The Blizzard of 1977
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LE ROY PENNYSAVER & NEWS - FEBRUARY 5, 2017 The Blizzard of 1977 working at the Stafford High- home. Still no answer. After way Department and the men what seemed like an eternity, were headed over to the Gold- my husband answered the phone en Poppy for lunch. They never at home. He had made it home made it. The storm hit at noon. from Kodak Elmgrove and he It was a complete whiteout. had heard from the school that They ended up walking down our son was staying the night at Route 5 to the Stafford firehall school. My son recounts that the for supper. The Auxiliary made kids bunked down on the gym goulash. He spent the next seven mats. “ weeks trying to keep Routes 5 On Friday, January 28, the and 237 open. He ran the Trojan storm rolled into Western New mounted snow blower 7 days a York. Winter had already been week. “Went through some long particularly cold and Lake Erie cold snowy winters since then had been frozen over since in my 42 years at the highway December 14. The Lake was department, but nothing like covered with snow, and the that one was.” He also told that storm picked it up and blew it Dr. Horr, the Superintendent of inland and although there was the LeRoy Schools needed to only 12 inches of snow gener- be convinced that they needed ated from the storm, gusts of to keep the schools closed. He wind measured up to 69 mph., was given a tour of the roads in blew the snow into drifts as Stafford. “During his tour, he high as 40 feet. The tempera- couldn’t believe his eyes . the ture dropped to zero, and with rural houses were difficult to the wind, the wind-chill was get in and out of, let alone stop 60 to 70 degrees below zero. a school bus out front in the The storm continued for three whiteouts. He delayed opening, days. On Saturday, President but not for long.” Patrick Moran Carter declared the counties added that the “Roanoke Road in Western New York a major I was hoping that we had some of the rig with a lite flare in had drifts so high that it took disaster area - - the first time photos of the 1977 blizzard in our hand going from car to car oversize machines to push the ever a snowstorm had become a our files, but couldn’t find any. on the Thruway checking for drifts back . They were the major disaster area. There were The ones that covered the front patients.” Bonnie Coniber biggest vehicles I had ever seen 26 deaths attributed to the storm page of the Gazette weren’t very wrote, “Lucky to have family . I never knew where they – many people perishing in cars good. Anyone who remembers all make it home including a came from.” Doug Snell add- stranded on the highways. those few days has a good story few extra travelers who end- ed that the huge machines had to tell. I posted a note on the ed up spending the week with come from the quarry. website LeRoy Then and Now us. Watched the premier of the What I remember of the storm, and asked for memories. About mini-series "Roots"...but with was that I was coming home forty people shared stories. the storm our TV reception from Rochester. My son was Tricia Vinci Riggi wrote “My was poor... roof antenna needed in kindergarten in Caledonia. cousin Jimmy was born on adjustment... no problem, the This was before cell phones. Church St. in my Grandparents snow drifts behind our house WHAM radio was broadcasting house. They brought Dr. Baker were as high as our roof... an all the schools that were releasing over in the snow plow!!!” Sure easy walk up to the antenna students early, but there was no enough the story was at the bot- attached to the fireplace chim- mention of Caledonia. I found tom of the page in the Gazette. ney... with a little back and forth a pay phone and tried calling It said that Dr. Baker had never communication using the chim- the school a couple of times, delivered a baby at home before, ney a clear picture was accom- but there was no answer. All and was assisted by Mrs. Bren- plished. “ I could imagine was my son da Vinci. George Henry wrote: “I remember the moment it hit. being dropped off at our house, “I was working at Genesee Me- We were in the cafeteria and the way out in the country, trying to morial Hospital in Batavia. It northern side was floor to ceiling get up the driveway to an empty was lunchtime and suddenly it windows. I happened to be house. I started out Scottsville was like somebody turned the looking out and suddenly Road, only to be stopped at the sun off. It got dark and just kept visibility went from clear to hill by the Wehle Farm. Luckily snowing. I never left the hos- zero. It was like someone had I knew the farm manager, and pital for 4 days. I went out on thrown a bucket of white paint I was taken in. I spent the time ambulance calls. I remember on every one of those windows,” trying to get through to the us taking turns walking in front Kevin Kinsley. Doug Snell was school and then tried calling .