This week a great snow storm is covering the lives of 100 million Americans. Forecasters predicted it would rival the Great Chicago Blizzard of January 26, 1967. I remember well the blizzard of ’67. My friend, Jim Sheffer, and I hitchhiked over 700 miles to arrive in Chicago the afternoon before the blizzard dumped 23 inches of snow in 24 hours.
Jim and I were students at Wake Forest University in Winston-Salem, NC. In those days we did not have exams for the fall semester until the end of January. Jim came up with the bright idea for us to travel over semester break to his parent’s home in Hinsdale, a suburb of Chicago.
I protested that Chicago would be too cold in the winter. Jim assured me that it really was not so cold in Chicago, and that the weather would be fine. Weather was a big issue since our checkbooks dictated that our mode of travel would be hitchhiking.
I was accustomed to hitchhiking. In the 1960’s it was common to see college students standing along the road with their thumbs stuck out, and at their feet a suitcase affixed with a college decal. It was the way I travelled often the 75 miles to get home.
On Tuesday afternoon, January 24, I waited until almost 5 p.m. for Jim to finish his last exam. Upon his arrival we put on our travel clothes. Jim had “borrowed” from the athletic department some sweat suits with “Property of Wake Forest Athletic Department” stamped in big letters across the chest. We wanted to get across the point to motorists that we were needy college students. Underneath we put on several layers of clothes to keep us warm.
A friend gave us a ride to Highway 52 North just outside town. It was about 5:30 p.m. We held up our sign with bold letters that said “CHICAGO.” Traffic zoomed past us. It seemed like forever without anyone paying us any attention. Darkness was falling and the temperature felt a little cooler.
We kidded each other about how crazy we were to think anyone would stop in the dark to pick up a couple of skinny dudes that were almost 6’5” tall (which of us was tallest was an issue that Jim and I never resolved).
Then grace appeared! A driver of a tractor trailer stopped his rig and invited us to climb aboard. Jim jumped in the passenger seat, and I climbed over in the back where there was a mattress for the driver’s overnights and naps. We rode with him all through the West Virginia turnpike. He told us about his experiences on the road, and we related stories about college life. I remember getting so hungry that I ate an apple, core and all.
I don’t really remember all the details of our other rides. I do remember that we arrived on the outskirts of Cincinnati early in the morning. We did a lot of walking, seeming as if we walked across the whole city. We stopped in a bar that was open at that early hour and had a good breakfast. Later in the day I faintly recall going through Lafayette, Indiana, the home of Purdue University.
We arrived in Hinsdale, Illinois late on Wednesday afternoon. Our trek took us about 23 hours. It was sunny and moderately warm. Later I learned it had been 65 degrees the previous day.
Jim’s parents and sister Joanie welcomed us gladly. We watched the local news on TV that evening. The weatherman forecast four inches of snow for the next day. Sure enough, when we awoke late the next morning it was snowing. It snowed all day and into Friday morning until the snow measured 23 inches deep.
I was furious! Jim had tricked me. I was mad that I was so foolish and gullible to believe that it would not be bad weather in Chicago. Jim declared that even this much snow was unusual. I did not believe him until newscasters confirmed this was the largest single snowfall in the city's history.
Thousands were stranded in offices, in schools, and in buses. About 50,000 abandoned cars and 800 city buses littered the streets and expressways.The Blizzard of '67 proved the wisdom behind the Chicago saying "If you don't like the weather, just wait a minute."
A few days later after the streets were somewhat cleared, I finally got to ride in a car to see downtown Chicago. There was not much else to do since activity was still greatly limited by the huge snowfall.
Jim and I had not really given much thought before our trip how we would return to college. We knew for sure due to the weather we would not be hitchhiking! It was now Monday and we were due back to register for the next semester. We needed to get back quick. Thankfully, the airport opened for flights on Monday. Soon we were able to get a flight reservation after we scraped together enough funds.
I have never been back to the Windy City since the Blizzard of ’67. I guess Marvin Gaye's "Hitchhike" song that opened with the line "I'm going to Chicago" and ended with snow falling was prophetic! :-)
We kidded each other about how crazy we were to think anyone would stop in the dark to pick up a couple of skinny dudes that were almost 6’5” tall (which of us was tallest was an issue that Jim and I never resolved).
Then grace appeared! A driver of a tractor trailer stopped his rig and invited us to climb aboard. Jim jumped in the passenger seat, and I climbed over in the back where there was a mattress for the driver’s overnights and naps. We rode with him all through the West Virginia turnpike. He told us about his experiences on the road, and we related stories about college life. I remember getting so hungry that I ate an apple, core and all.
I don’t really remember all the details of our other rides. I do remember that we arrived on the outskirts of Cincinnati early in the morning. We did a lot of walking, seeming as if we walked across the whole city. We stopped in a bar that was open at that early hour and had a good breakfast. Later in the day I faintly recall going through Lafayette, Indiana, the home of Purdue University.
We arrived in Hinsdale, Illinois late on Wednesday afternoon. Our trek took us about 23 hours. It was sunny and moderately warm. Later I learned it had been 65 degrees the previous day.
Jim’s parents and sister Joanie welcomed us gladly. We watched the local news on TV that evening. The weatherman forecast four inches of snow for the next day. Sure enough, when we awoke late the next morning it was snowing. It snowed all day and into Friday morning until the snow measured 23 inches deep.
I was furious! Jim had tricked me. I was mad that I was so foolish and gullible to believe that it would not be bad weather in Chicago. Jim declared that even this much snow was unusual. I did not believe him until newscasters confirmed this was the largest single snowfall in the city's history.
Thousands were stranded in offices, in schools, and in buses. About 50,000 abandoned cars and 800 city buses littered the streets and expressways.The Blizzard of '67 proved the wisdom behind the Chicago saying "If you don't like the weather, just wait a minute."
A few days later after the streets were somewhat cleared, I finally got to ride in a car to see downtown Chicago. There was not much else to do since activity was still greatly limited by the huge snowfall.
Jim and I had not really given much thought before our trip how we would return to college. We knew for sure due to the weather we would not be hitchhiking! It was now Monday and we were due back to register for the next semester. We needed to get back quick. Thankfully, the airport opened for flights on Monday. Soon we were able to get a flight reservation after we scraped together enough funds.
I have never been back to the Windy City since the Blizzard of ’67. I guess Marvin Gaye's "Hitchhike" song that opened with the line "I'm going to Chicago" and ended with snow falling was prophetic! :-)
1 comment:
I hope, it's OK
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