1954 — March 1-4, Ohio snow storms/winter weather, esp. Cleveland, OH –23-24
— 24 State. Blanchard tally from localities breakout below, including 12 in Cleveland, March 1.
— 23 AP. “Cleveland Digging Out of…Storm.” Evening Independent, Massillon, OH, 3-5-1954, p.1.
— 16 State. AP. “Old Man Winter Deals New Blow to Northern Ohio.” Hamilton, 3-4-1954, p1.
Breakout by Localities:
— 1 Celinn, Grand Lake Lagoon, March 1. Car slides off road into Lagoon; woman, 21, drowns.[1]
–~12 Cleveland-area. Heart attacks from shoveling snow. Schmidlin and Schmidlin, p. 41.
— 12 Cleveland, March 1. “…heart attacks attributable to over exertion in shoveling snow.”[2]
–1 Apparent heart attack after walking through snow drifts; Grady A. Barnett, 35.[3]
–1 E. 55th St. station; worker (Benjamin Farris) slips off icy boxcar ladder; crushed by train.[4]
–1 Heart attack after shoveling snow; Mrs. Frances Hannon, 46.[5]
–1 Heart attack after shoveling snow; Eugene Lankart, 68.[6]
–1 Apparent heart attack after walking through snow drifts; Jacob Majerczak, 62.[7]
–1 Heart attack and exposure; Thomas Massey, 68, outside home in snow.[8]
–1 Heart attack after shoveling snow; Fred Miller, 79.[9]
–1 Heart attack after shoveling snow; Edward J. Suchy, 43.[10]
–1 Apparent heart attack after walking through snow drifts; Dale W. Teeters, 49.[11]
–1 Heart attack after shoveling snow; John Vargo, 62.[12]
— 6 Cleveland, March 4-5.
–1 March 4-5. Apparent hypothermia; James Kerlik, 64, found frozen near home in snow.[13]
–1 March 4-5. Apparent heart attack; George Meyers, 52, collapsed in his yard.[14]
–1 March 4-5. Apparent heart attack after shoveling snow; Elmer Mohr, 28.[15]
–1 March 4-5. Apparent heart attack “after fighting…way through a heavy snow.” Leo Pytko.[16]
–1 March 4-5. Carbon monoxide poisoning in car; Mark Warren, 28, of Lansing, MI.[17]
–1 March 4-5 Apparent heart attack after shoveling snow; Harry Weinbrandt, 55.[18]
— 1 Geauga County, March 4-5. Andrew P. Miller, 22, crushed under tractor; trying to move truck.[19]
— 1 Jackson, March 1. Heart attack while clearing walkway at home; male, 61.[20]
— 1 Mansfield, Springmill, March 4. Heart attack while shoveling snow, Edward West, 61.[21]
— 1 Parma, March 1. Car skids into another on slippery road; Girl passenger, 14, killed.[22]
— 1 Toledo, March 1. Heart attack while shoveling snow at home; Peter P. Belef, 65.[23]
Narrative Information
March 1: “Cleveland (AP) — Northern Ohio’s biggest snowstorm since 1950 roared in on driving winds today, crippling industry and transportation. Indirectly, the March blizzard claimed three lives, two in Cleveland and one in Toledo. From northwest Ohio to an area east of Cleveland, buses and cars labored against snow-clogged highways.
“Cleveland was hardest hit, bringing reminders of the Thanksgiving storm of 1950, which piled up nearly two feet of snow and tied up the city for a week. Western areas of Cleveland, including Hopkins Municipal Airport, had 13 inches on the ground by daylight. On the eastern edges of the metropolitan area there were only a few inches. Absenteeism was high in many offices and factories. Schools were closed in Cuyahoga County and the only college operating here was Western Reserve University….Side streets were mostly impassable.
“Forecasters said another three inches of snow would fall tonight. Freezing rain was mixed with snow at mid-day.
“Thirteen-year-old Vivian Frangos was killed when a car in which she was riding skidded into another auto in suburban Parma….
“Other northern Ohio cities were more fortunate than Cleveland. Akron had about 6 inches of snow, and the total was expected to be 10 inches. Schools were open in Akron, but closed in the rest of Summit County….” (Associated Press. “Wet March Snow Buries Much of Northern Ohio.” Lima News, OH, 3-1-1954, p. 1.)
March 1: “March roared into Ohio like the proverbial lion today. The new month brought heavy snow to most of the state, but none to an eastern fringe area from Youngstown northward, where two inches of rain was reported. The heavy snow brought traffic deaths and school closings as weathermen measured snow on the ground at depths from 13 inches to one inch….
