Remembering the “Great Blizzard of 1978”

The Neighb News asked readers to share their stories about the Great Blizzard of 1978.
The snow began in New England around mid morning on Monday, 2/6/78, and kept going for 33-36 hours. Con­necticut, Massachusetts and Rhode Island got hit the hardest. When it first started, everyone though it was going to be a regular, garden variety big storm. But by the early afternoon, snowfall was accumulating up to two inches an hour in some places.
The blizzard dumped 27.1 inches in Boston, and 40 inches in parts of Rhode Island. At least 99 people were killed in the northeast US and 4,500 were injured. The storm caused $520 million in damage in 1978 dollars.

In Massachusetts, 3,000 cars and 500 trucks were stranded on Route 128 alone, as people left work early to get home. Tragically, 14 people died from carbon monoxide poisoning on that road as they awaited rescue, running their cars for warmth. The high snow had covered their tailpipes.

Many people spent days in their vehicles throughout New England. Ninety-nine people died in the storm. The National Guard was called in to help, but even they had to wait until the runways were cleared.

In Fairhaven, the town already had 12 inches of snow from a previous storm, and then got pummeled with 26 more inches in the blizzard.

To learn more about the blizzard of 1978 visit: http://www.blizzardof78. org/; for local info, visit http://www. westislandweather.com/blizzardof 1978.htm

For photos of the blizzard visit the City of Boston Archive photos at https://www.flickr.com/
photos/ cityofbostonarchives/albums/ 72157650081976070

Here are a few stories from some of our readers.

“I sailed home”

My name is Edward DeMedeiros and I have a little story relating to that day.
Everyone, it seems, went to work that day. I can’t recall if schools were open, but I’m willing to bet they were; the forecast had called for FLURRIES!

I was working on Crapo Street in the South End of New Bedford, and the snow started coming down in huge flakes that didn’t stop. It was building steadily from about 8 or 9 a.m. We usually worked until 5, but this day our director told us all to go home some time around 3 that afternoon.

I was fortunate to get onto Route 18 North and made it as far as Coggeshall Street. The cars were all piled up, stuck, at the end of 18 at Coggeshall and I wound my way past them in my tiny Opel Kadett.

I bogged down just North of Coggeshall Street where the Bait Shop now stands, and that’s where I got stuck. The wind was behind me and I could feel the slight pushing every time a gust picked up. I opened my car doors and let the wind help to push me all the way to the far North End near Trucchi’s Market.

Yes, I sailed home that day!

My wife was pregnant and due at any moment, and just as I got home — that was the moment!
We had to call medical rescue, and they sent out a big green Army truck that came and took her to St Luke’s Hospital. She gave birth to a baby girl named Rebecca. I don’t know how many people remember that day. But it’s one I’ll never forget!

Sincerely, Ed DeMedeiros, New Bedford

A love story

So here is my story of the Blizzard of 78. It is a love story — my wedding anniversary — 40 years ago February 11, 1978.

When it started snowing I was delivering Leggs pantyhose to a small market in New Bedford’s north end. The UPS driver had occasion to call his terminal and he was told to finish up and return to the barn. In his words, “If UPS is calling us in, it must be the end of the world.”

Heeding his warning, I finished my last couple of deliveries and headed home in heavy snow.

My husband-to-be was working in Brockton and in a world before cell phones there was no way to call him about the storm or road conditions, so I just waited.

And waited.

The ride from Brockton took the better part of four hours. I was relieved beyond words to see him walking down the middle of the street, knee deep in snow, to my family’s home at about 7 p.m.

His boss and the driver that day was Mark, who lived a couple of streets over from us. Mark had a new car and just drove carefully and skillfully straight ahead until he got them home. I was so grateful.

I called my future mother-in-law to tell her he was home safe and would be spending the night with us, sleeping of course in my brother’s bedroom. The day the snow stopped, my husband walked home to Green Street in Fairhaven, to get ready for the wedding which was only a few days away.

