1953 — Jan 9-11, Winter Storms, snow, ice, sleet, Northeast, especially New England –32-35

Blanchard estimated death toll range: Our reading of sources below noting more than 35 deaths appear to include fatalities related to winter weather elsewhere in the country beyond the Northeast and New England. We wish to focus on the north-easter storm described in the press which primarily affected the Northeast and New England. In that we could locate only a very few accounts of specific fatalities associated with a specific cause, we choose to employ a range based on reporting for the New England and the Northeast general areas. Thus, for the low end of our range we use 32 reported for the Northeast by the Associated Press on Jan 11 and 35 for the high end for New England reported by the United Press on Jan 12.

— 61 Daily Herald, Provo, UT. “61 Dead In Wake of Bad Storms,” Jan 12, 1953, p. 1.
— 61 Valley Morning Star, Harlingen, TX. “Severe Weather Abates…North,” 1-13-1953, p12.
— 49 Wisconsin State Journal, Madison. “Storms Lash Nation; 49 Persons Die,” 1-12-1953.
— 48 Panama City News, FL. “Cold, Floods Hit Nation After Brutal Storms,” 1-12-1953, p. 1.
— 40 Progress-Index, Petersburg, VA. “Rain and Snow Pelt Both Coasts,” Jan 12, 1953, p. 1.
–36-40 Cumberland Evening Times, MD. “Relief…Northeast…Storm Wake,” 12 Jan 1953, p.1.
— 39 AP. “Storm Death Toll 39; 22 in Northeast.” Oneonta Star, NY. 1-12-1953, p. 1.
— 38 Sunday Times Signal, Zanesville, OH. “38 Perish…Storms Lash Nation,” 1-11-1953, p1.
— 34 Fitchburg Sentinel, MA. “What Happened in ’53…Year In Review,” Dec 28, 1953, 7.
— 32 (Northeast). AP. “32 Perish as Storms Lash Northeast.” Post-Standard, Syracuse. 1-11-1053, 1.

Summary of Breakout of Winter Storm Related Fatalities by State

Connecticut ( 1)
Maine ( 1)
Massachusetts ( 1)
New Jersey ( 7)
Pennsylvania ( 2)
Virginia ( 1)
Total 13

Winter Storm Related Fatalities by State (and locality and cause, when noted):

Connecticut ( 1)
–1 Locale not noted, Jan 10. Heart attack; Sister Mary Ciara while walking to mass in snow during storm.

Indiana (4-6)
–6 UP. “Vicious Storm Strikes East.” Logansport Pharos Tribune, IN. 1-10-1953, p. 1.
–4 Angola area. Car skids on icy US 27 into path of simi-trailer.

Maine ( 1)
–1 New Harbor. Lobsterman Fred Duplissey drowned in his 30-foot boat.

Massachusetts (1)
–1 Shelburne, Jan 11. Heart attack while shoveling snow; Clinton Spicer, 69.

Michigan ( 2)
–2 United Press. “Vicious Storm Strikes East.” Logansport Pharos Tribune, IN. 1-10-1953, p. 1.

New England (29-35)
–35 United Press. “61 Dead In Wake of Bad Storms,” Daily Herald, Provo, UT. 1-12-1953, p. 1.
–31 Wisconsin State Journal. “Storms Lash Nation; 49 Persons Die,” 1-12-1953.
–30 Panama City News, FL. “Cold, Floods Hit Nation After…Storms,” 1-12-1953, p. 1.
–29 Fitchburg Sentinel, MA. “29 Lose Lives in N. England…” 1-12-1953, p. 1.
–27 UP. “44 Dead, Thousands Lack Heat…” Herald-American, Syracuse, NY. 1-11-1953, p. 1.
–22 AP. “32 Perish as Storms Lash Northeast.” Post-Standard, Syracuse. 1-11-1953, p. 1.
–16 AP. “16 Die in N.E. Storm.” Biddeford Daily Journal, ME. 1-10-1953, p. 1.
–11 Overexertion
— 3 Highway accidents
— 1 Fall
— 1 Drowning

New Jersey ( 7)
–7 Sunday Times Signal, Zanesville, OH. “38 Perish As Storms Lash Nation,” 1-11-1953, p. 1.

New York ( 3)
–3 AP. “Worst Storm of Winter Closes Schools in State.” Post-Standard, Syracuse, NY. 1-10-1953, 1.
–2 Albany. Heart attacks while shoveling snow.
–1 Railroad worker killed when struck by a train as he was clearing ditch of snow.

