1958 — March 19-22 Snowstorm, MD, New England, NJ, NY, VA and esp. SE PA/27–49-55

— 55 Blanchard tally based upon State breakouts below.
— 53 UP. “Spring Floods Threatening After Winter’s Last Storm.” Galveston News TX, 3/23/58
— 49 NWS FO, Philadelphia/Mount Holly. “Historical Weather Facts…,” Oct 17, 2005.
–~49 UP. “Floods Threaten to Hit Seaboard; 49 Persons Dead.” Daily Courier, Connellsville PA. 3-22-1958, p1.

Maryland ( 8)
— 8 NWS FO, Philadelphia/Mount Holly. “Historical Weather Facts…,” Oct 17, 2005.)
— 6 UP. “Spring Floods Threatening After Winter’s Last Storm.” Galveston News TX, 3/23/58

New England ( 3)
— 3 UP. “Spring Floods Threatening After Winter’s Last Storm.” Galveston News TX, 3/23/58

New Jersey ( 7)
— 7 UP. “Spring Floods Threatening After Winter’s Last Storm.” Galveston News TX, 3/23/58

New York ( 8)
–8 UP. “Spring Floods Threatening After Winter’s Last Storm.” Galveston News TX, 3-23-1958.
–4 New York auto accidents. Gettysburg Times. “Eve-of-Spring.” 3-21-1958, p. 12.
–2 New York policemen killed when their cruiser skidded on snowy expressway into car.

Pennsylvania (27)
–>33 UP. “State Faces Flood Threat After Snow.” Daily Leader-Times, Kittanning, PA. 3-24-1958, 1.
— 27 NWS FO, Philadelphia/Mount Holly. “Historical Weather Facts…,” Oct 17, 2005.
— 27 UP. “Spring Floods Threatening After Winter’s Last Storm.” Galveston News TX, 3-23-1958.
–>25 Daily Intelligencer, Doylestown, PA. “Big Dig-Out Underway In State.” 3-22-1958, p.1.
— 20 Blanchard tally from locality breakouts noted below.
Breakout of Pennsylvania snowstorm related fatalities by locality where we have found info.:
–1 Ardmore. Electrocution. Albert I. Greene found beside his parked car and dangling power line.
–1 Briar Hill, March 21. Car slides out of control on slick road into reservoir drowning passenger.
–2 Mercer Twp. Carbon monoxide poisoning; fumes from non-vented gas stove; farmhands.
–1 Churchtown. George Saunders, 55, clearing snow from chicken house roof, slips, impaled on pipe.
–1 Lebanon, March 20. Collapsed while shoveling snow; Warren P. Robinson, 37.
–1 Lititz. Henry D. Schneck, 64, died while shoveling snow outside his home.
–1 Morgantown area. Heart attack; stranded motorist on PA Turnpike as he reached restaurant.
–1 Morgantown area PA Turnpike restaurant. CA woman in auto accident died at the restaurant.
–1 Mount Carmel. George Donkochik, 42, father of five, hit by skidding automobile.
–1 Philadelphia. Mrs. Mary Pendergast, 54, struck by skidding car and killed.
–1 Philadelphia, March 19. Emma Price, 64, hit by auto during the storm and killed.
–2 Philadelphia. Electrocutions by felled power lines.
–1 Dennis Madel, 13, electrocuted when he stepped on a downed live wire.
–2 Philadelphia. Tractor trailer skids through guard rail and 150 feet down to river bank.
–1 Pocono Region, PA Turnpike. Two-car collision; Jack Titus of Dunmore, Lackawanna Co.
–1 Willow Grove, Mar 19. Car skids into truck; Mrs. Mary Pendergast, 54, thrown from auto.
–1 York. Collapsed while shoveling snow; Manus H. Grove, 68.
–1 Locale not noted. Power out; no light; victim fell down a flight of stairs and died.

Virginia ( 2)
— 2 UP. “Spring Floods Threatening After Winter’s Last Storm.” Galveston News TX, 3/23/58

Narrative Information

NWS FO, Philadelphia/Mount Holly: “1958…(Mar 19-22) VA-MD-PA-NJ-NY-New England. Unusually late, heavy snowstorm. Called worse storm in 40 years in SE PA. Snowfall 17.7″ at TTN, greatest since February 1899, and a state average of 13″. Heaviest NJ fall 25.2″ in Sussex Co. 3″ to over 4′ in PA. Damage of $10 million in MD and PA and over $3 1/2 million in NJ. 49 dead, 27 in PA and 8 in MD. Many persons injured. (LS6211).” (NWS FO, Philadelphia/Mount Holly. “Historical Weather Facts…,” Oct 17, 2005.)

Newspaper

March 20 (UP): “By United Press. A dying winter, with spring only hours away, threw a snow-laden farewell punch at Pennsylvania today and buried sections of the state with up to 23 inches of snow. Three persons died in highway accidents, the Pennsylvania Turnpike was closed from Harrisburg to the New Jersey border, and thousands of electrical wires were torn down by the heavy, wet snow and winds of 20 miles an hour with gusts to 30.

