AN HISTORIC NOR’EASTER STRIKES NYC (1978)
Brownstone Detectives investigates the history of our clients’ homes.
The story you are about to read was composed from research conducted in the course of one of those investigations.
Do you know the history of YOUR house?
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We’ve all heard of the Great Blizzard of 1888.
But almost 50 years ago, in 1978, which was 100 years after the historic snowstorm, New York City was struck by “one of the biggest snow storms ever to hit the New York area.”
The Blizzard of ’78 formed on Sunday, February 5, 1978 and broke up on February 7. It was one of the rare times that a snowstorm closed the schools. Most suburban districts in the area close for snow several times each winter, but they rarely do in the city itself because of relatively easy access to subways, whose ability to run is not appreciably affected by moderate snowstorms. The New York Knicks were forced to postpone a basketball game for the first time ever, due to the airports being closed and the Portland Trail Blazers being unable to arrive in time.
Many people were caught in the storm while driving, and many others were trapped in their homes and workplaces, with snow drifts of up to 15 feet, in some places blocking the exits. In many cases, those who had become ill or had been injured during the storm had to be taken to hospitals by snowmobile. Other people left their homes and went for help using cross-country skis and sleds.
Snowfall during this event reached 40+ inches, while our most recent snowstorm left us with a quarter of that amount.
See this 7 1/2-minute newsreel to get an idea of how big the 1978 nor’easter was.
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Brownstone Detectives is an historic property research agency. Our mission is to document and save the histories of our clients’ homes. From our research, we produce our celebrated House History Books and House History Reports. Contact us today to begin discovering the history of your home.
