The Howells Journal publishes a weekly column entitled "Do You Remember" compiled by Myra Langhorst and taken from earlier Journal files. A special thank you to Ramonyca Hanel Brown for retyping these articles and to the Howells Journal for allowing us to put them online!
Thursday, March 15, 1951 - reprinted February 17, 2010Winter's Worst Storm Mild Compared With Last Year's...Five Inch Snow This Week Blocked Some Roads - The biggest snow storm of the year hit eastern Nebraska Saturday and Sunday, when five inches of snow fell here. The storm was accompanied by zero weather and high winds that piled the white stuff in drifts that were three and four feet high in some places. As a result, some roads were blocked, schools were closed Monday and high school boys increased their 1951 income by shoveling snow off of people's sidewalks. The relatively mild nature of this "worst storm of the year" is evident from the fact that the mail bus was able to make all deliveries, although it was behind schedule. There was no interruption in electric service in Howells, although we hear that the REA line at Olean was broken by ice on the lines.
Blocked country roads prevented Howells mail carriers from making all of their routes on Monday. Both carriers reported they were able to reach only about half of their patrons. This disagreeable 1951 weather (after a winter marked by mild temperatures and practically no snow) reminds all of us of the March storm that hit a year ago. Last year was worse. That spell of bad weather was much more severe than this week's storm and the Journal headlines a year ago said, "Blizzard and 100-Mile Wind Bring All Traffic to a Halt. Windows, Windmills, and Aerials Blown Down."
The Journal news article last year described the March storm as follows: "A raging blizzard struck this area Tuesday and delivered a quick knockout blow that paralyzed all traffic and did considerable property damage. Old-timers say that this was the wildest storm since the blizzard of 1888 and that this year's blizzard was milder only because there was considerable less snow than in 1888. "Monday was a spring-like day with temperature readings that hit a high of 70. Tuesday morning the barometer dropped unusually low and soon large, wet snowflakes were falling. By noon the snow had changed into tiny, sugar-like particles and a wild north wind reduced visibility to a point where it was impossible to travel by car. Parents and neighbors took school children home at noon and rural students stayed in town because it was too dangerous to drive.
The Norfolk weather bureau reported official wind velocities reaching 100 miles an hour. At times it was impossible to see a tree thirty feet away. The bay window at the Anton Kunhart home was blown in. Big show windows at the Howells Pharmacy and Sellhorst's Tavern also fell before the gale. Trees, windmills and television aerials were blown down or damaged. The storm was not local in nature. Reports say the entire state of North Dakota was isolated, at Omaha half the downtown show windows were blown in, at Lincoln people were crawling on hands and knees to get across streets, travelers in all parts of the state were stalled on roads and forced to seek refuge at farm homes. One Howells farmer reports seeing a big Chrysler sedan that was picked up by the wind and thrown against a sign board near Fremont. Many cars ran off the road and others had collisions. The death toll for this storm has not been determined but a number of people are listed as "missing".. Early Tuesday afternoon a chimney fire broke out at the Alfred Doescher home, but the offices of the Howells fire department were not needed to subdue the blaze.
Group Enjoys Trip to State Capitol - Miss Marion Brabec, teacher in District 51 in Cuming County and Miss Delma Heimann of District 32 in Stanton County, and their pupils left Friday morning on a sightseeing and instructional trip to Nebraska's state capital. They were accompanied by Mr. and Mrs. Carl Peterson, Mr. and Mrs. Lumir Barta, Mr. and Mrs. Wm. Meier, Mr. and Mrs. Geo. Brester, Mr. and Mrs. John Konsel, and Mr. and Mrs. Stanley Brabec. It was a fine day, the weather was favorable and upon their arrival they first visited the capitol and the various offices and rooms and saw the legislature in session. From there they went to Morrill Hall and viewed the many interesting sights on display, the radio station KFOR and University campus.
Howells Theatre - Friday, Saturday, Sunday, March 16-17-18, Mickey Rooney and Pat O'Brien in "Fireball" - Wednesday & Thursday, March 21-22, Lucille Ball in "Fuller Brush Girl" FREE - A bottle of Debutante Cologne will be given with the compliments of the Fuller Co. to the first twenty-five ladies admitted on Wednesday evening, March 21. Admission: Adults, 50 cents; Children 15 cents. Tax included. Programs at 7:30 and 9:30 p.m.
Completes Navy Recruit Training - The Journal has been informed that Joseph M. Kuzelka, seaman apprentice, USN, has completed recruit training at the Naval Training Center, San Diego, Calif. and is now available for assignment to a Fleet unit or to one of the Navy's schools for specialized training. During this period of training, he underwent intensive drill in such subjects as signaling, navigation, basic ordinance and seamanship. He also was indoctrinated into the ways of the Navy and learned the customs of the service.
Big Farm Sale - One of the best sales ever held in this section took place at the Frank Wellman farm the fore part of the month when he disposed of his personal farm property. In his offering he had an excellent offering of cattle which went for the average price of $400 per head. A fine bull went to $750, the top cow brought $650 and the younger stock brought from $400 to $425.