Snow Management in the St. Croix Valley

Posted on by

Main Street and Palace Theatre about 1915

Last week’s storms were cumulatively probably as much snow as we’ve had around here in one week for a good long time. The Historical Society has many photos of snowy winters over the years- back in the days before front end loaders and massive snow plows, days when the snow pretty much stayed where it fell unless it fell on the railroad or streetcar tracks. We thought it an appropriate time to share a few with you.This circa 1914 photo shows  Main Street from the corner of Monroe looking toward North. To the left is the Palace movie theatre, later Grant’s Store, and the Kalish Clothing Store topped by its famous minaret. Far down the street dead center is the Hill Pike Store, the corner of which appears in a later photo.Street Railroad Winter people walked tracks because they were cleared

Looking down Hinckley Hill to the golf course about 1900 you can see  someone making for town. This brave sole either knew the streetcar schedule well or was prepared to climb the bank in a hurry.On the RR tracks in big snow of 1926

After a big snow travel between Milltown and Calais was nearly impossible except along the railroad tracks which like the streetcar tracks were cleared. People risked their lives walking along the train tracks as the train could come on a pedestrian much more quickly than the streetcar. Although most people knew the train schedule by heart many people were killed on the tracks when surprised by “Specials”- unscheduled trains often carrying rich folks in a hurry.Plowing the Street car Tracks

​ In this photo the passengers in Calais streetcar 7 look on hopefully as the streetcar plow seems to have met its match. Sadly it appears it will suffer the fate the streetcar belowStreetcar snowbound​Sometimes the battle with the snow was lost and streetcars were temporarily abandoned in the drifts.

Clearing the way for Mayor Fowler's hearseWithout heavy equipment folks had to fall back on strong backs and shovels to clear the roads, here removing the snow on South Street in Calais after a monster storm in 1926. They hoped to connectSnow Clearing South Street 1926

with the crew working their way down South Street from Milltown.

Snow Removal in 1926

These fellows drew the long straw and had only to shovel sidewalks, this one on Germain Street just down from Washington. Ruth Clark’s house is to the left. It is now owned by Debbie Mitchell.

 

snow street car tracks horse and buggy walking on tracks holmestead

​ But life went on a hundred years ago even in the dead of winter. This is Main Street looking from the corner of Calais Avenue toward Hinckley Hill. A couple in the foreground are walking along the trolley tracks, a covered sleigh is making it’s own path to the right and further down Main Street several walking figures can be seen.

River Road, near golf course looking toward Hinckley HillThis horse and sleigh is proceeding toward Calais just in front of the golf course, long before there was a golf course. The Todd farm house, the farm purchased for the Golf course, is to the left. It is very likely the sleigh will soon come upon the cleared streetcar tracks at the intersection of Steamboat Street which you have already seen in photo two above.
​winter sceneIn one of our favorite winter scenes a horse pulling a small sled is drinking from the water barrel at the bottom of Church Street. A lady, well dressed for the weather, is walking toward the Hill Pike store, later Cole Bridges,to the right. In the background across the the river is the St Stephen waterfront. To the left is Hog Alley and just out of view would be the library although this is a very early photo and may predate its construction. A Boston Comedy show at the Opera House is advertised on the hoarding. G. K. Jones and Sons sold stoves and was likely very busy just then.
​

Leave a Reply