USA > Maryland > Montgomery County > Sandy Spring > Annals of Sandy Spring history of a rural community in Maryland, Volume 1 > Part 23
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On the 24th of the 7th month there was a terrific flood on the Patapsco, Patuxent, and some other streams in Baltimore, Howard and Montgomery counties. Bridges, dwellings, mills and factories were washed away, many lives and much property were destroyed; some, who escaped unharmed as to person, losing everything they possessed in the world. The scene of devastation and ruin at Ellicott City beggars all power of description. A sudden and tremendous rain fell in the section of country near the head-waters of the streams, and the water being checked in its very sudden rise and flow by bridges and dams, either swept them away or flooded the adjacent
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ANNALS OF SANDY SPRING.
country. In Baltimore the water was up to the top of the lamp-posts in certain streets.
Seventeen year Locusts (Cicada septemdecem) .- The lo- custs were first noticed ascending the trees at night in great numbers on the 30th of May. In the morning early they came out of their shells, and after being warmed and turned black by the sun, flew away. For about two weeks they came up in great numbers. They then filled the air with their harsh noise, and in about two weeks more had pierced the limbs of bushes and tender trees, particularly the chestnuts. They did not seem to pierce the locust tree. They then began to die off rapidly, and by the last of June but few were seen or heard. The damage done was slight compared with their countless number. A few young peach orchards were injured or destroyed. Their noise was at its height about the middle of June. The male only makes the noise, by means of a tight parch- ment-like membrane under the wing, moved by internal fibres or muscles. The eggs are deposited side by side in the slits or punctures made in the limbs, about a dozen in each place, and each female laying about one hundred eggs. Their empty shells or jackets are left sticking to the bark and limbs of the trees. The chickens and hogs fattened on them. They are not poisonous to beast or human. But few crows were seen while they were abundant, and corn was undisturbed, the crows finding plenty of food near their nests in the fat grub and winged locust. They do no damage to vegetation except by pier- cing the young twigs, which generally die and break off. The little grub, about r's of an inch in length, batches out about the first of August, falls to the ground, finds its way into the earth to a depth of about four feet, and emerges at the end of seventeen years, piercing the ground with myriads of holes.
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ANNALS OF SANDY SPRING.
1870.
Last snow in 1868-69 was. April 11th.
- First
1869-70 " November 13th.
Haze .- In July there was a haze for five days, during which the sun had the red appearance usual in "Indian Summer."
Drought .- There was no rain to wet the ground from July 29th to August 28th, and then not enough for plow- ing. It lasted until Sept. 26th, nearly two months. Corn and potatoes were affected by it. It extended through the Southern and Middle States, much of the corn fodder in Virginia being left uncut. In the West, on the contrary, the crops were shortened by excessive rains. Large fields of grain were lost because the ground was too soft to allow the machines to work, and there were no " cradles " to cut with.
Flood .- On Oct. 3d there was a heavy rain, flooding the streams and doing much damage in some places.
Mild Winter .- Winter was very mild. Most farmers plowed both for corn and oats. The birds were frequently heard singing, a number not having migrated. It was with difficulty that ice was stored, some not filling their houses. Jan. 10th and 11th it was gathered four inches thick. On Feb. Sth and 9th we had the only sleighing for this winter, and the first since the winter of 1867-68.
Eclipse .- The great phenomenon of the year was the eclipse of the Sun on the 7th of August,-nearly total here, and entirely so in portions of the United States. An audience so intelligent as this has doubtless read many and accurate descriptions of this wonder of wonders which in grandeur and interest stands unrivalled.
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ANNALS OF SANDY SPRING.
1871.
· Last snow in 1869-70 was April 5th.
First " 1870-71 " December 17th. Haze .- In August there were five days during which the sun presented a red appearance, and was partially obscured by a haze caused by destructive fires in Canada.
Hailstorm .- On May 10th a hailstorm did some little damage, but less than might have been, being unaccom- panied by wind. In Philadelphia and New Jersey there were violent hailstorms which did very great damage to crops and to property.
Wet weather .- The early part of June was so wet as to prevent the proper cultivation of gardens and crops.
Heat .- July was remarkable for intense and long-con- tinued heat. The thermometer at 1 o'clock on the 16th was 91°; 17th 94°; 25th 93°; 26th 91°; 28th 90°. In the cities there were many deaths from sunstroke, and the mortality was greatly increased.
Auroras .- There was a brilliant aurora on Aug. 19th. Fine auroral displays were noticed in October and other months.
