Locally, we had one snowfall and ice storm after another in January and February culminating in record snowfalls on the Saturday and Sunday dates of February 24 and 25, 1979 as reported on Monday in the MDR paper as follows.
Worst Snow Storm Since 1918
Rescuers and road crews fought to relieve suffering and prevent loss of life in the wake of the area’s storm since 1918.
A 21 inch snowfall Saturday night and Sunday, combined with a wind that piled snow drifts several feet deep on some streets and highways, almost paralyzed the Williamson County area.
An estimated 200 travelers found refuge in Marion’s Longfellow School as a bright morning sun rose today on an area marked by hundreds of snow covered vehicles occupied by persons who had spent the cold winter night marooned on the highways. The number of people stranded on highways was estimated at 2,000 in Williamson and adjacent counties where nothing moved but four-wheel drive vehicles bent on rescue missions. Some found haven in motels which were jammed with travelers who were fortunate enough to get to them through the storm.
Even snowplows and some four-wheel drive rescue vehicles were stuck in the drifts of heavy snow.
The snow which fell over the weekend brought to 53.8 inches the total snowfall for January and February compared to 31.3 inches for the first two months of 1971, according to Mr. and Mrs. Anthony Mignone, Marion Rt. 1, official weather observers for the area.
Mrs. Mignone said that the 1978 snowfall continued on into March when there was a fall of 4.2 inches bringing the three month total to 35.4 inches.
Mayor Robert L. Butler called the office of Governor James Thompson Monday morning about assistance from the Department of Transportation and was advised that heavy snowfall equipment maintained by the state for use in Central and Northern Illinois were on their way to the Southern Illinois area.
The mayor said he was advised the equipment would “work its way south” through the storm beginning at Effingham, but was given no estimate as to when it would arrive in the Marion area where automobiles were stalled almost bumper to bumper for two miles north of Marion.
The state road report said the following roads were closed: I-57 from mile post 70 South of I-24, Illinois 13 west of Marion, and also closed to trucks between Pinckneyville and Murphysboro, Ill.; Rt. 152 between Ill. 13 and DuQuoin, Ill.; Rt. 4 between Ill. 127 and Ava, Ill.; Rt. 14 three miles east of Benton closed to tracks, Ill. 37 was one lane from Vienna north. I-64 is icy and snow packed, one lane traffic in most areas. Most major routes from near Ill. 13 south remain almost impassible due to severe drifting. Most secondary’s are either closed or blocked by abandoned vehicles. Travel a not recommended.
Mayor Butler said 40 to 50 volunteer including auxiliary police and Illinois Disaster Emergency Service participated in rescue work during Saturday and Sunday night, some working through the early hours of the day.
Michael Wiseman, director of the county detective unit, one of the volunteer rescue workers said that some of the persons stranded on the highways in automobiles did not seem to realize the seriousness of their situation. Some elected to remain in their cars when offered a chance to be removed in rescue vehicles. Wiseman mentioned one man who declined rescue saying that he was afraid someone would steal the van in which he was stalled. Wiseman tried to convince him that if he couldn’t move the vehicle when he had the Ignition key it weald be difficult for a thief to make away with the van without the key, but the man stayed with it.
“We will be lucky if we get by without loss of life,” was the resume of the situation voiced by Marion Police Chief L.B. Hunter who said vehicles with four-wheel-drive were resorted to for rescue work when regular police cars failed.
Several buildings were damaged when roofs collapsed under the weight of snow. They included the Bob Stotlor lumber Co. building on West Main Street, the headquarters of the Pulley Ambulance Service at North McLaren Street and East Boulevard, Bill’s Auto Service garage on West College Street across the tracks from the Lions Club depot and canopies at J.R.M. Photography shop and Barnett’s furniture store on North Market Street and Coast to Coast Hardware store in the Town & Country Village.
The blizzard which began Saturday night and reached the height of its fury Sunday morning, caused cancellation of most Sunday church services and forced an early announcement of the closing of schools which had already used up the allotment of “snow days” on their calendars.