“Weather experts at Columbus said a cold front moving into Ohio from the west and southwest Sunday afternoon [Feb 28] which stopped over Eastern Ohio in a ‘block,’ was responsible.
“By midmorning, snow on the ground ranged from 13 inches at Cleveland, through 11 at Ashland, nine at Galion, eight at Hillsboro, six at Marysville, Toledo, Findlay and Zanesville, four at Prospect and Sedalia, five at Washington Court House, Chillicothe, to one inch at Cincinnati and Dayton in the lightly-hit southwest corner of the state.
“With temperatures only slightly below freezing Sunday night, snows were expected to remain slushy as temperatures rose to slightly above freezing later today. There were no indications of snow tonight, as temperatures were forecast in the 23-28 low range, and were expected to reach the mid-30’s by Tuesday mid-morning….” (United Press. “March Brings Thirteen-Inch Snow to some Pars of Ohio.” Defiance Crescent-News, OH, 3-1-1954, pp. 1-2).
March 2: “Tuesday [March 2] dawned crisp and clear over most of Ohio, revealing the aftermaths of this winter’s ‘big snow.’ It brought closed schools, late buses, altered sports schedules and interrupted telephone service. The snow generally had stopped falling, but winter temperatures remained, with mercury readings six degrees below normal. The snowstorm itself had moved northeast into Canada, but was followed by a cold wave from the plains states which dropped night readings to an average 10 degrees below freezing.
“In Cleveland, still struggling under a 15-inch blanket, the coroner’s office reported a dozen persons dead of heart attacks, attributable to over exertion in shoveling snow.
“Benjamin F. Eggers, 61, of Jackson, district chairman of the Ohio Highway Safety Council, fell dead while clearing walks at his home Monday night.
“Schools were reported closed today in Lawrence, Gallia, Clinton, Logan, Ross, Knox, Huron, Stark, Ottawa, Richland, Cuyahoga, Lorain, Lake, Geauga, Medina, Summit and Crawford Counties. Schools were open in other areas only for students who could reach the buildings on foot.
“In Northern Ohio, even pedestrian traffic was hazardous. In Cleveland, pedestrians wallowed in icy streets, knee-deep slush and miniature lakes of freezing water caused by mush-clogged catch basins. Some secondary streets were expected to remain impassable for another two days, though major city routes were open. Drifting and plowed snow made ‘igloos’ of hundreds of cars parked on side lanes….
“At Oberlin, the Oberlin Inn was filled to triple capacity. Stranded motorists slept in dining rooms….Twenty stranded motorists were put up at the farm home of Rudolph Newman on Route 20 and today awaited clearing crews. Route 20 east of Oberlin remained blocked by two Greyhound buses which swerved sideways and were abandoned. Route 42 remained impassable between Medina and Ashland.
“Gallipolis was isolated from the world Monday, but telephone company officials said they hoped to restore service late today….Heavy snow and ice and falling trees cut power lines to leave many homes without electricity…..” (United Press. “Ohio Digging Out From Heavy Snow In Crisp Weather.” Defiance Crescent-News, OH, 3-2-1954, p. 1.)
March 3: “A gale-driven snowstorm whipped through northern Ohio today and forced the closing of at least 41 schools in Defiance and nearby counties. But, according to state weathermen, the worst is yet to come. While it appeared at noon that skies might clear, a morning State Highway Patrol forecast indicated as much as eight inches of snow might fall throughout northern Ohio during today and tonight. Continued high winds ranging in velocity between 40 and 45 m.p.h., with gusts up to 65 m.p.h., were expected to accompany what may be winter’s worst storm here.
“Traffic was slowed to a near walk as roads and highways were covered with a thin coat of ice and snow. Attempts by State Highway Department crews to thaw highways were thwarted by the lusty cold winds which caused freezing. However, grit was being applied at major intersections, railroad crossings, and curves, department spokesmen said. Travel was not recommended unless it was absolutely necessary….
“There was a possibility that the present storm may be the start of a late winter cold spell which could last throughout March. The U.S. weather bureau said that below normal temperatures are indicated for this month in all sections of the nation except the Northeast and Far Southwest.” (Defiance Crescent-News, OH. “Most Area Schools Shut by Gale-Whipped Snows.” 3-3-1954, p. 1.)