“Philadelphia p9olice estimated that more than 1,000 wires were down in that city alone, and flooded the air with urgent requests for pedestrians and motorists to exercise caution and avoid the fallen lines.

“Train service was disrupted by wires and trees across the tracks and commuter service in the metropolitan areas showed delays of up to 90 minutes because of the obstacles and heavier than normal passenger loads….

“Statewide, weather stations reported morning falls ranging up to 23 inches in the eastern portions and generally added the laconic ‘still snowing.’ West Chester reported the 23 inch fall in one of the freaks of the storm as other stations ranged to one foot or less. Willow Grove reported 11 inches, and suburban Philadelphia 10 inches. The State Police said up to 12 inches fell in the Scranton area. Tamaqua in the anthracite region made an early report of eight inches, bringing its total from fur major storms this winter to 45 inches. Philipsburg, Blairsville, and Pottstown also reported eight inches. One to five inches was reported in the scattered sections of north-western Pennsylvania. Bradford reported seven inches. Harrisburg reported six inches in the central Pennsylvania areas, with Altoona showing four inches. Williamsport and Brookville escaped with early morning readings of one inch. A four inch fall – with more coming down – gave Philadelphia its snowiest winter in 40 years. The morning accumulation was a total of 36 inches for the winter, compared to the record 39 of 1917-1918.

“One hundred and 50 high school students from Darby spent the night in school buses stranded on a hill near Gasp in Lancaster County. The youngsters started out to see a PIAA basketball game. The team reached Lancaster safely, and played, but the four buses of rooters didn’t get there until after the game was ended. They were stranded on a hill over night on the return trip without blankets. Early today they walked from the buses to Mount Vernon Inn and took shelter.

“The snow alone was hazard sufficient, but from all sections there came the report of electrical lines ripped out. Philadelphia’s police bulletins said it was the worst falling of wires in memory, and probably the worst in city history. Police said the wires were down in all sections of the city – and that it was impossible to pinpoint any one area.

“Preliminary reports indicated the storm had an even more devastating effect than that of Feb 15-16 when snowfalls exceeded 24 inches in the state.

“Power lines felt the full impact. The Pennsylvania Power and Light Co., which serves central and some parts of eastern Pennsylvania reported it was the worst in the company’s history with more wires down and disconnected than were reported during Hurricane Hazel in 1954….” (UP. “Eastern Counties Get Up to 23 Inches Snow.” Daily Leader-Times, Kittanning, PA. 3-20-1958, p1.)

March 21, UP: “By United Press. Gov. George M. Leader today proclaimed a state of ‘extreme emergency’ in the worst late winter snowfall to hit Pennsylvania in 16 years. Citing highway blockage and widespread power failures, Leader directed all state agencies to ‘cooperate with public utility companies in efforts aimed at the restoration of essential service.’

“Hundreds of thousands of persons were left without power as the snow continued to fall. Emergencies were declared in several communities. About 30 persons were taken to Lower Bucks County Hospital in Bristol Thursday night when they were overcome by smoke and fumes from improperly ventilated kerosene and charcoal stoves pressed into service when power failed.

“At least 16 persons have died as a result of the storm.

“Leader authorized municipal officials to invoke emergency measures and suggested hiring temporary workers, renting equipment and cutting red tape to expedite aid to stricken areas. He said municipal officials should ‘enter into such contracts and agreements as may be required…without regard to time consuming procedures and formalities by law, mandatory constitutional requirements excepted.’\

“Six persons were killed on the highways during the storm, a girl drowned when an auto plunged into an icy lake, two were electrocuted by felled wires, four succumbed to heart attacks from overexertion, one man suffocated from a stove used when the power to his home was cut off, another was killed in a fall down a flight of steps in his darkened house, and a Lancaster County farmer was impaled on a pipe when he slipped while clearing snow from his chicken house roof….

“Hardest hit were Oxford, near West Chester, and Oley, near Reading, where snow piled up to 36 inches. Highways were impassable, schools were closed and train service was snarled.

“The snow – which caused more power damage in eastern and central Pennsylvania than the disastrous Hurricane Hazel in 1954 – was expected to stop sometime today….

“The severe coastal storm responsible for the storm was moving slowly northward off the Atlantic Coast and no further accumulations were expected in Pennsylvania. Temperatures were to remain above freezing today and dropping below freezing tonight….” (United Press. “12 Deaths in State Blamed on Worst Winter Snowfall.” The Daily Courier, Connellsville, PA. 3-21-1958, p. 1.)

March 23, UP: “By United Press. Winter’s last storm roared out to sea Saturday [March 22], leaving the threat of spring floods behind. The thaw that set in after the vicious storm passed posed to possibility that streams would overflow their banks along the northern half of the Eastern Seaboard.

