Observations all along the line - Kimball & the Southern Panhandle First
Observations all along the line - Kimball & the Southern Panhandle First
Impact Of Kimball's Mega-Storm Affected Train Passengers, Others From Near & Far
Buildings in Kimball were decorated with snow, plastered to the masonry by the terrific winds, and streets were piled high with snow when the sun broke through after the Blizzard of 1949. This drift on Chestnut Street, nearly 10 feet high, practically covered the front of the Kimball Clothing Store, Harold's Cafe and other buildings.
The blizzard started Sunday, January 2, 1949. The morning was a cold chilly morning. By Sunday night the blizzard was raging in full force. On Monday morning the temperature had dropped to five below zero and had stayed there all day,
On Monday, January 3, the wind was raging up to 60 miles an hour, blowing snow into tremendous drifts. The snow was so heavy that you could only see up to ten yards in town and a few feet in the country.
About 11 p. m. on Tuesday, the storm was beginning to subside. By Wednesday morning, the sky was clear. More than 300 railroad passengers and tourists were getting their first look at Kimball, after being stranded for 49 hours.
The City of San Francisco crack streamliner with 270 passengers arrived about 11 a. m. on Monday. Tuesday the passengers went to the Wheat Growers, Kimball Hotel and Serviceman Center.
The two hotels were jammed to capacity with standing room only left. A dormitory was set up in the Wheat Growers basement with extra mattresses.
Kimball Café did round the clock business as railroad passengers and stranded motorists kept the kitchen force going full speed all day and night.
There were two trains that stopped at Dix because of the stopped train in Kimball. They had enough food for Monday night. The heat was also running out during the night.
On Tuesday morning, the Dix Volunteer Fire Department at about 10:30 a. m. evacuated the passengers to the Legion hall.
Members of the American Legion and personnel from Ed's Café assisted in preparing hot soup and coffee.
For entertainment people played cards and sang.
Livestock losses were believed to be heavy in the Nebraska Panhandle, and the greatest losses were believed to be sheep. Army C-47 aircraft from Lowery Field dropped huge quantities of hay for isolated bands of sheep and cattle.
Mr. and Mrs. Clarence Taylor were found weak but alive on Wednesday, January 5. It was believed that the fumes from the gas furnace in the house could not escape because the windows and doors were covered with snow. Their son Tom was living with them and woke up and found them unconscious. Tom walked five and half miles to Pete Backe's farm and phoned for help.
If you want to read more about this storm in the Kimball area, look on the Western Nebraska Observer on microfilm at the Kimball Public Library. The issues are from January 6, 1949; January, 13, 1949; and January 20, 1949.
