A Frigid January - 1893

(Language Warning)

 Cold Weather In New Kent. 

[Correspondence of the Richmond Dispatch.] 

Oak, Va., January 24.- The weather still coutinues fearfully cold. The average range of the thermometer for seven days past has been 1 degree below zero. Numbers of people are daily passing over the Pamunkey river to West Point. 

There is much suffering among the poor and colored people throughout this section. Many birds of different species, hares, &c., are found daily dead in the woods, and should there not be a change for the better soon I fear not not only the birds will die, but that much stock will succumb.

                    -Richmond Dispatch, 25 January 1893

" No Leaf of Tree or Bush, or Blade or Grass, or Growing Crop, Is Left" - 1871

 Terrible Tornado and Hailstorm. Great Destruction of Growing Crops _ and Other Property.

 

 One of the most terrific and destructive hail-storms which ever any portion of the Commonwealth passed through the entire length of New Kent county on Wednesday afternoon. So far as we have been able to learn it was confined to a strip of country about one mile in width, but in its path no leaf of tree or bush, or blade or grass, or growing crop, is left. Whole fields of wheat were cut down as if a reaper had been passed through them. Oats, too, and corn suffered in the same way. Trees were wrenched off and blown about as though they were mere reeds, while their leaves cut off by the hail cover the ground as in autumn.

 Nor did houses escape injury. The dwelling of Mr. A. P. Richardson had both chimneys blown down, and was otherwise injured, and all others in the track of the storm were more or less damaged. All persons and stock so unfortunate as to be caught in the storm and unable to find shelter received a severe pelting from the hailstones.

 A young lady, whose name we were unable to learn, was passing along the road when the storm came up, and being missed search was made for her, and she was found lying senseless in the road. She was immediately taken home and medical aid summoned. When our informant left she was still suffering severely, and there was doubt as to her recovery.

 Yard and fruit trees, the result of years of labor and care, were entirely demolished. The storm went through the comity in a southerly course and passed away on down through the lower counties in that direction, leaving Williamsburg to the right. The depth of the hail on the ground after the' storm had passed was measured In several places and found to be nine inches deep. Our informant, who is entirely reliable, says that he saw it lying in the corner of fences the next morning at least four inches deep. The hail was not to remarkable for the size of the stones as for the quantity falling.

 To illustrate the destruction wrought by the storm, one planter, who had highly fertilized his wheat, and expected to raise 1,000 bushels, offered, after the storm had passed, to sell his entire crop for fifty cents.

 It is noted as a remarkable coincidence that just four years since exactly the same belt of country was visited by a similar hail-storm and tornado. The destruction of property was not so extensive by that visitation, but a negro was killed and other persons were injured. 

-Daily Dispatch,  20 May 1871

Two Storms- 1893 & 1894

 AFTERMATHS OF THE STORM. 

Destruction In New Kent, at West Point and Along the York River. 

(Correspondence of the Dispatch.) 

 OAK. NEW KENT COUNTY, VA. October 16.- Last Friday this section was visited by the most terrific wind and rain-storm that has ever been witnessed by our oldest Inhabitants. The rain seemed to fall in sheets, sometimes so dense that one could not see but a short distance.

 The crops of corn are not only lying flat in the fields, but large trees which have stood the storms of ages had to succumb. The public roads are literally blocked up by fallen timber, and at many points, it impossible to pass, except by winding through the woods or going through some private plantations. On the York river the storm was particularly severe. Many person having cord-wood corded on the landing haves suffered great loss. Captain George E. Brown, living on the Brick House farm, opposite West Point in this county, told your correspondent this morning that he sustained a loan of not less than $250. 

BREASWORK SWEPT. 

 The breastwork opposite Plum Point, which was thought to be so substantial as to defeat any power that might be brought to bear upon it by the wind and waves, was broken in many places. The tide was said to be two feet higher than ever before known. At West Point I learn that a one time it was thought the Terminal Hotel was in danger of being washed away. The lawn in front was washed to the steps of the hotel, and I learn it will take a large sum to place it in proper condition again. Although I hear of much loss of property, I hear of no lives lost.

-Richmond Dispatch,  October 17 1893

DEATH AND DESTRUCTION. 

The Storm of Tuesday Kills George Davis. 

