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Weather again

Never have the harmful effects of flattery been more evident than when exemplified by… “weather writer” During the week that just passed. During our last meeting, we took the opportunity to congratulate him “impermanence” We also thought he deserved the very interesting season he’s given us over the winter so far. but being vain and feeble-headed by nature, he was offended by praise, and since then the impostor has visited us in weather not to offend Siberia. Jack Frost has basked in all his glory, and the thick icicles that roam the Ohio River clearly indicate the extent of his control. However, navigation remains open, and boats pass approximately every hour.

Parkersburg Gazette

January 14, 1847

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the heat!

We’ve known some warm seasons before, but this is summer and there’s no mistake. Wednesday was the hottest day on record. On Thursday, he surpassed that by two degrees and reached 100; But yesterday, he peaked his way into the heat. At noon the thermometer reached 99 degrees. At 3 in the afternoon the mercury had crept up to 102 and he was thinking about the rise when we went to print. “Oh let’s go down into some vast wilderness.” Somewhere rather warm, where a whiff of fresh air is never unknown.

Parkersburg Gazette

July 22, 1854

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Tornado – destruction

From Wheeling Bridge

The wind had been very strong almost all day yesterday, and at about three o’clock a violent hurricane arose, causing the enormous Wheeling Bridge, the greatest structure of its kind in the world, to sway to and fro for about ten minutes, when the fastenings collapsed and the whole superstructure sank into the river below . It is a great disaster, it seems, the greatest disaster Wheeling has ever seen. There was no one on it at the time, and no one was ever hurt, though the House of Tolls was torn to pieces and some small buildings near it were hit.

Excerpts from

Parkersburg Gazette

May 20, 1854

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ice

We have noted with pleasure that many of our fellow citizens have benefited from the floes of a great block of ice from the Allegheny River upon the State of Ohio; They were moving it in bulk as fast as their teams could do it. It is crystal clear ice, some of which is more than 18 inches thick. Secure it well gentlemen, we may be calling you during the next hot season.

Parkersburg

Daily Times

March 11, 1868

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The storm swept

Racist storm

Almost tears up the city

On Saturday and Sunday, this area witnessed the most severe rains and thunderstorms that the governorate has witnessed in years. The Saturday evening visit was noted for its uninterrupted and glorious downpour, while the Sunday evening visit was chiefly noted for its impressive if eerie electric show. Flash after flash and roar after roar tearing apart the heavens and earth, and for a while it seemed as if some titan was casting the vengeance of the gods upon the devoted heads of a doomed people. The damage to the country and the city is great, with crops swept away and flooded fields in the former sidewalks and flooded foundations and cellars damaged in the latter.

Excerpts from

Daily State Journal

July 9, 1888

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Hurricane in Marietta

After three o’clock in the morning, the wind speed increased, as it was at two o’clock in the afternoon at a rate of 96.5 miles per hour, and at (12?):20 at a rate of 104 miles. But from 1:25 to 2:30 p.m. there was a lull, as the speed dropped to an average of 43 mph at 2:33 p.m. and then began to increase again, and at 8:47 p.m. it was at an average of 121.2 mph. per hour, but soon began to decline, averaging 72 miles per hour at 5:20 p.m

Excerpts from

Daily State Journal

September 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.