Mansfield in the Blizzard of‘78:�A 40-Year Retrospective
Headlines and newspapers tell the official story….
Two weeks before the blizzard, a storm dropped 20” of snow on New England.
Few were forecasting another big storm, most predicted 10-12” of snow. Harvey Leonard said “we are going to get hit hard.”
Forecasting wasn’t as advanced as today. People didn’t put as much stock into weather predictions at the time.
The official forecast for February 6, 1978 was for six inches of snow. Meteorologist Harvey Leonard was calling for blizzard conditions for several days. (bostonchannel.com)
Most went off to work as normal on the morning of Monday, February 6, 1978.
The storm formed off the Carolina coast, combined with a cold front from the Appalachians and cold air and high pressure from Canada was a perfect mix for a blizzard.
Snow started to fall at 10 a.m. By 1 p.m., snowfall was at a rate of 1” per hour. The storm was stuck over New England for the next 36 hours, and snowfall intensified.
A snow plow struggles to keep ahead of the snow. Wind gusts peaked in Boston at 83 mph. (bostonchannel.com)
Commuters began to think about their drive home. Jackknifed trucks on the highway and flooding, combined with the furious snowfall, jammed highways around Boston.
Motorist dilemma: should I stay with my car or abandon it and try to find safety? (no cell phones!)
By nighttime, Governor Michael Dukakis declared a state of emergency. He and his Connecticut counterpart, Gov. Ella Grasso, mobilized federal troops and the national guard that night. A chagrined Mayor Kevin White struggled to make his way back from Palm Beach, FL.
Scenes of stranded motorists on Rt. 128 illustrate how the entire region was caught by surprise. (bostonchannel.com)
About 4,000 National Guardsman and 300 federal troops were deployed to deal with the snow. (bostonchannel.com)
Some stranded motorists on 128 tried to take in the natural beauty. (bostonchannel.com)
A five-year old Scituate girl and her adult male neighbor were swept out to sea when the rescue boat they were in capsized.
Five crew members were lost aboard the “Can Do”, a 42-foot boat that was attempting a rescue in Salem harbor.
A ten year-old Uxbridge boy was last seen playing in the snow around noontime of February 7th. He disappeared, only to be found weeks later in a melting snow bank just three feet from his front door.
Blizzard of ’78: Tragic results
A satellite view of the monster storm off New England. At times the snow fell at a rate of 4 inches per hour. (bostonchannel.com)
There were two dozen heart attacks as a result of shoveling.
Car crashes, exploding furnaces and downed power lines claimed more lives.
Some were asphyxiated in their cars on the highway, while thousands of other more fortunate souls took refuge where they could, like churches, offices and movie theaters.
In all, there were 99 death and 4,500 injuries as a result of the Blizzard of ‘78.
The Mansfield News reported a local tragedy:
“Ronald G. Thompson, of 56 Branch Street, a worker for the Massachusetts Department of Public Works, was killed on Route 128 around noon Monday, just after the blizzard’s onset, when a car skidded on the pavement and struck him as he was working to fill potholes on the heavily traveled highway. He died shortly later at Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston.
Thompson, formerly of Randolph, was unmarried. His mother, Alma E. Thompson, and a brother, Samuel Thompson, both live in Mansfield.”
Coastal cities and towns faced hurricane winds of 100+ MPH, with winds ripping homes apart and making sea walls useless
27.1” of snow fell in Boston, over 40” in Southeastern Massachusetts and Rhode Island. (Mansfield had 45”)
With $520 million in damages, President Carter declared most of the region a disaster area.
3,500 cars were abandoned along an 8-mile stretch of Route 128.
There were 166 looting arrests across New England. Still, most recall a sense of “coming together” during the storm. New Englanders who were in college at the time often have the fondest memories of “snow parties” on campus.