Wrecks Houses, and Ruins Crops. 

 OAK. NEW KENT COUNTY, VA.. June 8.-(Special.)~The most terrific Wind, hail and rain storm known to any of our oldest citizens visited the section lying between the villages of Barhamsville and Plum Point on Tuesday the 5th instant leaving death and destruction in its path. 

 Mr. A.R. Jennings¹ had two chimneys blown down which had stood the winds and storms for near a century. Mr. W.F. Woodward², who lives about one mile from Barhamsville, had the most of his potato plants washed into am adjoining field.

 Your correspondent visited the damaged section, and found that many of the crops were partly, and some totally destroyed.

 The crops of wheat and oats of Mr. A.G. Farinholt will prove a total loss. I was told by a gentleman that after the storm bushels of hail could have been collected, and by another that quantities of hail could be seen next morning. But the saddest case was the killing of George Davis, aged 14. The youth, with three colored men, had taken refuge in an unfinished log house, which was blown down, one of the logs striking the boy on the head and shoulders killing him instantly, but the colored men, with one exception, and he only slightly hurt, escaped.

 Many other houses in the stricken section were blown down, but I hear of no other injury to person or beast.

 Master George Davis was the stepson of Mrs. Rebecca Davis (nee Timberlake), and a son of John A. Davis.

 Were I to attempt to report all I hear of the storm, I should weary your patience too much. Let the above suffice

-Richmond Dispatch, June 9 1894

"Oak" was a post office in New Kent near the present location of the Saude Creek Winery

¹probably Alonzo R. Jennings

² probably Wyatt Franklin Woodward

One Hundred Years Ago

 

FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 3, 1922. 

QUINTON 

“The snow, the snow, the beautiful snow”—that is to the beaux and belles as they speed over it as only lovers can, while the sleigh bells give music to the occasion. It makes one who has passed courting days sigh for the days of his youth, but the mill can never grind with the water that has passed. We have had our pleasures and our sorrows, and so it will be with all. 

This is one of the worst snow storms for many years. The poor dumb creatures suffer, both the domestic animals and the wild game of the forest. Beautiful partridges are coming from the woods where they have been hiding from the huntsmen. The farmers are feeding them. 

Young Whit Tunstall*, who is a fine farmer and good sportsman in season, says he has put away his gun. He has killed this season twelve wild turkeys, seven deer, and no telling how many squirrels and rabbits. Returns from a shipment of fur caught this season amounted to $194. He now has more to sell. He is an expert trapper. Now he is knitting a shad seine that will be ready when the fish begin to run. All this will be over in time for farming. He has the prettiest fields of wheat and oats to be found and over 500 bushels of Irish potatoes ready for market. There are many other young men who are making money by farming.

There was general sorrow all through New Kent when it was reported that Dr. C. L. Bailey† had sold his- beautiful farm to Mr. Richard McCormick near Quinton. Dr. Bailey has been here twenty years—one of the most beloved and successful doctors we ever had. He is going to locate at Highland Springs. He says he cannot stand the terrible roads in New Kent. He is quite a young man and has only his wife. He could have retired from practice years ago and lived at ease the rest of his life. He will have a fine field to work and fine roads.

Mr. C. W. Bowry¹is building a fine dwelling on the farm bought some time ago. Will move in the spring to his new home. 

Johnson Miller will soon move into his new dwelling near Quinton.

Mr. Riley, of Gloucester, who bought several large tracts of timber near Quinton will soon finish cutting the timber. Mr. Walker, his brother-in-law, is general manager. 

Our faithful rural mail carrier is having a hard time as only a half of the route from Quinton can be made in one day. No one complains, though we certainly miss our mail, especially as we can do nothing this weather but keep fires, feed the stock, and read our paper all day and our Bible at night. The school teachers and children are having a difficult time getting to school. 

Hens have struck. Say they will not lay until the weather breaks up. Now for 75c eggs again!      

                                                                  Truthful Jeems.

- West Point News,  3 February 1922

*Whitmel Pearson Tunstall Jr.,(Jan 13 1890-April  28 1979). W. P. Tunstall Jr. lived at White Hall.

† Dr. Charles Llewellyn Bailey (May 14 1876- Aug 1 1929)

¹ Charles W. Bowery, (Sep 9 1866- Dec 23 1951), The property date fits the house on Henpeck Road.

