Hall County NEGenWeb
Tempestuous Weather in Hall County
Miscellaneous Storms

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Transcribed from
"The History of Hall County," published 1920 by Buechler, Barr & Stough

1875-76

The winter of 1875-76 was mild and free from snow, and plowing was done in December and January.

1878

In May, 1878, three houses near Wood River were damaged by lightning. Rupert SCHWAIGER and Elias E. BOODRY were killed by lightning while enroute to town.

On July 8, 1878, a hail storm originated in Sherman County and came over into Hall County, causing such loss that forty-two Hall County farmers who were insured reported $20,000 loss, while the uninsured lost around $30,000. The frame of the Lutheran church, just raised in the southeast part of Gand Island, and the old building on Front street (P. DUNPHY'S) were levelled; several small buildings were blown down and the gardens generally wrecked. Though the hail-stones were not large, owing to their velocity their destructive power was terrible, and the quantity of water which fell in a few minutes was beyond the experiences of every one; and the torrent which swept the main street of the town was two feet in depth.

1884

A hail storm in July, 1884, destroyed numerous buildings and severely damaged crops through Hall County. the eastern wall of the Union Pacific car shop was blown in, destroying property valued at $10,000; a new building near the Burlington depot was moved three feet, and from a point north of Grand Island to southeast of Doniphan, and even beyond that village, growing crops, trees, and small buildings were pounded into the ground, broken, or removed.

1885

A storm in June, 1885, destroyed $1,500 worth of window panes-the window glass in the court-house, Koenig's block, and Schaupp's mills being almost all broken. The new agricultural hall was twisted so as to require rebuilding, the front of Hake's harness shop was blown in, and a strip about two miles in width, from the northwest to the southwest corner of the county, devastated.

1886

There was a severe blizzard on January 7, 1886, but the worst storm between 1873 and the big storm of 1888 was in November, 1886. Men returning to their homes against that wind became dazed and almost breathless. David ALEXANDER became lost and was nearly frozen before he found shelter. Judge WILSON also lost his way; a herd of cattle drifted before the storm, the telegraph wires were torn from the poles, and several unfinished buildings were damaged by the terrific icy wind.

1909-10

The winter of 1909-10 was unique in that sleet visited Nebraska in the later part of November, covered the roadways and walks, and in many places remained on the ground until early spring. A similar condition had existed in the winter of 1903-1904.

1913

In March, 1913, one of the worst storms in many years occured. The snow piled up so that many engines were stalled in the Grand Island yards, though the situation was worse at North Platte and Sidney than here. A bad wreck occured during this storm a few miles west of Sidney, on the Union Pacific. All the railroads were tied up for several days, and for almost three days, no mail or freight was received.

1919

In February, 1919, a bad storm blocked the Burlington Railroad at the cut near Phillips, a short distance southeast of Hall County line. This line was out of commission for about four days, though the Union Pacific was kept open at all times.

NOTE: Rupert SCHWAIGER, Elias E. BOODRY, Judge WILSON, David ALEXANDER, P. DUNPHY