WAUPACA REPUBLICAN

October 28, 1887

 

SNOW AND SLEET

 

And a Thousand Acres of Potatoes

 

Within a Radius of Ten Miles of Waupaca not yet dug.

 

            Friday night last, ground froze to the depth of two or three inches in this vicinity, and on Saturday many loads of potatoes that were brought to the city showed the effects of the freeze.  Sunday morning people were treated to a genuine taste of winter by seeing the ground covered with snow, which continued all day, coming from the polar regions and it froze to the trees and everything as it came.  Many shade trees were ruined, almost, by the heavy weight bending and breaking the limbs off like pipe stems.

            It is estimated that there are from six hundred to a thousand acres of potatoes undug yet in this vicinity.  The “oldest inhabitant” can tell you of “just such a storm thirteen years ago at which time the snow came and staid until the following April.”  Mr. Nordvi says he well remembers the freeze up that came about the first of November ten years ago, because he and Richard Lea had several cars of potatoes on the track at Sheridan, they were lined and had stoves in, but they had not yet put in the bottom lining.  The result was, they lost fully one-third of them.  But the potato grower who has got caught tries to console himself with the hope that we are yet to have a short Indian summer after such a “squaw winter” splurge.  General Greely of the Signal is requested and has the prayers of everybody interested to send a short season, via the signal service.