Amherst Fire and Ice, 130 Years Ago Today

Main Street, Northampton - March 13, 1888
Great Blizzard of 1888
National Museum of American History, Smithsonian Institution
(Courtesy of Forbes Library, Northampton)

For everyone who is shocked and disheartened that more winter weather is headed our way Monday night and Tuesday, consider that it could be much worse. The Great Blizzard of 1888 started on this day that year (March 11th) and continued through March 14th. Across New England, snow drifts were reported to reach second floor windows.

Amherst Town Hall today

In Amherst, to make matters even worse, on the first day of that blizzard (130 years ago today), the Palmer Block in downtown Amherst burned down. Because town meetings had been held in the building, the town acquired the land and built a new Town Hall -- which still serves as our current Town Hall -- in 1889-1890.

Now don't you feel better about whatever disturbances come our way this week? You're welcome.