Look Back: Weather whips Ohio River Valley
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THE WEATHER AGAIN
Never were the deleterious effects of flattery more fully exemplified than by the "clerk of the weather" within the week just passed. In our last, we took occasion to compliment his "Inconstacy" as he deserved, we thought, for the very agreeable season meted out to us during the winter, thus far. But, being naturally vain and weak-headed, praise addled him, and the scamp has ever since visited us with such weather as would do no discredit to Siberia. Jack Frost has reveled in all his glory, and the thick masses of ice, coursing the Ohio, plainly indicate the extent of his dominion. Navigation is still open, however, and boats are passing almost hourly.
The Parkersburg Gazette
Jan. 14, 1847
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THE HEAT!
We have known, before, some warm seasons, but this is summer and no mistake. Wednesday was the hottest day then extant; Thursday beat that, two degrees, reaching an hundred; yesterday, however, capped the climax in the way of heat. At noon the thermometer stood at 99 degrees; at 3 o'clock P.M., the mercury had crawled up to 102 and was thinking of going higher when we went to press. "Oh for a lodge in some vast wilderness," some moderately warm place, where a sniff of fresh air is not altogether unknown.
The Parkersburg Gazette
July 22, 1854
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Tornado -- Destruction
of Wheeling Bridge
The wind was very high nearly all day yesterday, and at about 3 o'clock it rose in a fierce tornado, swinging the immense Wheeling Bridge, the grandest structure of its kind in the world, to and fro for about ten minutes, when the fastenings gave way and the whole superstructure was plunged into the river below. It is a great calamity, the greatest, apparently, that Wheeling has ever experienced. There was no one on it at the time, and no one hurt in the least, although the toll house was torn to pieces and some small buildings near it injured.
Excerpt from
The Parkersburg Gazette
May 20, 1854
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ICE
We observed with pleasure that several of our citizens took advantage of the floating down on the Ohio of a large mass of ice from the Allegheny River; they were hauling it in large quantities as fast as their teams could do it. It is clear, crystal-pure ice, some of it over 18 inches thick. Secure it well gents, we may call on you during the coming hot season.
The Parkersburg
Daily Times
March 11, 1868
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STORM-SWEPT
An Elemental Storm
Nearly Tears Up The Town
Saturday and Sunday this vicinity witnessed the severest rain and thunder storms that have visited the county for years. The visitation of Saturday evening was noted for a steady and terrific down-pour of rain, while that of Sunday evening was chiefly notable for its magnificent though fearful electric display. Flash after flash and roar after roar rent the heavens and the earth, and it seemed for a while as though some Titan giant was hurling the vengeance of the gods upon the devoted heads of a doomed people. The damage in country and city is considerable, washed-out crops and submerged fields in the former and damaged pavements , injured foundations and flooded cellars in the latter.
Excerpt from
The Daily State Journal
July 9, 1888
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The Cyclone in Marietta
After a.m. the velocity of the wind increased, being at p.m. at the rate of 96.5 miles per hour, and at (12?):20 at the rate of 104 miles. But from 1:25 to 2:30 p.m. there was a lull, the velocity decreasing to the rate of 43 miles an hour at 2:33 p.m. It then began to increase again, and at 8:47 p.m. was at the rate of 121.2 miles per hour, but it soon began to abate, being at the rate of 72 miles at 5:20 p.m.
Excerpt from
The Daily State Journal
Sept. 28, 1892
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Bob Enoch is president of the Wood County Historical and Preservation Society. If you have comments or questions about Look Back items, please contact him at: roberteenoch@gmail.com, or by mail at WCHPS, PO Box 565, Parkersburg, WV 26102.