Blizzard Photos from LaFayette Rd., LaFayette NY

Winter, Jan-Feb 1947 or 1948 

Winter of 1947-48 or 1948-49

March 5 through 7, 1971

Date: Winter, Jan-Feb 1947 or 1948

Location: LaFayette, NY, LaFayette Rd.

This photo taken about 6:30 P.M.  This snow the result of a blizzard and LaFayette Rd. had been unusable for about three days.  It was an area wide storm and the total of Onondaga County was “shoveling” out.  Earlier in the afternoon I had ventured out of the house, down to the road to see if the County was able to plow yet.  Indeed, about 1.5 or 2.0 miles north, on LaFayette Rd. you could faintly hear and see the twin plumes of the “Sno-Go” as it chopped, augured and blew the offending snow into the fields.  It took 3 to 4 hours to cover this 1.5 to 2.0 miles.  The County of Onondaga was exceptional at keeping the roads clear to aide the dairy farmers in getting their milk to the creamery in Onativia.  Onativia is about ¾ mile east, as the “crow flies,”’ of the cross-roads of Route 11 and 20 at LaFayette, NY.

I informed my father that they were working at about Crows Farm, where I had first heard and seen the clearing effort.  Included here are four pictures as the “Sno-Go” approached in the dark.  My father had asked my Mom to prepare a supper for the drivers.  In the second photo you see the machine at rest just after they had eaten (note the meal basket on the snow).  A tremendous machine this Walter Sno Fighter with the augers and blowers in front and the power to drive the augers and blower coming from the engine mounted in back of the cab.

Photo #3 is a shot from the back while the drivers were finishing their meal.

Photo #4 is the machine and men back to work.  In my Photo #4 I am able to make out the two plumes of snow being blown to the east side of LaFayette Rd.

Date:  Winter of 1947-48 or 1948-49

Location:  LaFayette, NY, LaFayette Rd. at 2615-17 (current address)

The driveway had drifted to a depth of 3 ½ feet +/-.  This the result of some “new snow” together with an intense wind.  Shoveling by hand was effective, but labor intensive.  The “shoveler,” pictured here, has not suffered as he is 74 years old and still going (07-21-2005).  The address above is about 5/8 of a mile north of the south termination of LaFayette Rd. at Route #20.

Date:  March 5 through 7, 1971



The first picture was snapped on the 5th of March.  The snow had stopped falling during the night.  The morning was spent plowing out the driveway at 2615-2617 LaFayette Rd.  The roads were unpassable, the result of excessive snow fall and some wind.  This day was sunny and when the driveway was plowed the ice and snow started to melt.  Clearing the driveway was aided by the road being shut.  Most of the snow was pushed across the road, up and over the guard rail and fell down a steeply sloped field.  The near hill, in the background is called "Irish Hill."  The far hill is the ridge from Pompey north.  Sweet Road runs the ridge north from Pompey to the town of Manlius.





The 2nd, 3rd, 4th and 5th pictures were taken on March 6, 1971.  The county used a rotary plow to open the road.  Note the neighbors to our north (2nd picture) out in the road, checking the progress. 



The 4th picture of the rotary plow is looking south down the valley, toward Apulia Station.  The three standing together watching the rotary plow moving toward them are my children Natt, Pam and Todd.



The 5th picture, taken on March 6, 1971, is of a Walter "Snow Fighter."  It has a "V" plow with a 14 foot wing on both the left and right sides of the truck.  The truck has 4 wheel positive drive.  The outside wheel of the rear duals were removed for snow fighting, with tire chains on the remaining four wheels and the dump body loaded with heavy solid concrete balast.  These machines could move the snow! 



The last picture was taken on March 7, 1971.  This picture witnesses the capability of these Walter plows to lift and move the snow.  This picture was taken from inside our car, on LaFayette Rd., travelling north, just beyond the Crow Farm homestead.  It is evident that more snow will be removed to widen the passage to normal width.