A snowblower might have helped in the core, but the only one the city owned kept breaking down. Downtown Hamilton on Dec. 11, 1944.
Spectator Archives / The Hamilton Spectator file photo
Hamiltonians hopped snowbanks after a widespread blizzard on Jan. 25, 1958.
Hamilton Spectator / Hamilton Spectator file photo
In the aftermath of a widespread blizzard on Jan. 25, 1958, Hamiltonians were out walking downtown through the snow. Even in heels, as we see in the pair in the middle of this group of people. The snowfall from this late-winter storm was reported as far south as Virginia.
Hamilton Spectator / Hamilton Spectator file photo
Longwood at Franklin Avenue on Jan. 27, 1958. A widespread blizzard hit the city on Jan. 25.
Hamilton Spectator / Hamilton Spectator file photo
This car and the roadway is snow-covered on John Street North after a widespread blizzard hit the city on Jan. 25, 1958.
Hamilton Spectator photo / Hamilton Spectator photo
The hill to Flock Road, on Hamilton’s East End Access (Hamilton’s old Ottawa Street Mountain Access), became suddenly steeper this morning. At least, it seemed that way to drivers whose car wheels spun impotently on pavement made slippery by the season’s first sizeable snowfall. Here a city sander sprays the “down” lane while drivers forlornly stand beside cars that couldn’t make it up. Oct. 25, 1962.
/ Hamilton Spectator file photo
Clappison’s Corners on Jan. 16, 1965, as a blizzard hit the city.
/ Hamilton Spectator file photo
Traffic was piling up at Sherman and King Streets as a result of a three-inch snowfall during the night Jan. 9, 1969.
/ Hamilton Spectator file photo
It’s not a storm but take a look here at skiers as they join the long lineup at the Chedoke Winter Park T-bar tow for their trip back to the top on Jan. 4, 1974.
Bob Chambers / The Hamilton Spectator file photo
A multiple-vehicle accident left cars stranded on Highway 403 in Ancaster. Ran in newspaper on Jan. 29, 1977.
Ted Brellisford / The Hamilton Spectator file photo
The storm raged a week ago, but this cottage near Port Colborne is still almost completely covered. Ran on Feb. 8, 1977.
Bob Chambers / The Hamilton Spectator file photo
View of a deserted Main Street West and the scene last night along Highway 403 and the eastbound Main Street ramp into Hamilton. Dec. 6, 1977.
Bob Chambers / The Hamilton Spectator file photo
Militiamen unload food and medical supplies at temporary headquarters in Welland. Feb. 1, 1977.
Bob Chambers / The Hamilton Spectator file photo
The snowbanks were high after the Blizzard of ‘77. This photo was taken by Port Colborne resident Lloyd Goss while travelling on his snowmobile delivering groceries and other supplies to people who were stranded.
Lloyd Goss / Spectator archives
Militiamen search abandoned cars on Highway 58 south of Welland during cleanup operations yesterday. Ran in newspaper on Feb. 1, 1977.
Bob Chambers / The Hamilton Spectator file photo
Waiting for a bus in blizzardlike conditions at West 5th Street, near Mohawk Road, Jan. 10, 1977.
R. Michael Hanley / The Hamilton Spectator file photo
Snow storm April 4, 1986, downtown Hamilton. Door of the Stelco Tower.
Bob Chambers / The Hamilton Spectator file photo
Pedestrians battle the elements at King and Hughson during the height of a snowstorm on Jan. 31, 2002.
Ted Brellisford / The Hamilton Spectator file photo
How ironic was opening day at Chedoke Ski Hill on Jan. 10, 2003? The public facility chronically plagued by a lack of snow opened Friday evening in the midst of a blizzard. Although few ventured out for the first run of the year, six-year-old Brodie Whitfeld and his dad Les were not deterred. Brodie was anxious to try out the new snowboard he received for his birthday.
Cathie Coward / The Hamilton Spectator file photo
Jim Rose digs an access path to his neighbour’s car as Hamiltonians awoke to the task of digging out from the massive dumping of snow overnight. Feb. 14, 2007.
John Rennison / The Hamilton Spectator file photo
A parade of Bobcats takes to the streets. The Greater Hamilton Area experienced its largest accumulation of snowfall this season, up to 15 cm in some areas on Jan. 12, 2011.