Flooding- 1948

             

                        Washed-Out Roads Keep Crews Busy 

RICHMOND, VA., May 27—(AP) —Crews of workmen today were busy restoring washed out rail and highway lanes over which traffic between here and Newport News had been halted.

 Heavy rainstorms in New Kent and Charles City Counties yesterday flooded to as much as eight feet sections of the Chesapeake and Ohio Railway and U.S. Highway 60 in the Windsor Shades area.

 Whether rail and highway traffic could be resumed over these two arterial lines sometime today had not been determined early this morning by C.& O. and State Highway Department Officials. A lot depended upon whether additional rainfall fell.

 A C.& O. spokesman said the railroad “hopes" to have one track open for resumption of train movements by this afternoon. As much as 250 feet of the railroad's main line fill had been undermined by the torrents.

 Trains had not moved between here and Newport News since train No. 45, The Sportsman, was halted about 2 p.m. yesterday at Providence Forge and has turned back in Richmond. 

 The Highway Department was routing traffic between here and Williamsburg over route 33. This road was covered with four to six inches of water for a while near New Kent Courthouse; but was clear by nightfall last night. 

 Where Route 60 paralleled the railroad east of Providence Forge, long stretches of highway were covered with water to depths up to eight feet late yesterday. 

-Suffolk News-Herald,  27 May 1948

Bitter Cold

A hundred and twenty four years ago . . .

The Horrors of the Cold.

The St. Louis and Chicago papers, of the first week in January, are filled with details of the intense cold weather in the West, and the suffering and death incident thereto.

At St. Louis on Friday, the first day of the new year, at 7 o'clock in the morning, the thermometer fell to 19.5 below zero, and a minimum thermometer indicated a temperature, some time before daylight, of 22 degrees below zero! Such a degree of cold had not-been known there before in thirty-one years. The various railroads entering St. Louis were all blocked up with snow, water tanks frozen, and the cars covered up. The Mississippi was frozen over, and was made a great thoroughfare for pedestrians and loaded teams. People were terribly frostbitten, and some of their limbs were obliged to be amputated. Others perished out-right.

At Chicago the effects of the storm were fearful in the extreme. On Friday the thermometer fell as low as 20 degrees, and on Saturday, at 1 o'clock, to 25 degrees below zero! Many people were frozen to death. The terrible snow storm, accompanied with high winds, which piled it in huge drifts, obstructed the regular passage of trains, and much intense suffering, and in some instances death, was the consequence. The Times says:

The fierce tornado sweeping over the prairies filled the air with moving clouds of snow, and piled up huge drifts between the fences along the railroads, until the tracks almost everywhere were impassable by the trains. 

The train on the Michigan Central railroad, which was due at Chicago at half-past 10 o'clock on Thursday evening, proceeded with great difficulty until within about four hundred yards of the Michigan Southern crossing, some seven miles out. There, at six o'clock on Friday morning, almost eight hours behind time, the train plunged into an immense drift, which lay directly across its way, and finally stopped. 

The scene when the passengers realized the perils of their situation, were so terribly real as to baffle all description. There were over a hundred passengers on board, many of them being women and children, with but a short supply of food. 

One by one, out into the blinding storm, went those who were able, and, digging down through the snowdrifts which were piled over them, they tore up the fences near the road and brought them as fuel to the cars. Soon a new peril broke out among the passengers. The roof of the car took fire from the heated pipe, and as the wind caught the flames, they roared and crackled and carried downward towards the passengers as if in mockery of their misery. The snow was banked almost to the bottom of the car, and to separate it from the others by hand was an utter impossibility. 

In this moment of peril the women vied with the men in their efforts for the common safety. At first it seemed as if all hope to extinguish the flames were vain, but energies were not slackened or hearts unnerved. The contest was brief but desperate, resulting in the flames being quelled. The wind and the snow came rushing in at the aperture in the roof, and the car was no longer tenable. All the passengers then withdrew to the next one.--Proper precautions were taken against a similar disaster there. But the ashes had, unfortunately, been entirely removed from the stove in this car, and, when anticipating no danger, the floor of the car took fire from the bottom of the stove. It was much easier extinguished than the other, but not without considerable labor, or until a large portion of the floor had been cut away, and that car thus rendered untenable also. 

