Unit 7: Set 5: Floods & Blizzards - 1966 Blizzard - Photographs

Introduction | 1966 Blizzard | Hazel Miner | 1950 Flood | 1997 Flood | Activity

Introduction | Ida Kellogg Letter | Photographs

Hague’s main street shows the hardship that the
blizzard visited on towns. Snow packs caused by
drifts and street clearing appear to be more than
8 feet high. Access to stores is limited.
Photo dated March 9, 1966. C1473

The Blizzard of 1966 hit south central North Dakota
very hard. Near Linton, this Northern Pacific
Railroad engine was severely damaged by snow.
This photograph was taken three days after
the blizzard ended. C1469

Sebastian Krumm’s house near Hague had snow to the rooftop. Krumm had to shovel snow from the roof
into the attic to get out of the house. The roof began to crack under the weight of the snow so Krumm
used household furniture to brace the roof against the weight of the snow. The car in front of the house
where the men (including Krumm and National Guard troops) are shoveling was crushed by the weight
of the snow. Only Krumm’s dog enjoyed the results of the storm; he ran up the drifts, over the roof,
and down the other side. Photo dated March 9, 1966. C1475

Even snow removal equipment became stuck in the
snowdrifts. Here National Guard Sergeant Adams
and his crew use shovels to free a bulldozer on
March 8, 1966. C1472

Nearly 140,000 head of livestock died in the storm.
Some died in barns, others were in pastures as
this animal was. C1477

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