Business was at a standstill Monday as well as at city, county, state and federal offices. Mail service was halted.
As the storm continued through Sunday morning, the emergency service by public employees and volunteers was set up at the City Hall. Emergency vehicles provided by individuals and dealers were dispatched from there in response to calls for help from stranded persons.
A power failure in Moore Park subdivision brought into sharp focus the seriousness of the blow dealt by the storm. Because of the power failure which also affected the county headquarters of the Disaster Emergency Service, Tom Redickas, director, started out from Marion for the headquarters at Ordill with portable radio equipment to restore communications his emergency vehicle became stuck in the snow and he had to complete the trip on foot, requiring six hours to complete.
A Central Illinois Public Service Co. repair truck on its way with City Commissioner Robert Connell to repair electric lines at Moore Park also became stuck on old Route 13.
Three state highway department trucks were reported stalled on the same road near the 1-57 overpass.
Although regular ambulances were unable to negotiate unbroken snow, Pulley Ambulance Service was answering calls with an emergency vehicle. An elderly resident of Morgan Drive who reported her apartment was without heat was removed to the home of a daughter.
Answering a call to a stranded automobile six miles south of Marion on the South Market Street Road, the Pulley Ambulance Service removed a woman who was on her way to Marion Memorial Hospital to have her baby. During the six hours it took to reach the car and return to Marion, Mrs. Doris Pulley of the ambulance service anticipated that the baby would be delivered in the ambulance, but the baby had not arrived when the hospital was reached.
The Pulley service reported Mrs. Jane Whitright, 1411 N. State St., her son and daughter-in-law, Mr. and Mrs. James Whitright, Jr., were taken to Marion Memorial Hospital with injuries received in an accident when their car became stuck in the snow. A wooden board placed under the wheels of the car was hurled into the air when the motor was started, and the three were hit. They were returned home after receiving treatment.
Among the first arrivals at Longfellow School in Marion were 20 persons taken from a Greyhound bus stalled on I-57 near Marion. Two other buses were stalled in Johnson County. They included a group of square dancers who helped entertain 800 to 900 stranded motorists who spent Sunday night in Vienna High School. The U.S. Penitentiary at Marion sent 500 blankets and food to the school.
Buildings damaged by the weight of snow on the roof included the structure housing the Edwards Oil Co. on North Fair Street near the fair ground where the roof collapsed.
No vehicles were involved in the roof collapse at Pulley Ambulance Service where an ambulance had been moved shortly before the roof supports gave way. There was considerable loss in the office area, however, and in the shop where service tools were kept.
Among persons who found their way out of the line of cars being stalled in traffic on Route 37 north of Marion late Sunday was Philip Herron of Harrisburg Herron who was on his way home from South Bend, Ind., encountered snow on I-57 at Effingham, but finally made his way to West Frankfort where he switched to Route 37 and finally reached Marion. He said he met only two automobiles on the road between Marion and West Frankfort, but that traffic on I-57 was backed up to a point two miles north of Marion. He said the snow had piled up so much on Rt. 37 by the time he reached Marion he didn’t believe another car could get through.
By the time he reached Marion, he had lost track of his brother-in-law and sister, Mr. and Mrs. Clyde Boyett of 144 West Chestnut Street who were following him toward Marion.
Dee L. Rodd, member of the Williamson County Airport Authority, reported that about 75 persons spent the night at the airport. Sixty persons found shelter in the terminal building and 15 others in the hangar where they were assisted from their automobiles stranded on highways nearby Airport personnel went to their assistance.
Among those stranded on 1-57 was Marion City Commissioner Homer Askew who left his car in the snow after being delayed several hours.
An unusual aspect of the blizzard was the fact that it was accompanied by thunder and lightning followed by freezing rain.
For a follow up article written on Tuesday, see also Dealing with the Snow Storm of 1979.
(Article and photos extracted from the Marion Daily Republican, Monday, February 26, 1979, some of the photos were follow ups taken the next day)