The passengers of the entire train were now huddled together in the only remaining car. It was now nearly two o'clock in the afternoon, and there were no signs of the storm abating or of any deliverance reaching them. 

Suddenly, however, they were startled into new hope by the arrival of a train on the Michigan Southern railroad. It stopped at the crossing of two roads, only some four hundred yards distant, and its conductor signified his readiness to take passengers of the Michigan Central train into the city. The work of transferring them was immediately commenced, the engine in the meantime moving the train slowly backwards and forward to prevent the snow from drifting around and under it. The distance between the two trains, nearly four hundred yards, was filled with a drift nearly ten feet in depth, and to make the passage from one to the other was a work of great labor and difficulty. The storm was at its height, and the cold so intense that the faces of the women and children were frozen almost as soon as they came in contact with the wind — turning white as instantly as if they had been plunged in boiling water. Scarcely any one made the passage from one train to the other without being badly frost bitten, many quite seriously. 

The women and children had to be carried over to the other train, and not a few men who essayed it had to demand assistance. This was cheerfully rendered by volunteers from among the Michigan Southern passengers. 

The rescued passengers, immediately upon their arrival at the Michigan Southern train, were made as comfortable as possible. Those who were frozen were promptly attended to, ladies tearing up their handkerchiefs and scarfs to rub the frozen feet, face and hands of their unfortunate fellow-travelers. 

The Michigan Southern train was likewise blockaded by the snow. The conductor was obliged to leave the car in a snowdrift, and go on to Chicago to acquaint the people with the condition of affairs. It was soon known that "two hundred men, women and children were freezing to death within four miles of Chicago." Sleighs, blankets, buffalo robes, provisions, &c., were immediately procured, and a party started for the train. The details of their adventures, although very interesting, would occupy too much of our space. Suffice it to state, that they were all gotten to the city, though much frostbitten.

The following terrible incident is given in the Chicago Tribune, of January 4th:

About thirty miles from the boundary line between Michigan and Indiana, in the latter State, about midway between Centreville and Crown Point, lived a German, with his wife and five children, named Krutzer. The oldest was a boy of seven years of age, the next a boy of five, and three girls, all of less age than the boys, the youngest but an infant. 

The country where the family resided is very rolling, and the snow had drifted into the hollows, making the roads almost, if not wholly impassable for pedestrians. 

The driver of the stage-coach coming from Crown Point to Lake, via Centerville found that Krutzer's dwelling had been burned to the ground, it is supposed the night previously but none of the family were to be seen. About a mile further on, however, he was horrified to find the father and the boys frozen to death. The boys were in the father's arms, and it is supposed that he had fallen with them after having been so far affected with the frost as not to be able to proceed. The three corpses were placed in the stage; but before they had proceeded more than a quarter of a mile on its destination, the body of the oldest girl was found in a snow-drift, with a shawl clearly wrapped closely around it, where it had doubtless been deposited by its weary mother while yet alive, in the hope that some chance traveler might rescue it from an impending fate. This corpse, too, was placed in the coach, and again started on fits way, only to find, after travelling a short distance, the lifeless remains of the mother, with the two youngest children. The body of the mother was standing erect in a snow drift, with the children in her arms, the youngest one being at the breast. 

The seven lifeless bodies were conveyed to Centerville by the driver of the stage, at which place they were decently interred by the inhabitants.

The Times, in speaking of the weather and affairs at Camp Douglas, says:

The effect of the cold was terribly severe. Especially did the guards suffer from it. Those who were off duty could barely manage to keep partially warm when inside the barracks by keeping up good fires, and, although the guards were frequently relieved, not less than eighty of them had their feet, ankles, and hands so badly frozen that they are all incapable of duty for some time — many for all their live. Two of the guard on Thursday night were terribly frozen and when found were stark and stiff, incapable of moving a foot or raising a hand. It required the exertions of a number of their comrades to remove them to their quarters, where they remained at 5 o'clock yesterday evening in a very critical and suffering condition. Their recovery is considered extremely doubtful.--Many others were more or less frozen, the extent of whose injuries are unknown. 