Kaz Novak / The Hamilton Spectator file photo
Police were out in full force assisting stranded motorists on Feb. 2, 2011. This one was waiting for a tow on Mud Street.
Kaz Novak / The Hamilton Spectator file photo
Three plows wait at Main and MacNab streets while the lights change. The Greater Hamilton Area was hit with the year’s largest snowfall on Feb. 2, 2011.
Kaz Novak / The Hamilton Spectator file photo
David Giglia of Mud Street had to dig out his rig during a storm on Feb. 2, 2011. The Greater Hamilton Area was hit with the year’s largest snowfall.
Kaz Novak / The Hamilton Spectator file photo
Hamilton was walloped with yet another winter storm that dumped upwards of 15 centimetres of snow, coupled with near-blizzard conditions, on March 12, 2014.
Barry Gray / The Hamilton Spectator file photo
Hamilton was walloped with yet another winter storm that dumped upwards of 15 centimetres of snow, coupled with near-blizzard conditions, on Wednesday, March 12, 2014.
Barry Gray / The Hamilton Spectator file photo
Gassing up the snowblower and digging out in Dundas during Monday’s blizzard. Feb. 2, 2015.
Cathie Coward / The Hamilton Spectator file photo
A man tries to negotiate the snow-covered steps leading from Highland Gardens Park after the first significant snowfall of the year. Nov. 16, 2019.
Scott Gardner / The Hamilton Spectator file photo
A tractor clears snow from the field at Tim Hortons Field Nov. 12, 2019, to allow the Edmonton Eskimos and Hamilton Tiger-Cats to practice for the CFL Eastern Division Final.
John Rennison / The Hamilton Spectator file photo
A spring snowstorm is always a drag, but when you wake up to this kind of beauty the best approach is to pull on your boots, get out and drink in the scenery and diversity of the seasons in our beautiful city. In this photo the rail trail near University Plaza is stunning coated in snow from an overnight snowfall. April 21, 2021.
Cathie Coward / The Hamilton Spectator file photo
An electric scooter rider on Cannon Street Tuesday morning in the heaviest of the snowfall on Jan. 26, 2021.
John Rennison / The Hamilton Spectator file photo
They cleared the snow away from Central Market, but farmers couldn’t get into town anyway. Dec. 11, 1944.
The Hamilton Spectator file photo
With street cars paralyzed on King East and everywhere else, Hamiltonians had to hoof it on Dec. 11, 1944.
The Hamilton Spectator file photo
While snowplows manoeuvre around cars, motorists try to dig out cars submerged in snow on Highway 403 at Mohawk Road during one of the worst storms to hit the area in years. When this picture was taken, at least 200 abandoned vehicles littered the highway and the ramp. Dec. 7, 1977.
Bob Chambers/The Hamilton Spectator file photo
The Blizzard of ‘77 hit from Jan. 28 to Feb. 1, 1977. This photo was taken by Port Colborne resident Lloyd Goss while travelling on his snowmobile delivering groceries and other supplies to people who were stranded.
Lloyd Goss/Spectator archives
Boots, a cape and a miniskirt ? that’s what the well-dressed lady shoveller wears in 1968 to help clear the year’s first big snowfall.
Hamilton Spectator file photo
Matt Seymour had the day off from Saltfleet high school and took his sled on a stroll to Tim Hortons on Mud Street. The Greater Hamilton Area is hit with the year’s largest snowfall on Feb. 2, 2011.
Spectator Archives / The Hamilton Spectator file photo
A snowblower might have helped in the core, but the only one the city owned kept breaking down. Downtown Hamilton on Dec. 11, 1944.
Spectator Archives / The Hamilton Spectator file photo
A snowblower might have helped in the core, but the only one the city owned kept breaking down. Downtown Hamilton on Dec. 11, 1944.
Hamilton Spectator / Hamilton Spectator file photo
Hamiltonians hopped snowbanks after a widespread blizzard on Jan. 25, 1958.
Hamilton Spectator / Hamilton Spectator file photo
In the aftermath of a widespread blizzard on Jan. 25, 1958, Hamiltonians were out walking downtown through the snow. Even in heels, as we see in the pair in the middle of this group of people. The snowfall from this late-winter storm was reported as far south as Virginia.