1872.
Last snow in 1870-71 was March 4th.
First 1871-72 " November 28th.
April was unusually dry, garden seeds not sprouting from lack of moisture. The early part of the month was very warm, viz .: Thermometer at 1 P. M. on the 8th was 86°; 9th 82°; 10th 80°, etc. The average for the month was 50°, which was from 3º to 7º higher than for a number of years past.
There was frost on the 11th of May. The latter part of the month was dry and dusty, the dust flying after harrows and carriages in clouds.
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ANNALS OF SANDY SPRING.
.
A most remarkable and almost appalling evidence of the force of electricity was manifested on the 28th of April, about 8 o'clock P. M., upon the farm of Elizabeth E. Tyson. Two trees standing nearly 30 feet apart were struck, one being about 1} feet in diameter, the other 2 feet. One was cut off 12 feet above the ground, the other 8 feet above the ground, the pieces being scattered over a space of 4 acres. Some of them were as large as sticks of cord-wood. One piece 6 feet long and 6 inches in diameter was thrown 70 yards from the tree, and another 12 inches in diameter and S feet long was thrown 20 feet. Long strips were lodged in branches of trees 30 feet from the ground and 40 yards from the point of departure. The electricity followed a root from the largest tree, plow- ing out a ditch 40 feet long, 4 feet wide at the top, and 3 feet deep near the tree, and running out to a mere mark at the end. Some of the dirt thrown out was seen sticking to the bark of the surrounding trees, 6 or S feet from the ground.
In July there were many thunderstorms and heavy rains. On the 7th a tornado, limited in extent, blew down fences and overturned and twisted off a venerable locust tree, 73 feet in height, in front of the house at Rockland.
September was dry; wells and springs failing.
On the 12th of October the atmosphere was filled with smoke from the great fire in Chicago. The smell of ashes was perceptible. Persons in Maryland, Pennsyl- vania, New York, and other widely-separated places, were aroused in the night, thinking their own premises were on fire. It was an admirable illustration of the divisi- bility of matter.
December was remarkable for high winds. On the 21st
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ANNALS OF SANDY SPRING.
the thermometer was -3º at 7 A. M., 6° at 1 P. M., and 4º at 9 P. M., making the average of the day 12º. The old - Washingtonian saying that if we have ice thick enough for gathering before Christmas we will not have after, though . often true, was falsified this season. Ice 6 inches thick was stored on the 16th of December, and on the 21st of March there was skating upon ice 6 inches thick.
March was remarkable for its low temperature. On the 5th the thermometer was 4º. On the 21st it was 16°. The average for the month was 28.4º, being nearly 13º colder than the year before. But little spring work has been done, the ground being frozen the greater part of the month.
The ground was not without patches of snow from No- vember to about the 20th of March.
The most striking point in connection with the meteor- ology of the year is the small rainfall in this latitude. The amount of rain and melted snow that fell in the State of Maryland as compiled from reports of 5 or 6 stations, was for 1871, 38.88 in. Average for 6 preceding years, 50.41 in.
The past winter has been one of unprecedented severity, and heartrending accounts have reached us of terrible suffering in the West and Northwest. On one railroad 9 passenger trains and 1000 cars of freight were detained, entailing a risk of life and a heavy loss of property.
A great advance has been made in meteorological know- ledge, and the public are beginning to reap some advantage from the long-continued labors of scientific men, com- mencing with Franklin, and ably seconded in latter days by Prof. Espy. By attentively watching the phenomena . connected with rain, currents of air, changes in the height of the barometer, and other things, and by laboriously
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ANNALS OF SANDY SPRING.
collating the results, a law of storms has been developed which by the aid of the telegraph in announcing the - changes as they occur over the country, enables the cen- tral observer to give us the daily "probabilities" that . have proved so wonderfully accurate even thus early in the experiment. By cautionary signals on the lakes and on the coast many lives and much property have been saved. When experience adds to the knowledge already gained, it is proposed to have a system of signals by cannon from various points for the benefit of farmers and others. We are as yet in the infancy of meteorology as a science, great as have been the advances made in recent times. The day will no doubt come when we shall know the "probable " weather of the coming 24 hours with almost the same cer- tainty with which we now foretell an eclipse.
HENRY C. HALLOWELL.
APRIL 7th, 1873.
Last snow in 1871-72 was. April 15th. First snow in 1872-73 was. November 16th.