During the violence of the storm on Thursday night four of the Confederate prisoners scaled the fence, and, dropping to the ground, escaped. The guards were blinded by the fury of the storm, and were unable to halt the fugitives. After reaching the ground on the outside of the fence, while the storm was beating in all its fury, the escaped prisoners started in a southerly direction, and made very slow progress, as may readily be imagined.--Two of them were retaken early in the morning, nearly frozen, and were retarded to camp. The remains of the other two were found about three miles from the camp, on the road to Calumet, having travelled as long as possible, and seemed to have fallen and died in their tracks.

In Pennsylvania, also, the weather was extremely cold. The Pittsburg Chronicle narrates the annexed incident:

Two brakemen on the Oil Creek Railroad were frozen to death the other night, one of whom rolled off the car, and the other was found at his post, his hands frozen to the brake wheel.

-(Richmond)The Daily Dispatch: January 28, 1864.

Correspondence from New Kent County- 1875

From New Kent County. 

[Correspondence of the Richmond Dispatch.] 

           New Kent Courthouse, Va., )
           February 24, 1875. ) 

The ice crop gathered in this section during the last cold weather is perhaps the largest that has been housed for many years, measuring in thickness from three to four inches. 

Today had been fixed upon for a meeting of the Board of Supervisors of the county, but for some cause unknown to the writer they not did convene. While your correspondent was engaged in a business transaction with the clerk of New Kent, in his office, a stalwart but sable colored individual the writer had known in the past as a waiter, but who has now become one of the leading Radicals of New Kent, thrust his head in the door and asked the clerk if he thought "dem fellows was gwine to come whar had bin 'lectcd to reglate de fenances ob de county." alluding to the Board of Supervisors". The clerk could not give him a satisfactory reply, and the fifteenth amendment departed. 

Indications of the revival of the various industries of the county are very apparent. They can be seen in almost every neighborhood. While it may be several years before the county will enjoy the same prosperity that it did before the war, still the signs are very perceptible that she has made considerable progress within the last few years. 

Owing to the severity of the winter wheat can scarcely be seen in the fields, yet there is a good stand of it, and a few warm days with a genial sun would cause it to grow rapidly. 

The move in the Legislature to disturb the judiciary does not meet with any favor here. The reasons assigned for doing this are poor: and while a few ambitious legislators who are aspirants for judgeships may endeavor to put the judiciary in that shape by which vacancies must necessarily be created, the people do not desire it. There can be no change with out an increase of public expense: and with the immense debt that is depressing the industries of the state this should certainly be dispensed with. There has been a great diminution of business in this circuit within the last four years, and the writer presumes from an act lately passed reducing the number of terms of the courts in several of the circuits from three to two that there has been a decrease in business all over the State. The judge of this circuit gives entire satisfaction, and the people would dislike very much to be deprived of his services. By close application to his official duties and his urbane and gentlemanly bearing he has made a host of friends, who would part with him most reluctantly. We would suggest to the distinguished member of the House from Accomac(sic), for whom the writer has high regard, that it is not expedient at this time to split in twain the Eighth circuit, it is true that the Chesapeake bay is a large body of water, and divides the circuit, but the facilities are so great for crossing it that it is scarcely a barrier.¹

Your correspondent has never heard of as many case of pueumonia, and death has ensued in a large number of them. 

The roads are almost impassable, rendered in this condition by a thorough thaw, together with incessant and copious rains. There is but little said about the reelection of county officers in May next, but I believe it is Generally conceded that an election will take place, and the effort being made in the legislature for the officers to hold over will not prevail. 

A law imposing a tax on all dogs is very much desired in the county. Something should be done to reduce the number of canine, thereby giving greater protection to sheep, or, if the owners will keep them, they should be made a source of revenue to the State. 

Mr. Alexander Mosley, of the Whig, who has been domiciled in the neighborhood of Dispatch station, in this county, for six months or more, has gone to Florida, where he will remain until late in the spring.² 

There is in contemplation the establishment of a newspaper at this place by Captain Telemachus Taylor, to be called The New Kent Cavalier. Captain Taylor gained an enviable reputation for gallantry while in command of the New Kent cavalry during the war. F.

- Alexandria Gazette, 27 March 1875

 ¹ An article in the same edition of the paper tells how the legislature did indeed split the Eighth Judicial Circuit which had previously included the Peninsula and the Eastern Shore. Former Lt. Governor R.L. Montague became the new judge, replacing George T. Garrison who continued to represent the Eastern Shore.