“Occasional snow fell from New England smith to the Virginia mountains as residents of a 13-state area dug out from under a fall that exceeded 45 inches at some points and piled up in six-foot drifts at others. It was the worst storm of its type in 20 years.

“A United Press count showed at least 53 persons died in the storm, 27 in Pennsylvania, 8 in New York, 7 in New Jersey, 6 in Maryland, 3 in New England and 2 in Virginia.

“William Casey, 13, Taunton, Mass., died in his family’s home. The house was being heated with an outdoor cooker because the house was without power. The cooker used up all the oxygen and the boy was suffocated.

“The Pennsylvania turnpike, which had been closed throughout the storm, was opened again Saturday morning. Wind warning signals were withdrawn along the New England coast

“Telephone and electric power crews worked around the clock to restore service. About half the 110,000 phones knocked out by the storm in Pennsylvania had been restored by noon. Telephone damage in Pennsylvania was estimated at more than $1,000,000….” (UP. “Spring Floods Threatening After Winter’s Last Storm.” Galveston News TX, 3/23/1958, 1)

Sources

Associated Press. “10 Victims of Snowstorm.” The Gettysburg Times, PA. 3-21-1958, p. 2. Accessed 2-2-2023 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/gettysburg-times-mar-21-1958-p-2/

Associated Press. “Accidents Take 14 Lives In State.” Record Herald, Waynesboro, PA. 3-24-1958, p. 1. Accessed 2-3-2023 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/waynesboro-record-herald-mar-24-1958-p-1/

Associated Press. “Found Dead in Parked Auto.” Record Herald, Waynesboro, PA. 3-21-1958, p. 2. Accessed 2-2-2023 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/waynesboro-record-herald-mar-21-1958-p-2/

Daily Intelligencer, Doylestown, PA. “Big Dig-Out Underway In State.” 3-22-1958, p.1. Accessed 2-2-2023 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/doylestown-intelligencer-mar-22-1958-p-1/

Doylestown Intelligencer, PA. “More Snow Hits Coast (continued from p.1).” 3-21-1958, p. 3. Accessed 2-2-2023 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/doylestown-intelligencer-mar-21-1958-p-3/

Evening Standard, Uniontown, PA. “Woman Drowned in Auto Accident.” 3-21-2023, p. 1. Accessed 2-2-2023 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/uniontown-evening-standard-mar-21-1958-p-27/

Gettysburg Times. “Eve-of-Spring (continued from p.1).” 3-21-1958, p. 12. Accessed 2-2-2023 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/gettysburg-times-mar-21-1958-p-12/

Lebanon Daily News, PA. “Lebanon Man, 37, Fatally Stricken Shoveling Snow.” 3-20-1958, p. 1. Accessed 2-2-2023 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/lebanon-daily-news-mar-20-1958-p-1/

National Weather Service Weather Forecast Office, Philadelphia/Mount Holly. “Historical Weather Facts for the Philadelphia/Mt. Holly, NJ Forecast Area.” Mount Holly, NJ: NWS FO, Oct 17, 2005 update. Accessed 1-4-2018 at: https://www.weather.gov/phi/hist_phi

United Press. “12 Deaths in State Blamed on Worst Winter Snowfall.” The Daily Courier, Connellsville, PA. 3-21-1958, p. 1. Accessed 2-2-2023 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/connellsville-daily-courier-mar-21-1958-p-1/

United Press. “800 Marooned at ‘Pike Restaurant Finally Freed.” Daily Independent, Monessen, PA. 3-21-1958, p. 1. Accessed 2-2-2023 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/monessen-daily-independent-mar-21-1958-p-3/

United Press. ”Dead Men Ruled Monoxide Victims.” Simpsons’ Daily Leader-Times, Kittanning, PA. 3-24-1958, p. 1. Accessed 2-3-2023 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/kittanning-simpson-leader-times-mar-24-1958-p-1/

United Press. “Eastern Counties Get Up to 23 Inches Snow.” Daily Leader-Times, Kittanning, PA. 3-20-1958, p. 1. Accessed 2-2-2023 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/daily-leader-times-mar-20-1958-p-1/

United Press. “Spring Floods Threatening After Winter’s Last Storm.” Galveston News TX, 3-23-1958, p.1. Accessed 2-2-2023 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/galveston-daily-news-mar-23-1958-p-1/

United Press. “State Faces Flood Threat After Snow.” Daily Leader-Times, Kittanning, PA. 3-24-1958, p.1. Accessed 2-3-2023 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/kittanning-simpson-leader-times-mar-24-1958-p-1/

United Press. “Winter, With Spring Only Hours Away, Tosses Snowy Punch.” Lebanon Daily News, PA. 3-20-1958, p.1. Accessed 2-2-2023 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/lebanon-daily-news-mar-20-1958-p-1/