March 4: “Cleveland (AP) — Weather-weary northern Ohio staggered under another blow from Old Man Winter today as wind-driven snow and freezing temperatures snarled traffic and disrupted schools and industry. Three more deaths last night and today brought the storm toll of the last five days in Ohio to 16. The latest victims, all Clevelanders, were Elmer Mohr, 28, who died after shoveling snow; James Kerlik, 64, an Erie Railroad guard found frozen in the snow near his home; and Leo Pytko, 64, who collapsed after fighting his way through a heavy wind.
“The Cleveland Auto Club reported ‘all roads to and from Cleveland’ extremely hazardous after three inches of snow last night and today iced the pavements. In addition to the slickness, many roads were drifted over by winds which went up to 50 miles an hour last night and ranged from 25 to 30 miles an hour today.
“All public and parochial schools in Greater Cleveland closed today and will remain closed tomorrow. Many industrial and office workers, hampered by jammed streets and crippled city transportation schedules, failed to show up for work….” (Associated Press. “Old Man Winter Deals New Blow to Northern Ohio.” Hamilton Daily News Journal, 3-4-1954, p. 1.)
March 5: “Cleveland — Cleveland, reeling from five straight days of snow and wind, bent its back again today and hoped for clearing skies and a mild thaw. Buses got ‘lost’ or ran hours behind schedule in the swirling whiteness yesterday, schools shut their doors, industry ground toward a halt, stores closed two hours early, hotels were jammed and hundreds of drivers were marooned for hours in stalled cars.
“Since Sunday [Feb 28] 20.8 inches of snow have fallen on this Lake Erie city and for the past three days a strong west wind off the lake has drifted snow over roads, steadily wearing down highway crews.
“Throughout the state, at least 23 deaths are attributed to the storm.
“Mayor Anthony J. Celebrezzo urged Cleveland citizens to avoid driving downtown unless on an emergency occupation. He also ordered police to check an estimated 2,000 stalled cars for marooned or helpless drivers.
“Weathermen pointed out the total snow drop was just 1.3 inches less than the 22.1 that fell Nov. 23-28, 1950, in the ‘big one.’ Some weather officials said they considered this storm worse because of the wind. Cleveland’s waterfront juts out northeastward from the center of the city, causing the wind to swirl and pick up fallen snow which was redeposited on the east side. The forecaster at Cleveland airport said he was sure more of the east side snow yesterday had been blown there than had fallen. But he admitted that certainly didn’t help residents.
“The worst traffic jam was on memorial Shoreway NE — along the lake — where scores of truck and car drivers spent more than 11 hours without food yesterday. Cars and trucks stalled where the Shoreway grows narrower — and eventually nothing moved on some sections…. [end of p.1]
“The latest deaths, all in the Cleveland area, were those of Harry Weinbrandt, 55, of East Cleveland; Mark Warren, 28, of Lansing, Mich.; George Meyers, 52, of Cleveland; and Andrew P. Miller, 22 in nearby Geauga county. Weinbrandt collapsed after shoveling snow; Warren was found dead in a parked car of carbon monoxide; Meyers collapsed in his yard and Miller was pinned under a tractor he had borrowed to move a stalled truck….” (AP. “Cleveland Digging Out of Worst Storm.” Evening Independent, Massillon, OH, 3-5-1954, pp. 1 and 12.)
Sources
Associated Press. “Cleveland Digging Out of Worst Storm.” Evening Independent, Massillon, OH, 3-5-1954, pp. 1 and 12. Accessed 11-10-2018 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/evening-independent-mar-05-1954-p-1/
Associated Press. “Old Man Winter Deals New Blow to Northern Ohio.” Hamilton Daily News Journal, 3-4-1954, p. 1. Accessed 11-9-2018 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/hamilton-daily-news-journal-mar-04-1954-p-1/
Associated Press. “Wet March Snow Buries Much of Northern Ohio.” Lima News, OH, 3-1-1954, p. 1. Accessed 11-9-2018 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/lima-news-mar-01-1954-p-1/
Daily Reporter, Dover, OH. “County Digs” (continued from p.1), 3-2-1954, p. 4. Accessed 11-10-2018 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/dover-daily-reporter-mar-02-1954-p-4/
Defiance Crescent-News, OH. “Most Area Schools Shut by Gale-Whipped Snows.” 3-3-1954, p. 1. Accessed 11-10-2018 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/defiance-crescent-news-mar-03-1954-p-1/
Lima News. “One Dead, 15 Hurt on Slippery Roads.” 3-1-1954, p. 1. Accessed 11-9-2018 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/lima-news-mar-01-1954-p-1/
Mansfield News-Journal, OH. “Shovels Snow, Dies.” 3-5-1954, p. 20. Accessed 11-10-2018 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/mansfield-news-journal-mar-05-1954-p-20/
Schmidlin, Thomas W. and Jeanne Appelhans Schmidlin. Thunder in the Heartland: A Chronicle of Outstanding Weather Events in Ohio. Kent State University Press, 1996, 362 pages.