On the 26th of April (1872) the thermometer at 2 P. M. was 90°, and at 11 P. M. it was 70°.
May was almost without rain ; small garden seeds in many places not germinating.
June was exceedingly dry. July was hot and dry. On the 1st the thermometer was 94°; on the 2d, 97º; on the 3d, 98° ; on the 4th it was 91° at 10 A. M. There were many deaths in the cities from heat. Streams were low, many springs and wells were dry, and some mills were unable to grind. In some cases cattle had to be driven a considerable distance for water.
August was warm and oppressive. There were many auroras. Part of September was oppressively warm.
293
ANNALS OF SANDY SPRING.
A long, cold and hard winter began in December. On the 22d the thermometer was 0° at 7 A. M., 6º at 1 P. M., the average for the day being 4º. On the 26th there was a snow 6 inches deep, and great snowstorms were reported all over the Northwestern and Middle States.
On the 30th of January the thermometer through the neighborhood ranged from zero to 26° below, the greatest cold ever recorded in this latitude. On the 27th a snow 9 inches deep fell, and, being followed by cold weather, was packed into fine sleighing.
February was cold and wintry, the thermometer being -1° on the 24th at 7 A. M.
March began cold, the thermometer on the 4th being 2º. There were great discomfort and suffering amongst the vast multitudes attending the 2d inauguration of Presi- dent Grant. By the middle of March the hard grasp of the Frost King began to relax, and the swelling buds, the notes of the robin and blue-bird, and the smell of the freshly-turned sod gave unmistakable evidence that the earth would be once more clothed in the countless glories of another spring. The invalids began to revive under the bright anticipation, the aged to enjoy once more their accustomed walks and drives, and all to prepare for the busy pleasures of a country life. Some gardens were plowed, and early seeds were planted on the 19th, and although there was some cold and blustering weather after- wards, this glimpse of a warm season served to keep our spirits from drooping when winter gave us a parting blast.
The rainfall for the year was considerably below the average, the record at Washington, D. C., showing a total of only 38 inches, while the average for the first + - months (April, May, June and July) was but 1.7 inches per month.
HENRY C. HALLOWELL.
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ANNALS OF SANDY SPRING.
APRIL 6th, 1874. Thermometer at 7 A. M.
Year. 1866-67
Highest.
Lowest.
Range. 80°
Average. 48.8°
1867-68
79
1
80
47.8
1868-69
83
8
75
48.9
1869-70
81
8
73
48.1
1870-71
84
4
80
49.9
1871-72
78
3
81
47.4
1872-73
82
-12
94
47.9
1873-74
79
8
71
49.9
Average for 8 yrs. 81.2}
2
79.2₺
48.6
Last snow in 1872-73 was March 26th.
First snow in 1873-74 was. November 12th.
Thermometer Averages at 7 A. M.
Winter.
Feb.
Mar. Nov., Dec., Jan., Feb. & Mar.
1865
Jan. 22.º
27.º
41.º
1864-65
31.68°
1866
26.9
27.4
35.4
1865-66
32.86
1867
19.6
34.4
33.
1866-67
31.96
1868
24.5
21.6
36.8
1867-68
30.96
1869
34.
33.8
32.6
1868-69
33.50
1870
35.
29.
32.7
1869-70
32.82
1871
27.4
30.5
41.2
1870-71
33.70
1872
26.5
27.3
2S.4
1871-72
29.4
1873
24.7
27.3
32.8
1872-73
28.9
1874
34.2
30.2
37.
1873-74
34.4
Av.for 10 yrs.27.5
28.8
35.1
32.02
84°
4º
April 9th the thermometer was 85° at 2 P. M. The first 15 days averaged 72° higher than the last 15 days. In
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ANNALS OF SANDY SPRING.
the first 15 days there were only two days that the ther- mometer did not get above 62°; in the last 15 days there was only one day on which it reached 62°.
July. Dry. On the 3d, thermometer was 94°; on the 14th, 95°. On the 15th, an appearance similar to a rainbow was observed in the west in the afternoon.
August. Violent thunderstorm on the morning of the 12th; many telegraph poles near Hermon and Olney being shattered by lightning. On the 13th very heavy rain, amounting to 7 inches, and carrying away the Brooke Grove dam. From the 12th to 21st some rain fell every day; 9.42 inches in 10 days. In many locali- ties there were terrible and destructive storms. In Moores- town, N. J., the hailstones were 73 inches in circumfer- ence, and on a plate looked like apple dumplings. The devastation was proportionate.