More Blizzard Lore:
Governor Michael Dukakis declared a state of emergency. (bostonchannel.com)
Coastal damage was very extensive. (bostonchannel.com)
There were four flooding tides, some of which were 15 feet high. (bostonchannel.com)
More than 11,000 homes were damaged or destroyed.�(bostonchannel.com)
Stranded homeowners in Cranston, RI got creative. (bostonchannel.com)
MBTA trolley cars were paralyzed as well�(bostonchannel.com)
Members of the US Army 27th Engineers from� Fort Bragg, NC, help Boston dig out on February 11th.
The view down County Street from the center of Attleboro.�(Sun Chronicle)
A resident of Attleboro tries to get around.�(Sun Chronicle)
The Sun Chronicle parking lot was socked in. �(Sun Chronicle)
Crews worked feverishly to clear� Route 106 in Mansfield. �(Mark Farinella, Sun Chronicle)
The Mansfield News began publication in 1873. In their 145 year history,
the week of February 9, 1978 was the only edition they were unable to
publish. Here are some highlights from the February 16th edition:
“It will probably be known simply as
‘The Storm’, or “The Blizzard”. It
won’t have to be identified by its
month (February) or its year (1978)”
--The Mansfield News
February 9-16, 1978
Well, that prediction turned out to be wrong. But the
paper did an excellent job chronicling the blizzard. Let’s now look at some of their many stories, and share their
excellent photographs.
Snow began on Monday, February 6th at about 11 a.m.
In the first few hours, police received reports of seven accidents at the corner of East and Franklin streets, but they believed there were more like 20 in total.
By 2:30, there were reports of disabled vehicles all over town. Auxiliary police were quickly brought in.
Around 6 pm, a ‘freak electrical storm’ knocked out power in parts of town. The Electric Department responded.
Soon people were giving up finding their way home, seeking refuge wherever they could find it.
At about 10:40 pm, the last cars passed over Rt. 140 to and from Norton, as all motorists gave up on their cars and abandoned them until Friday.
Mansfield: Monday, February 6, 1978
Police estimated that by 4:30 a.m., about 95% of town roads were impassable.
Civil defense, who were greatly praised in the storm’s aftermath, began to take over some emergency runs, such as prescription deliveries and aid to the elderly. Much of this was done by private vehicles and snowmobiles.
Lee Kingbury reached many locations using his own snowmobile, as did Robert Grover in his personal four-wheel drive vehicle. “Those two guys were tremendous,” commented police officer Earl Weeman. “If we hadn’t had them, we would have done nothing.”
Mansfield: Tuesday, February 7, 1978
The snow had ended well before sunrise Wednesday and the sun was out that day.
The North End was completely blocked by vehicles, so tow trucks and plows were dispatched.
The Mansfield News: “Baxter Travenol, Inc, a distributor of medical supplies needed desperately by thousands of communities, called police for help in clearing the building. Bulldozers from the Navy and the National Guard were brought in to clear a roadway at Baxter and at Zayre, Inc. The Zayre warehouse was used as a landing pad for national guard helicopters which carried medical supplies from Baxter to locations throughout Massachusetts, Connecticut, Rhode Island, New York and New Jersey.”
Wednesday, February 8, 1978
The Mansfield News: “Perhaps the hardest pressed in the midst of the storm was the Mansfield Fire Department. Firefighters had to dig engines and ambulances out of snow banks repeatedly throughout the town….. Two private snowmobiles, owned by Robert Bellavance and Edward Sliney, made every ambulance run with the ambulance, leading the way on the snow-clogged streets. Also joining in were four-wheel drive vehicles owned by firefighters Robert Langille and Joseph Courtemanche…. By Wednesday firefighters, like plow drivers and Civil Defense workers, and Police, were showing the signs of constant labor, sunken faces, baggy eyes, limp, sluggish movements. Yet every time the phone rang, they rallied and prepared for another uncertain journey into the four-foot deep snow.”
The greatest praise was saved for the Fire Department:
“Town officials gathered to discuss the mess Friday. From lower left, Fire Chief Thomas Leonard, School Committee Chairman Richard Blandori, Town Manager William Metropulos, Highway Department Director Thomas Bonome, Police Chief N. Lawrence D’Afile, and Selectman Frank Colella.”