² Alexander Mosley would die at his home, "The Shanty," at Dispatch Station in 1881.

Weather Facts

Some interesting tidbits . . . form the early Twentieth Century . . .

June 1912
U.S.Department of Agriculture
Office of Experiment Stations
DRAINAGE INVESTIGATIONS

wettest year     1889 . . . .72.02 inches
Dryest    "     1876 . . . .27.65 "

Wettest month, July 1889  . .14.01 "
Dryest  "    , October 1874 . 0.11 "
"         , November 1890

Heaviest rainfall in 24 hours, Apr. 17-18, 1910 . . 5.33 "
Heaviest rainfall in short period(46 minutes)
August 19, 1908 . . . .2.88 ins.

Average annual snowfall . . . . 16.80 '

Highest temperature, August 11, 1900 . . .  102 degrees
Lowest temperature, February 10, 1899 . .   -3 "

Latest date of killing frost in spring . .  April 20
Average date of killing frost in spring . . April 2
Earliest date of first killing frost in autumn . .October 12
Average date of first killing frost in autumn . . November 3

Maximum wind velocity, 61 miles per hour . . . February 10/09

- A REPORT UPON THE DRAINAGE OF THE LOWLANDS OF THE CHICKAHOMINY RIVER
(HANOVER, HENRICO, NEW KENT and CHARLES CITY COUNTIES, VA.
 by George M. Warren, Drainage Engineer,
Assisted by John R. Haswell, Assistant Drainage Engineer,
and Newton B. Wade, Assistant Drainage Engineer

Walking Across the York River- Winter 1857

WEATHER IN NEW KENT.- YORK RIVER FROZEN OVER- A correspondent of the Petersburg Express, writing from New Kent county, Va, on the 26th inst, says,

Every public highway is now obstructed with snow from three to ten feet in depth, and water has congealed in close room, within a few inches of a blazing oak and hickory fire.

Pamunkey river is frozen entirely across with ice twelve inches in thickness, and the York and Mattaponi rivers are in the same condition, so far as can be perceived with the aid of a strong lens. A gentleman, named Penny, walked across York river last Saturday, at a point where it is three miles in width, and the water as salt as that around Neptune's footstool, if he ever had a resting place for his pedal extremities. The steamer Sea Bird is said to be at Bigler's wharf, York river, with her paddle wheels firmly locked in by the ice.

It is the impression of venerable tillers of the soil hereabouts, that the wheat crop will suffer material damage from the freeze.

-The Daily Dispatch (Richmond, Va.) February 3, 1857

Timely Frigidity

THE COLDEST DAY FOR MANY YEARS

Unprecedented Conditions in Virginia Rural Parts,

DOWN TO TWELVE BELOW

Labor Suspended and Supplies Growing Short in Country,

(Special to The Times-Dispatch.)

HEATHVlLLE, VA., Feb. 14.-The section of the Northern Neck is completely blocked up and cut off from the outside world. Ice in Coan River is about ten inches thick, and no steamer has reached Coan Wharf for over two weeks.

There was a heavy fall of snow all day yesterday and the ground is covered with about two inches of snow. The first mail In nearly two weeks reached here Saturday night via Warsaw and Merry-point.

Provisions are running short, and unless there is a general thaw up soon, it is feared the stores will run completely out of groceries.

In New Kent.

 (Special to The Times-Dispatch.)

OAK, NEW KENT CO. VA., Feb, 14.-

The ferry, from Plum Point to West Point has cut a way through the ice, and the merchants at Oak did not fall to make use of the opportunity. They had groceries lying on the dock that have been there during this freeze, which they could not got away until last Friday, they had them brought across to Plum Point ferry, and were having their goods hauled through the snow and ice, a distance of seven miles, all day Friday and Saturday. The merchants say that they have a supply of goods that will last them a couple of weeks. The great trouble with the working class of people is that their money has, about exhausted, for they have, had no weather tor work since last December. All business enterprises are practically shut down. Sawmills are the principal enterprises in this section, and they have not blown a whistle for the past four weeks. Public schools are also closed.

-The Times Dispatch., February 15, 1905

Brrrr . . .

-from the Virginia Gazette, January 18, 1912