Gothamist writes about the Blizzard of 1888 in their daily archives, which include some captivating pictures from Life Magazine. The NY Times says the 1888 storm was the worst blizzard New York had ever known. Read the full excerpt of the 1888 NY Times & NY Sun articles here.
We tracked down some additional vintage photos, which are shown below courtesy of the Brooklyn Public Library:
1888
Photo by: Breading G. Way
Summary of image: Man, woman and two children standing and dog on sled on Cobble Hill (perhaps Clinton Street near Amity Street) sidewalk in front of high snow banks after 1888 blizzard; row of wood-frame houses on left with iron fences in front.
Brooklyn Public Library, Brooklyn Collection.
1933
Summary of image: Two images of Brooklyn Heights street; primary image shows several brownstone houses with superimposed snow banks, six pedestrians and street lamp; inserted image shows residential buildings, one commercial building and several figures with superimposed snow banks.
Brooklyn Public Library, Brooklyn Collection.
The following story appeared in the Brooklyn Daily Eagle on Tuesday, March 12, 1889 (page 6), and includes interviews with Brooklynites regarding their blizzard experiences.
(We apologize in advance for any misspellings; the text was taken from a scanned newspaper that was turned into a text pdf.)
“THE BIG STORM
Made Its Appearance a Year Ago Today.
Its Anniversary to be Celebrated—How Some Brooklynites Fared in the Memorable Blizzard.
If there is any one class who profited and reaped a satisfactory harvest from the blizzard it was theamateur photographers. In fact, many of them have laid in a special stock of dry plates in reserve for just such another remarkable storm. The Brooklyn Academy of Photography hold an anniversary celebration of tho blizzard at the Hoagland Laboratory this evening, and will present a realistic reproduction of the blizzard on a screen some twenty feet square. The views to be exhibited are the work of some of tho most active amateurs in Brooklyn, such as Messrs. Levison, Wheeler, La Manna, Foey, Hoagland, ‘SYintringham, Mills and Tremper. Assistant Corporation Counsel Salmon—The bliz did not prevent mo from getting down to tho Hall. I had been appointed only a mouth. There was little done here that day beyond admiring the leggings worn by Mr. Jenks. They were a startling addition to his costume. Assistant Corporation Counsel Mathis—I did not get down to the Hall simply because I did not have^hiy place here at that time. I ought to have had one, perhaps. But no little thing like a blizzard would keep me from my desk of duty.
Property Clerk Sabine, of the bridge—X got up at the usual time and took a car with four horses and 1,400 people on it. I stayed at tho bridge all that night and all the next day. There were about two dozen people snowed up hero and we had a Jolly time. Tho second night I walked home because you couldn’t see standing room on a car.
Assistant Bookkeeper Prager, of the bridge—I near heard of the blizzard.
Secretary Beam—Come in at a quarter past 5. This is my busy day.
Timekeeper Kingsley—I do not want to be considered hypercritical, whether I am or not, but I can truthfully say I have never known anything about a blizzard in Brooklyn. In Dakota they have blizzards.
Mike Cassidy, bridge messenger—I got my hair cropped, and I’ve always been pretty close cut. Well, I only got one foot on the car when I came down in the morning, and that wasn’t on the car; it was ou the guard rail. I had no extra clothes, and never havo had them.
Tollkeeper Van Kcuren—I nearly lost my head going to the bank in a wagon.
Assistant Tollkeeper Sheffield—I had to collect tickets with my hands out on the bridge, for they were running trains backward and forward on the same track. There was only one drop box open in New York.
Captain Miller, of the Navy Yard—I was in Boston, and wo only got a touch of the storm there. Paymaster Loomis—I was at Annapolis but I can imagine what a picnic you must have had in Brooklyn.
Sailmaker Douglas—I was at tho Navy Yard every day during the blizzard. There wore very few ofiicers hero.
Secretary Costello, Navy Yard commandant’s office—I had a fine time getting home. My ankle was sprained and I found my face was frost bitten when I got to the liouso.
One of tho Chicago’s tars—Douse my toplights if I ever see such a gale before. It was enough to blow the tail off an elephant. I got my hand froze.
Captain Ward, of tho bridge—My right hand was frozen on that day while I was trying to dig myself out of the house.
Counselor H. B. Davis—I started for home from your office and found myself snowed out. After vainly endeavoring to getshovelcd in I succeeded in getting over the drift. By the next morning the snow had reached the second story window, but with tho aid of four lusty Italians I immediately bought live days’rations, so that the family wouldn’t starve.
Coroner Lindsay—Fortunately I had no cases to attend to, so I didn’t go out.’
John lioesch—Stayed home.
County Auditor Lake—I couldn’t get out. Tlie snow was up to the parlor windows.
Peter W. O.-traudcr—1 was homo sick. My two boys went to business early. By 11 o’clock the basement windows were banked up so that we had to light the gas at 12 o’clock. At 1 o’clock the snow was above the lintel of the front door. I put on an ulster and fur cap and at 8 o’elock dug a path three feet wide from stoop to curbstone. No one else on our block dug out that day.
Colonel Michell. of the Fourteenth Regiment—I had a curious experience. I jumped from the sidewalk to the roadway and broke a leg.
Mr. McLaughlin—I got downtown. County Clerk Kaiser—It took me till 4 o’clock to get down by the elevated road. Had a lovely time getting home.
Mr. IS. Shea—My experience resulted in an at- tack of rheumatism.
Deputy Treasurer Phenix—I did not get down to the. Hall, as I lived away out near Greene avenue nnd Broadway. Mr. Wheelock, who was then the treasurer, was at the office, but he lived only a block away from the Ijall.
Mayor’s Secretary Phillips—The Mayor and I were the only members of the oflice who came down. I had to stop and thaw out on tho way- down, and about the first thing I did after getting lierc was to begin to study how I was to gethome. I managed to get a coach from George Oakley, and the Mayor and I returned to our homes early in the afternoon. As for myself, I should not care much if we had another such day.
Commissioner Adams—I walked down that awful day and it was the worst walk I ever had. By 11 o’clock I was making arrangements to have the snow removed from the principal streets. And what an undertaking that was! I let tho work out by contract, and as far as removing the snow was concerned Brooklyn was far ahead of New York. No, I don’t want to see another such day. Dan Phillips does, does he 7 There is no accounting for tastes.”
One Comment
that is really sad i cant blieve that that happen and we didnt have that here………..we did have a blizzard but not that bad…..omg i wish i was there to see that……..all them people that died