Snowstorms of the past

The Inland Northwest has seen its share of snow in the past. These photos from the archives capture residents' snow-related fun and frustration as far back as the 1890s.

Section:Gallery

Mon., Jan. 9, 2017

In January 1969, Spokane was well on its way to having a record snowfall. On Feb. 1, 1969, The Spokane Daily Chronicle reported that Spokane lead the United States in depths of snow with 42 inches. This picture was taken on Sprague Avenue facing east.

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Note the fluffy snowflakes falling, in 1964. View at right is of the North Toll Plaza at the Maple Street Bridge. Time exposure shows "streaks" of snow.

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Record Snowfall which began in the afternoon of January 21, 1955, brought traffic tie-ups and the closing of schools in Spokane. The snowfall totaled 12.2 inches. At left is the Touraine Hotel, a longtime residency hotel that housed downtown workers. The was actually three buildings, the Touraine, the Heath Block and the Touraine Annex. All were gone by 1968 and the land used for parking until the Spokesman-Review and Spokane Daily Chronicle production facility was built there in 1980.

Photo Archive Sr
The snow covered streets and cars making travel difficult in December 1951. This photo was taken on Post Street looking north between Fourth and Third streets.

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Henry Lunn, a 24-year veteran mail carrier said of a blizzard in January 1950, "It's the worst I've seen!" 38 1/2 inches fell. Lunn, on his route became stranded on Pine Street and had a tough time fighting his way home on foot and later on a bulldozer. He returned the next day on snow shoes to carry the mail.

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Looking down on Grand Blvd Dec. 16, 1949..The winter of 1949-50 saw 93.5 inches of snow fall in Spokane, the snowiest until 2009, when 93.6 inches fell. Winter driving. Spokesman-Review photo archive.

Photo Archive Sr
During the holiday vacation, several young boys sled down the hill at Manito Park, December 1944. A pasttime that still takes place in the park when the snow fall allows. The sleds have changed considerably.

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January 11, 1952. Storm Wraps Up Spokane Diesel Locomotive in a Blanket of Snow. Spokane and Inland Empire travelers who think they have snow troubles can feel better at the sight of this 1600-horse-power diesel locomotive. It ran into 15-foot snowdrifts 45 miles south of Spokane. The Great Northern locomotive turned back at Spring Valley and the engineer called for rotary plows to clear the tracks of the Moscow, Idaho, branch line.

Photo Archive Sr
For the first time since February, 1938, the city street department snow loader is getting a real workout. Hundreds of tons of snow have been cleared from downtown streets. This scene was 'shot' at the Lincoln monument while Main avenue was being cleared.

Photo Archive Sr
Human shovelers cut a path for snow plows in this photo taken on March 3, 1937. City plows were powerless against the frozen four-foot drifts on east 40th and 42nd avenues in the neighborhood of Crestline, Cook, Nelson, and Smith streets. There had been no deliveries of milk, fuel, or groceries for more than a month, to the then sparsely populated section of town.

Photo Archive Sr
Individual winters are forgotten, but nearly everyone has two indeliable memories: the beauty of snowflakes filling the air, and the calm when snow covers the entire city. These hardy bobsledders enjoyed the steepness of the Howard Street near Seventh Avenue in the winter of 1890. Photo courtesy of the Eastern Washington State Historical Society

Eastern Washington State Historical Society