Oregon ( 1)
–1 Sunday Times Signal, Zanesville, OH. “38 Perish As Storms Lash Nation,” 1-11-1953, p. 1.

Pennsylvania ( 2)
–2 Northeastern PA. Auto accidents; cars skidded on icy highways.

Virginia ( 1)
–1 Brazil Daily Times, IN: “Ice, Snow Storm Hit Atlantic Seaboard.” 1-10-1953, p. 10.

Washington ( 1)
–1 Sunday Times Signal, Zanesville, OH. “38 Perish As Storms Lash Nation,” 1-11-1953, p. 1.

Wisconsin ( 2)
–2 United Press. “Vicious Storm Strikes East.” Logansport Pharos Tribune, IN. 1-10-1953, p. 1.

Narrative Information

Jan 10, AP: “Boston, Jan. 10 – (AP) – At least 16 persons lost their lives in the northeast storm yesterday [9th] that blanketed New England with up to 20 inches of show before turning to sleet and freezing rain in southern sections.

“Eleven of the deaths were attributed to over-exertion, three persons died in highway mishaps, one died in a fall and another drowned….

“The heaviest snow accumulation was in western Massachusetts where 15 inches was reported in North Adams and about 20 inches on the Mohawk Trail. Nine inches fell in Boston before rising temperatures turned the precipitation to rain. A 15-inch fall was reported at Bedford airport. Vermont state police reported 10 inches in Bennington and Rutland and seven inches in Montpelier. Six inches fell in Portland, Me., and five in Lewiston. New Haven, Conn., got only 1.5 inches of snow, but it was raining and sleeting there since early Thursday. Providence, R.I., reported three inches of snow before the mercury rose of 34 and rain and sleet set in….” (Associated Press. “16 Die in N.E. Storm.” Biddeford Daily Journal, ME. 1-10-1953, p. 1.)

Jan 10, Brazil Daily Times, IN: “Electric power, transportation and communication systems were ripped out in large areas of the Atlantic Seaboard today by winter’s worst ice and snow storm in five years. And in rain-drenched Northern California two muddy, swollen rivers threatened to spill over their banks and flood fertile western farm lands.

“At least 27 persons were killed in accidents caused by freezing rain, rain and snow. In New England accidents took 19 lives. New York State had three, Pennsylvania two, Indiana two and Virginia one….” (Brazil Daily Times, IN: “Ice, Snow Storm Hit Atlantic Seaboard.” 1-10-1953, p. 10.)

Jan 11, AP: “(By the Associated Press) Winter’s worst storms, which brought snow, wind, sleet and rain to widely scattered sections of the nation, steadily weakened Saturday after causing 38 deaths. The storms — centered in New England, the Southeast, and the North Pacific coast states dropped up to 3 inches of ice on some transcontinental highways and cut off power in about 100,000 homes. And the Weather Bureau said there were prospects of more heavy snow and freezing rain in the northeastern part of the country already hard hit….

“Road crews in Maryland hacked away at a 2 to 3-inch sheet of ice that coated U.S. Highway 40.

“In Waterbury, Conn., where power failure silenced radio stations and the police and fire alarm systems, the Waterbury American had no power to receive news, set type or print. Trees and power lines were taxed to the breaking point by tons of ice.

“Twenty-two persons died in New England, seven in New Jersey three in upstate New York, four in Indiana, one in Oregon and one in Washington…” (Sunday Times Signal, Zanesville, OH. “38 Perish As Storms Lash Nation,” 1-11-1953, p. 1.)

Jan 12, Fitchburg Sentinel, MA: “The backlash of the three-day storm which left 29 dead and a million dollars in damage throughout New England pelted Fitchburg this forenoon with a light snowfall which covered streets and made driving hazardous as a temperature of 28 degrees iced highways. Clearing and colder weather was forecast for late today as the three-day storm was blowing out to sea….The snowfall for the storm was 14½ inches….” [Paper notes a “60-hour uninterrupted” fight “against the three-day North-easter.”] (Fitchburg Sentinel, MA. “29 Lose Lives in N. England; Loss $1 Million.” 1-12-1953, p. 1.)

