats into service last evening,” The Morning Star reported on May 13.

“The cold of Monday night froze ice and bit through generally in the vicinity, destroying everything out of the ground,” the Shushan correspondent reported in The Granville Sentinel on May 17.

“A heavy frost yesterday morning nipped tender plants in this vicinity,” The Morning Star reported on May 13.

“Many of the gardens which were growing finely during the warm weather were nipped by the frost Monday night,” the Lake George correspondent reported in The Morning Star on May 17.

The frost passed over other communities.

“The season is regarded rather later than usual, but winter has not retraced her steps, and nature is clothed in her loveliest dress of living green,” the North Hebron correspondent reported. “Farmers are hustling to redeem the time, and the prospect is for plenteous crops and good prices.”

Frost was not the only weather concern.

“A slight hailstorm arrived here about noon yesterday,” the Fort Edward correspondent reported in The Morning Star on May 16.

There were signs of the season.

“Our popcorn vendors are on duty once more,” the Fort Edward correspondent reported in The Morning Star on May 17. “Carpet beating is the favorite pastime now.”

Rain was needed.

“’If we don’t get a good, heavy rain pretty soon,’ said a prominent lumberman to a Star reporter yesterday, ‘the mills will have to shut down,’” The Morning Star reported on May 23.

Rain was still needed a week later.

“Owing to low water, the Hudson River drive was temporarily abandoned last Saturday,” The Morning Star reported on May 30. “Heavy rains are needed to bring the logs to the Big Boom.”

Rain was needed to put out forest fires, too.

“Considerable damage has been done throughout the Adirondacks by forest fires during the past few days,” The Morning Star reported on May 29. “In the vicinity of Saranac Lake, Loon Lake, Lake Placid, and at points along the Chateaugay Railroad the fire burned out extensive tracts. Monday’s rain extinguished the flames.”

The weather turned cold.

“The cold wave continues. Ice formed Wednesday night,” the Stony Creek correspondent reported in The Morning Star on May 25.

“The late frosts have ruined many pieces of nearly seeded meadows on low ground, and oats are looking bad. This week will about finish the corn planting,” the Kingsbury correspondent reported.

“The heavy frosts for the past ten days have impaired the hay crop seriously in this section. The price of hay has already advanced two dollars per ton,” the Chester correspondent reported in The Morning Star on May 25.

The month ended in a heat wave.

“The thermometer registered 93 in the shade at three o’clock Thursday at Dunlap’s Store.” The Stony Creek correspondent to The Morning Star wrote on May 29.

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