Hamilton Spectator / Hamilton Spectator file photo
Longwood at Franklin Avenue on Jan. 27, 1958. A widespread blizzard hit the city on Jan. 25.
Hamilton Spectator photo / Hamilton Spectator photo
This car and the roadway is snow-covered on John Street North after a widespread blizzard hit the city on Jan. 25, 1958.
The hill to Flock Road, on Hamilton's East End Access (Hamilton’s old Ottawa Street Mountain Access), became suddenly steeper this morning. At least, it seemed that way to drivers whose car wheels spun impotently on pavement made slippery by the season's first sizeable snowfall. Here a city sander sprays the "down" lane while drivers forlornly stand beside cars that couldn't make it up. Oct. 25, 1962.
/ Hamilton Spectator file photo
Clappison's Corners on Jan. 16, 1965, as a blizzard hit the city.
/ Hamilton Spectator file photo
Traffic was piling up at Sherman and King Streets as a result of a three-inch snowfall during the night Jan. 9, 1969.
Bob Chambers / The Hamilton Spectator file photo
It’s not a storm but take a look here at skiers as they join the long lineup at the Chedoke Winter Park T-bar tow for their trip back to the top on Jan. 4, 1974.
Ted Brellisford / The Hamilton Spectator file photo
A multiple-vehicle accident left cars stranded on Highway 403 in Ancaster. Ran in newspaper on Jan. 29, 1977.
The storm raged a week ago, but this cottage near Port Colborne is still almost completely covered. Ran on Feb. 8, 1977.
Bob Chambers / The Hamilton Spectator file photo
View of a deserted Main Street West and the scene last night along Highway 403 and the eastbound Main Street ramp into Hamilton. Dec. 6, 1977.
Bob Chambers / The Hamilton Spectator file photo
Militiamen unload food and medical supplies at temporary headquarters in Welland. Feb. 1, 1977.
Lloyd Goss / Spectator archives
The snowbanks were high after the Blizzard of ‘77. This photo was taken by Port Colborne resident Lloyd Goss while travelling on his snowmobile delivering groceries and other supplies to people who were stranded.
Bob Chambers / The Hamilton Spectator file photo
Militiamen search abandoned cars on Highway 58 south of Welland during cleanup operations yesterday. Ran in newspaper on Feb. 1, 1977.
R. Michael Hanley / The Hamilton Spectator file photo
Waiting for a bus in blizzardlike conditions at West 5th Street, near Mohawk Road, Jan. 10, 1977.
Bob Chambers / The Hamilton Spectator file photo
Snow storm April 4, 1986, downtown Hamilton. Door of the Stelco Tower.
Ted Brellisford / The Hamilton Spectator file photo
Pedestrians battle the elements at King and Hughson during the height of a snowstorm on Jan. 31, 2002.
Cathie Coward / The Hamilton Spectator file photo
How ironic was opening day at Chedoke Ski Hill on Jan. 10, 2003? The public facility chronically plagued by a lack of snow opened Friday evening in the midst of a blizzard. Although few ventured out for the first run of the year, six-year-old Brodie Whitfeld and his dad Les were not deterred. Brodie was anxious to try out the new snowboard he received for his birthday.
John Rennison / The Hamilton Spectator file photo
Jim Rose digs an access path to his neighbour's car as Hamiltonians awoke to the task of digging out from the massive dumping of snow overnight. Feb. 14, 2007.
A parade of Bobcats takes to the streets. The Greater Hamilton Area experienced its largest accumulation of snowfall this season, up to 15 cm in some areas on Jan. 12, 2011.
Kaz Novak / The Hamilton Spectator file photo
Police were out in full force assisting stranded motorists on Feb. 2, 2011. This one was waiting for a tow on Mud Street.
Kaz Novak / The Hamilton Spectator file photo
Three plows wait at Main and MacNab streets while the lights change. The Greater Hamilton Area was hit with the year’s largest snowfall on Feb. 2, 2011.
Kaz Novak / The Hamilton Spectator file photo
David Giglia of Mud Street had to dig out his rig during a storm on Feb. 2, 2011. The Greater Hamilton Area was hit with the year’s largest snowfall.