Sources

Associated Press. “16 Die in N.E. Storm.” Biddeford Daily Journal, ME. 1-10-1953, p. 1. Accessed 5-25-2023 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/biddeford-journal-jan-10-1953-p-1/

Associated Press. “32 Perish as Storms Lash Northeast.” Post-Standard, Syracuse. 1-11-1053, p.1. Accessed 5-26-2023 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/syracuse-post-standard-jan-11-1953-p-2/

Associated Press. “Northeaster to Quit New England Today.” Portsmouth Herald, NH. 1-12-1953, p. 1. Accessed 5-26-2023 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/portsmouth-herald-jan-12-1953-p-1/

Associated Press. “Storm Death Toll 39; 22 in Northeast.” Oneonta Star, NY. 1-12-1953, p. 1. Accessed 5-26-2023 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/oneonta-star-jan-12-1953-p-1/

Associated Press. “Winter Eases Its Grip on Connecticut. ”Lowell Sun, MA. 1-11-1953, p. 10. Accessed 5-26-2023 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/lowell-sun-jan-11-1953-p-10/

Associated Press. “Worst Storm of Winter Closes Schools in State.” Post-Standard, Syracuse, NY. 1-10-1953, p. 1. Accessed 5-26-2023 at:
https://newspaperarchive.com/syracuse-post-standard-jan-10-1953-p-2/

Brazil Daily Times, IN: “Ice, Snow Storm Hit Atlantic Seaboard.” 1-10-1953, p. 10. Accessed 5-25-2023 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/brazil-daily-times-jan-10-1953-p-10/

Clovis News-Journal, NM. “Rain, Snow Pelt Both Seaboards,” Jan 12, 1953, p. 4. Accessed at: http://www.newspaperarchive.com/FullPagePdfViewer.aspx?img=117141636

Cumberland Evening Times, MD. “Relief sighted for Northeast In Storm Wake,” 12 Jan 1953, 1. Accessed at: http://www.newspaperarchive.com/FullPagePdfViewer.aspx?img=102491266

Fitchburg Sentinel, MA. “29 Lose Lives in N. England; Loss $1 Million.” 1-12-1953, p. 1. Accessed 5-26-2023 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/fitchburg-sentinel-jan-12-1953-p-1/

Fitchburg Sentinel, MA. “What Happened in ’53 – Here’s Year In Review,” Dec 28, 1953, 7. Accessed at: http://www.newspaperarchive.com/FullPagePdfViewer.aspx?img=39309091

Panama City News, FL. “Cold, Floods Hit Nation After Brutal Storms,” 1-12- 1953, p. 1. Accessed at: http://www.newspaperarchive.com/FullPagePdfViewer.aspx?img=34843184

Progress-Index, Petersburg, VA. “Rain and Snow Pelt Both Coasts,” 1-12-1953, p. 1. Accessed at: http://www.newspaperarchive.com/FullPagePdfViewer.aspx?img=95384729

Sunday Times Signal, Zanesville, OH. “38 Perish As Storms Lash Nation.” 1-11-1953, p. 1. Accessed at: http://www.newspaperarchive.com/FullPagePdfViewer.aspx?img=8607512

United Press. “61 Dead In Wake of Bad Storms.” Daily Herald, Provo, UT. 1-12-1953, p. 1. Accessed at: http://www.newspaperarchive.com/FullPagePdfViewer.aspx?img=132761279

United Press. “Atlantic Seaboard Hard Hit By Ice, Snow Storm.” Dunkirk Evening Observer, NY. 1-10-1953, p. 1. Accessed 5-26-2023 at:
https://newspaperarchive.com/dunkirk-evening-observer-jan-10-1953-p-1/

United Press. “Skidding Auto Hits Truck; 4 Persons Die.” Logansport Pharos Tribune, IN. 1-10-1953, 1. Accessed 5-25-2023: https://newspaperarchive.com/logansport-pharos-tribune-jan-10-1953-p-1/

United Press. “Vicious Storm Strikes East.” Logansport Pharos Tribune, IN. 1-10-1953, p. 1. Accessed 5-25-2023 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/logansport-pharos-tribune-jan-10-1953-p-1/

Valley Morning Star, Harlingen, TX. “Severe Weather Abates in North,” 13 Jan 1953, p. 12. Accessed at: http://www.newspaperarchive.com/FullPagePdfViewer.aspx?img=16372298

Wisconsin State Journal, Madison. “Storms Lash Nation; 49 Persons Die,” Jan 12, 1953, p. 2. Accessed at: http://www.newspaperarchive.com/FullPagePdfViewer.aspx?img=100024945