“Mapping out the plow routes. On Friday night, Town officials gathered to decide on the duration of the driving ban in Mansfield, and to ascertain which streets were still snowbound. From left, discussing the map, are Fire Chief Thomas Leonard, Town Manager William Metropulos, Police Chief N. Lawrence D’Afile and Selectman David Clemmey.”
“Weary drivers, who traversed the length and breadth of Mansfield for Civil Defense in four-wheel drive vehicles, cool their heals during a break at the Town Hall.”
More Local “Tidbits” from the Blizzard of ‘78
The Mansfield News was effusive in its praise for the staff of radio station WARA in Attleboro, who stayed on the air “for the first critical 66 and a half hours dispensing emergency information. They were the lifeline of the seven communities they serve.”
Six establishments stayed open throughout the storm: DiMonte’s, the Open Pantry, Morse and Forrester’s, South Main Variety, Lena’s Sub Shop and the House of Pizza. As DiMonte’s food supplies dwindled, their beer sales soared, as snow-weary hikers “didn’t want to go home empty-handed.”
Mansfield recorded 45 inches of snow. The jackpot was Woonsocket, Rhode Island with 52 inches.
More Local “Tidbits” from the Blizzard of ‘78
Numerous Mansfield residents were stranded at work miles from home and spent days in their cars, in movie theaters, in the homes of co-worker, or at their place of work until they could make their way home, in some cases nearly a week after the storm.
Likewise, Mansfield citizens found themselves taking in weary out-of-towners who could not make their way home. Despite the crippling snow and frightening conditions, Mansfield residents and New Englanders everywhere enjoyed a spirit of community and togetherness that got them through.
More Local “Tidbits” from the Blizzard of ’78
By Monday night, the Town Hall was being used as a shelter. Refugees were from Mansfield, Norton, Dighton, Pembroke, Walpole, Foxboro, Connecticut, Maine, and New York City.
From the Rumford River Bridge on South Main Street to the Country Haven Nursing Home in Norton, the road was so badly jammed with abandoned cars that when Lt. Gov. Thomas O’Neill toured the area from overhead by helicopter, he declared it “one of the worst in the state”.
Roads to Attleboro were jammed, and for some time patients were transferred to Norwood Hospital, which could take up to four hours per run.
There were no deaths or heart attacks suffered in Mansfield.
More Local “Tidbits” from the Blizzard of ‘78
Mansfield schools closed for four days, February 7th to February 10th, then the following week, February 13-17. The following week was February vacation, so school was out of session for a total of 20 days, from February 7th to the 27th.
School Committee member Mary Lou Cotton argued in favor of declaring the week of the 13th to be February vacation and for school to be in session during the week of the 20th. But for various reason none of her follow committee members agreed.
No US Mail came to Mansfield for about a week. After about 10 days, streets, driveways, and walkways were cleared sufficiently to allow for mail delivery to resume.
The Mansfield News captured the storm in photos. Here are some of them:�“Skiers and bulldozers assumed an eerie commonplace after the blizzard.”
“Even a rider on Old Paint drew envious stares from otherwise disdainful residents, forced to walk by the great storm.”
North Main Street near Fulton Street
Public Parking, North Main Street
“This spectacular snow drift briefly threatened the power line to the Amici Funeral Home…”
But it’s the “before” picture that’s even more impressive.
Mess of snow at Mansfield House of Pizza, now Jimmy’s Pub
“This window irritated a lot of people last week. Bermuda might have seemed tempting, but there wasn’t an airport in New England that could get you there after the blizzard.”
Stan’s
Barber
Shop
North Main Street near High Street
North Main Street…cars were banned!
“Though cars were banned, the familiar downtown cruisers, on foot, managed to fill North Main Street on Friday night.”
“A stuck bug slowed down the bulldozer on North Main Street
Friday afternoon.”
There’s a phone booth under there….
“Highway Director Thomas Bonome passes by on North Main Street Friday leading the path for, you guessed it, a snow plow.”