Barry Gray / The Hamilton Spectator file photo
Hamilton was walloped with yet another winter storm that dumped upwards of 15 centimetres of snow, coupled with near-blizzard conditions, on March 12, 2014.
Hamilton was walloped with yet another winter storm that dumped upwards of 15 centimetres of snow, coupled with near-blizzard conditions, on Wednesday, March 12, 2014.
Cathie Coward / The Hamilton Spectator file photo
Gassing up the snowblower and digging out in Dundas during Monday's blizzard. Feb. 2, 2015.
Scott Gardner / The Hamilton Spectator file photo
A man tries to negotiate the snow-covered steps leading from Highland Gardens Park after the first significant snowfall of the year. Nov. 16, 2019.
John Rennison / The Hamilton Spectator file photo
A tractor clears snow from the field at Tim Hortons Field Nov. 12, 2019, to allow the Edmonton Eskimos and Hamilton Tiger-Cats to practice for the CFL Eastern Division Final.
Cathie Coward / The Hamilton Spectator file photo
A spring snowstorm is always a drag, but when you wake up to this kind of beauty the best approach is to pull on your boots, get out and drink in the scenery and diversity of the seasons in our beautiful city. In this photo the rail trail near University Plaza is stunning coated in snow from an overnight snowfall. April 21, 2021.
On Dec. 11, 1944, a few flakes turned into a raging blizzard that left more snow and bigger drifts than this city has ever seen.
ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW
They cleared the snow away from Central Market, but farmers couldn’t get into town anyway. Dec. 11, 1944.
The Hamilton Spectator file photo
The Spectator’s StreetBeat columnist Paul Wilson wrote about the blizzard of 1944 when “several people died” in a more recent column.
“Transportation was crippled. Factories, stores and schools shut down. A few moments from the Big Dig:
* It wasn’t much below freezing and the snow was heavy. An urgent appeal went out to all people over 50 not to shovel and not to walk through the heavy drifts. But overexertion claimed three Hamilton men — Bert Culm, Joe Long, Robert Atkinson.
ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW
With street cars paralyzed on King East and everywhere else, Hamiltonians had to hoof it on Dec. 11, 1944.
* There was just one snowblower in Hamilton in 1944. But the city’s most formidable weapon broke down on King East the night of the storm. They fixed it the next day, but a few hours later it broke down again.”
Another deadly storm was the Blizzard of ‘77, a five-day storm that hit from Jan. 28 to Feb. 1, 1977.
While snowplows manoeuvre around cars, motorists try to dig out cars submerged in snow on Highway 403 at Mohawk Road during one of the worst storms to hit the area in years. When this picture was taken, at least 200 abandoned vehicles littered the highway and the ramp. Dec. 7, 1977.
Bob Chambers/The Hamilton Spectator file photo
The blizzard blasted the Niagara, Haldimand-Norfolk and Hamilton areas with a winter’s worth of snow and arctic temperatures. Hamilton was hammered, but it was worse in the Niagara area where two people died and in Buffalo, where the death toll was 29, wrote The Spec’s Mark McNeil in a recent column remembering the storm.
It’s estimated more than 100 people succumbed in the storm that tracked from the Prairies to the East Coast.
The Blizzard of ‘77 hit from Jan. 28 to Feb. 1, 1977. This photo was taken by Port Colborne resident Lloyd Goss while travelling on his snowmobile delivering groceries and other supplies to people who were stranded.
Lloyd Goss/Spectator archives
ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW
Environment Canada climatologist Dave Phillips says it was a “weather bomb ... the granddaddy of them all,” something that usually only happens over oceans.
It became the “most intense inland storm that North America has ever seen,” he said. Warm air from the Gulf of Mexico collided with some brutally cold air from the north, “and it just exploded over the Great Lakes and then came right into eastern end of Lake Erie and Niagara area.”
Jennifer Moore is an editorial assistant at The Spectator. jmoore@thespec.com
Boots, a cape and a miniskirt ? that’s what the well-dressed lady shoveller wears in 1968 to help clear the year’s first big snowfall.
Hamilton Spectator file photo
Matt Seymour had the day off from Saltfleet high school and took his sled on a stroll to Tim Hortons on Mud Street. The Greater Hamilton Area is hit with the year’s largest snowfall on Feb. 2, 2011.
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