United Press. “March Brings Thirteen-Inch Snow to some Pars of Ohio.” Defiance Crescent-News, OH, 3-1-1954, pp. 1-2. Accessed 11-10-2018 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/defiance-crescent-news-mar-01-1954-p-1/
United Press. “Ohio Digging Out From Heavy Snow In Crisp Weather.” Defiance Crescent-News, OH, 3-2-1954, p. 1. Accessed 11-9-2018 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/defiance-crescent-news-mar-02-1954-p-1/
[1] Lima News. “One Dead, 15 Hurt on Slippery Roads.” 3-1-1954, p. 1.
[2] “In Cleveland, still struggling under a 15-inch blanket, the coroner’s office reported a dozen persons dead of heart attacks, attributable to over exertion in shoveling snow.” (United Press. “Ohio Digging Out From Heavy Snow In Crisp Weather.” Defiance Crescent-News, OH, 3-2-1954, p. 1.)
[3] Daily Reporter, Dover, OH. “County Digs” (continued from p.1), 3-2-1954, p. 4.
[4] “Benjamin Farris, 40, railroad worker, slipped off an icy box car ladder and was crushed beneath the wheels of a Nickel Plate freight train at the E. 55th street station.” (AP. “Wet March Snow…Ohio.” Lima News, 3-1-1954, p. 1.
[5] Daily Reporter, Dover, OH. “County Digs” (continued from p.1), 3-2-1954, p. 4.
[6] Daily Reporter, Dover, OH. “County Digs” (continued from p.1), 3-2-1954, p. 4.
[7] Daily Reporter, Dover, OH. “County Digs” (continued from p.1), 3-2-1954, p. 4.
[8] Associated Press. “Wet March Snow Buries Much of Northern Ohio.” Lima News, OH, 3-1-1954, p. 1.
[9] Daily Reporter, Dover, OH. “County Digs” (continued from p.1), 3-2-1954, p. 4.
[10] Daily Reporter, Dover, OH. “County Digs” (continued from p.1), 3-2-1954, p. 4.
[11] Daily Reporter, Dover, OH. “County Digs” (continued from p.1), 3-2-1954, p. 4.
[12] Daily Reporter, Dover, OH. “County Digs” (continued from p.1), 3-2-1954, p. 4.
[13] AP. “Old Man Winter Deals New Blow to Northern Ohio.” Hamilton Daily News Journal, 3-4-1954, p. 1.
[14] AP. “Cleveland Digging Out of Worst Storm.” Evening Independent, Massillon, OH, 3-5-1954, p. 12.
[15] AP. “Old Man Winter Deals New Blow to Northern Ohio.” Hamilton Daily News Journal, 3-4-1954, p. 1.
[16] Leo Pytko, 64. (AP. “Old Man Winter Deals…Blow to Northern Ohio.” Hamilton News Journal, 3-4-1954, p. 1.
[17] AP. “Cleveland Digging Out of Worst Storm.” Evening Independent, Massillon, OH, 3-5-1954, p. 12.
[18] AP. “Cleveland Digging Out of Worst Storm.” Evening Independent, Massillon, OH, 3-5-1954, pp. 1 and 12.
[19] AP. “Cleveland Digging Out of Worst Storm.” Evening Independent, Massillon, OH, 3-5-1954, p. 12. This county is just east of Cleveland.
[20] “Benjamin F. Eggers, 61, of Jackson…fell dead while clearing walks at his home Monday night.” (United Press. “Ohio Digging Out From Heavy Snow In Crisp Weather.” Defiance Crescent-News, OH, 3-2-1954, p. 1.)
[21] Mansfield News-Journal, OH. “Shovels Snow, Dies.” 3-5-1954, p. 20.
[22] Associated Press. “Wet March Snow Buries Much of Northern Ohio.” Lima News, OH, 3-1-1954, p. 1. (Parma is on southern edge of Cleveland in Cuyahoga County.) Victim identified as Vivian Frangos. (Daily Reporter, Dover, OH. “County Digs” (continued from p.1), 3-2-1954, p. 4.)
[23] Associated Press. “Wet March Snow Buries Much of Northern Ohio.” Lima News, OH, 3-1-1954, p. 1.