The Valentine themed wedding was planned for Saturday morning, at St. Francis Xavier in Acushnet, reception at Gaudette’s Pavilion. The wedding went off without a hitch, once my dad got the town to plow the cul-de-sac.

His many calls ended with one of the selectmen himself riding in the big CAT earth mover to clear the snow that had been dumped at the end of the street, in front of our driveway.

The morning of the wedding was bright, sunny, and cold, snow drifts many feet high. I put on my wedding dress, cut two holes in the bottom of a large black plastic garbage bag, jumped in, stuffed my gown in as neatly as possible, donned my snow boots and parka, high heels in hand and proceeded to the church in my dad’s car.

My sister, along with the other attendants in their red dresses squeezed in. A woman who had been at the church singing at funeral masses that morning, stayed to sing at the wedding, as my future brother-in-law who was providing the music was stuck at his Springfield campus.

I walked down the aisle on time, in a church crowded with family and friends. We had flowers, a cake, lots of good food, and a live band. Everyone who could get there did, we had well over 100 guests and everyone enjoyed the church service and the reception, to my mother’s relief.

Who wouldn’t? They all had cabin fever after a week stuck at home. No honeymoon though, we hadn’t worked all week due to road closings — so work on Monday!

And my wonderful husband Ron, he never forgets the date — each year the Great Blizzard of 78 gets air time reminding him of the big day. Sometimes, it even snows.

Paula Jardin, Supervisor of Teaching & Learning, Fairhaven High School

Of course we move people in snow storms

February 6, 1978: We were supposed to move from our house in North Fairhaven to our new house in East Fairhaven.

When it started snowing on Monday, 2/6, I called the mover and asked if he would still move us.

“Of course,” he said. “We move people in snow storms!”

On Saturday and Sunday, February 3rd and 4th, we moved all our food and clothes to the new house.

When the storm finally ended, we had to shovel out many high drifts of snow to get the car out and go to the new house to get some food and clothes.

The street to the new house had not been plowed, so I had to shovel the street to get to the house, then shovel the driveway to be able to get into the house to get food and clothes to bring back to the house in North Fairhaven.

We didn’t get moved until Friday, so we stayed all week in the old house with no electricity, no heat, no phone! Our kitchen stove was propane, so we did have a little heat and could cook.

I made a mountain of snow in the back yard and put our food in it. We slept in the cellar wrapped in blankets.

That was a week we will never forget.

Art & Mariette Parent, Mattapoisett

No more lounging in pajamas

My name is Barbara Watkinson. Here goes! Do I remember the “Snowstorm of “78”!

Well, I never lounge around in my nightgown, etc., all day. I always get dressed right after breakfast.

With the storm swirling outside, I figured no one will visit me today. So, I stayed in my bedclothes, for the day. I lived on Clifford Street in New Bedford.

Well, lo and behold at around 2:30 p.m., mind you, I’m wearing my nightgown, a knock came at my door. I answered the door, and was so surprised to see my stepsister, Helen.

She walked all the way from Covel Street close to Belleville Avenue near Brooklawn Park, to my house, which was near Arlington Street next to a variety store.

Later on I happened to look out the window, around 8:00 p.m., and saw a flashlight moving around. It was the mailman, Leo Deroisers.

Great mailman! He was delivering the mail. I couldn’t believe it.

Years ago the saying was: Through, rain, sleet and snow, the mail will always be delivered. I may have the motto a little wrong. People my age or older should remember it.

Well that’s my story, and I’m sticking to it.

Barbara Watkinson of Fairhaven Village, in Fairhaven.

Can we say this in a family newspaper?

I have a story to tell. I have to tell you because it involves your cousin Pat. Not sure if you can
publish. Pat and I walked from Clifford Street to United Front to buy pot!

Anonymous (But the editor knows who you are)

•••

Support local journalism, donate to the Neighb News at: https://www.paypal.com/cgi-bin/webscr?cmd=_s-xclick&hosted_button_id=Y6V5ARRYH689G 

Click here to download the entire 2/15/18 issue: 02-15-18 BlizzardOf1978