Ol' Man Winter and Mother Nature Play Havoc

In the collection of photos above, we see the results of one of the snowstorms of the 1918 winter season. A series of blizzards and heavy snowstorms bought the city to its knees. The city's factories, commerce and transportation were all bought to a stand still.

The heaviest snowstorm for the month occured on January 6th, when a total of 14.4 inches of snow fell within a 24 hour period. This by the way, was only the second snowstorm for the month. A total of three snowstorms hit the city all within a ten day period, starting at the begining of the month.

Snow removal costs were astronomical. Throughout Lake County, it was estimated that $100,000 a day was spent during the week following the January 6th record breaking blizzard. At the Gibson Yards alone, some 900 to 1800 men were working to clear and remove snow, so that the freight could get rolling once again.

For the record -- fifty-one inches of snow fell on the city during January of 1918. The water equivalent for the month was equal to 5.12 inches of melted snow. The normal precipitation for the month was 1.90 inches which is equal to 19 inches of snowfall.

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Source information from The Times Newspapers located at the Hammond Public Library.
Photographs from the Hammond Historical Society - Calumet Room.
Twentieth Century Time Capsule © 1999 HammondIndiana.com

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