“Rows of Flexible Flyers replaced cars in front of
grocery stores last week.”
Another view in front of Curtis Compact and Honey Dew Donuts
“Army trucks became a common and welcome sight in Mansfield between Friday night and Tuesday morning.”
“Crowds filled Curtis Compact and every other store in town Wednesday, when the first part of the siege subsided.”
North Main Street near Church Street looking south.
Clearing snow at West Church St and Old Colony Way (now “Middle Common”)
Old Colony Way near “Middle Common”
Army trucks
North Main Street at Old Colony Way, looking north.
“A giant payloader, working for the Army Corps of Engineers, had the North Main Street pavement scraped clear on Monday. But the sidewalks could only wait ‘til spring to reappear.”
“Brilliant sun for more than a week made the walking, sightseeing, and recovering a little easier for Mansfield. Sledders and shoppers found the main drag a place of communal fellowship.”
North Main Street
North Main Street
North Main Street
Rumford River
from
West Street
Bridge
Union Street, with the South Common on the left
and Memorial Hall in the background
“Fence rails barely topped the snow in the white expanse of the old cemetery Wednesday.”
“Fulton Place under five foot drifts.”
“Rumford Avenue was even hard to walk on Wednesday.”
Park Street
“Court Street after the storm.”
Villa Street at North Main, Post Office (now Elks Hall) on right
“Town plows lined up and ready for the attack on Route 106 Saturday.”
Chauncy Street near North Main
Chauncy Street near North Main
Chauncy Street underpass
Chauncy Street underpass
“After Fernandes Super Market opened, one of the most popular streets in town became Route 106, the best access to the market from the East and North ends.”
Chauncy Street
“Paine’s Corner”,
corner Chauncy Street and
Central Street.
“Paine’s Corner”, corner Chauncy Street and Central Street.
Fernandes Supermarket…more pictures to come!
South Main Street near Park Row School (now Town Hall)
“Mail boxes were buried, and very hard to reach, after the storm.”
“Any sled would do. A cardboard box looked downright comfortable to a lot of weary walkers last week.”
“Getting a free ride, Jennifer and Victoria Truman.”
“One of the more efficient modes of transport during the blizzard week in Mansfield was skis. Here, Greta Meszoely and Deanna Brandon test their runners on Spring Street.”
“NO KIDDING?”
Mansfield Iditarod?
Unidentified Snowmobiler
Anybody recognize her?
Unidentified store front…Is it Sannie’s?
Duke, The Dog couldn’t believe his eyes when he went out in the yard and
discovered he could see over the top of the fence. Usually, the top of the fence
is about six feet above Duke’s head.
From the
Sun Chronicle
Thompson Street Area (courtesy of Steve Spilewski)
Fuller Place (Courtesy of Steve Spilewski)
Willow Street
Courtesy of Steve Penesis
Five-Foot Fence!
Courtesy of Steve Penesis
Leonard Street
Courtesy of Steve Penesis
Backhoe in Distance
Courtesy of Steve Penesis
Courtesy of Steve Penesis
Can You Guess What This Is?
Courtesy of Steve Penesis
Keep Shoveling, Christopher!
Courtesy of Steve Penesis
North Main Street
Courtesy of Steve Penesis
Rumford River
Courtesy of Steve Penesis
Rumford River
Courtesy of Steve Penesis
Rumford River and Town Hall
Courtesy of Steve Penesis
Fernandes Supermarket, Copeland Drive
Courtesy of Steve Penesis
Attleboro Savings Bank, Copeland Drive
Courtesy of Steve Penesis
South Main Street
Courtesy of Steve Penesis
Beneath its “The Mansfield News” title, the paper offered a strange question and answer in French:
“Ou sont les neiges d’antan?
Elles sont ici maintenant.”
This translates to:
“Where are the snows of yesteryear?
They are here now.”
It was a reference to a 16th century French poem.
But now I have a more important question for you:
The Blizzard of ‘78: What are YOUR memories?
Mansfield in the Blizzard of‘78:�A 40-Year Retrospective