Windy Springtime Weather

Ah, springtime in Maine! It's not all flowers and sunshine as evidenced by this news item from May 1891. Thankfully, there were no reports of serious injury. 




Cumberland

During the heavy wind that prevailed Monday, Oliver Blake of Deering, was riding along Ocean street in his covered meat cart when a sudden gust knocked cart and horse wrong side up. Mr. Blake and his goods were dumped into the road, but fortunately driver, horse and cart escaped serious injury. About six feet were blown from a chimney on the building on the building on Exchange street, Portland, occupied by Smith & Sale, Printers, Monday afternoon. The bricks came down through the roof and damaged the ceiling somewhat. 

Courtesy of Newspapers.com, Bangor Daily Whig and Courier,
Thursday, May 21, 1891, Page 1. 

I did a brief check for any early hurricanes and found that the first hurricane came in early July. The events described happened on Monday, May 18th.

Winters Past

When the cold temps get you down, remember that it can be and has been worse! I found a weather report from January 23, 1857 in Bethel, Maine on the web site Genealogy Bank. It said the temperature 26 below at sunrise and still 15 below at 9 am. The wind was blowing and going outside was dangerous because of frost bite. So if it's cold, windy, snowy where you are, light a fire in the woodstove or fireplace, pile on the quilts, and if you must go out, remember to bundle up!

Try to remember to get out an enjoy the winter when you can! And remember that we live in a time when it's never been easier to move to some place warmer if you truly hate the winter and the snow.