October. On the 30th the thermometer was 24º at 7 A. M.
November. Winter set in early. On the 17th the deepest snow of late years fell and lay for a week.
December. On the fourth the thermometer reached 69°; on the 12th, 71°. On the 24th a magnificent meteor was observed, which was fully described in the papers of the succeeding weck. It has rarely been the fortune of any one to see so grand and beautiful a sight. (See ex- tract from Scientific American of Feb. 7, 1874, on file with original Met. Reports.)
January. On the 4th the thermometer was 67º. On the 23d, 62º at 7 A. M .; the next morning 29º, a change of 33° in 24 hours. Month remarkably warm; farmers at their spring work; grass growing, buds swelling. Frogs heard on the 29th.
February. On the 6th a very fine sleighing snow.
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1
7
Ve
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ANNALS OF SANDY SPRING.
Average of thermometer on the 22d was 633º. Flocks of blackbirds seen, Fires went out in many houses during the day. On the 23d the thermometer reached 762°, being the warmest noon since September. On the 23d the thermometer averaged 623°; on the 24th it averaged 333°, a difference of 293°. On the 25th fell the next deepest snow of the winter.
March. On the morning of the 4th the thermometer was 51° milder than on the same day one year before. A remarkably high wind was blowing uninterruptedly for 7 days from the 8th to the 14th.
APRIL 5th, 1875.
Year.
Clear.
Cloudy.
Rain.
Snow.
Falling Weather.
1866-67
181 days. 71 days. 97 days. 16 days. 113 days.
1867-68
186
71
85*
24
109
1868-69
189
70
90
17
107
1869-70
209
50
90
11
101
1870-71
213
48
85
14
99
1871-72
220
59
69
18
87
1872-73
22S
55
64
18
. 82
1873-74
197
73
18
91
1874-75
202
64
84
15
99
Av. for 9 yrs. 203
63
S2
17
99
Last snow in 1873-74 was
First snow in 1874-75 was
April 29th. December 1st.
April. Very cold and disagreeable. The highest noon temperature was 67º, although it reached 76° the preced - ing February. Thermometer was 25° at 7 A. M. three days in the month. 28th, first sign of asparagus. 29th, a furious snowstorm, 4 inches decp. The contrast of
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ANNALS OF SANDY SPRING.
the snow with deep green grass and wheat was peculiar ; pear blossoms looked dark in comparison with the snow. - The whole day was remarkably cold (average 363º), and ground crusted at night. Far the coldest April on record, being 73° below the average for 7 years previous.
May. Apple in bloom on the 1st; peach came out March 19th. A warm spell from the 10th to the 15th caused an unusually rapid transformation in the forests. The coldest spring on record.
June was the warmest on record. Thermometer above 90° from the 7th to 10th at noon; 99° on the 29th, the warmest day for 6 years. Comet first observed on the 21st.
July. A violent storm on the 4th demolished a church in Beltsville, buildings in Washington, etc. Lightning struck and shivered a post on the Brook Grove farm, partially melting a nail. Comet disappeared on the 15th.
August. 20th, thermometer 98°; 21st, 96°. Yet it was the coldest August on our record (S years). Drought injured pastures and the corn crop.
September. Nearly 53 inches of rain fell from the 15th to 17th.
October was wonderfully dry; there were but 2 or 3 sprinkles fell in the whole month. Rainfall for the month, § inch. A haze like Indian summer, caused by burning prairies, was observed for weeks.
December. Rather warm. Thermometer above 60° on the 3d and 28th. No ice gathered in the month.
January. For two weeks the thermometer was only seen abore 32° on 2 days. The coldest January since 1867.
February was colder still. Average thermometer for one week (4th to 10th) was 123º. Papers said it was the
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ANNALS OF SANDY SPRING.
coldest spell for 20 years. On the 10th the thermometer was 3º below zero. The temperature for the first 3 weeks averaged 21.2°. The winter was very cold after New Year. It was noted for its sleets and scarcity of snow until February. There was sleet on the ground almost uninterruptedly for 6 weeks in January and February. Numerous accidents occurred in the cities. Water and ground froze to a great depth. Immense gorges and fields of ice formed on the Delaware and Susquehanna rivers.
March 24th, a 6 inch snow fell.
HENRY C. HALLOWELL, ALLAN FARQUHAR.
APRIL 3d, 1876.
Last snow in 1874-75 was April 24th. First snow in 1875-76 was October 31st.
April 13th, 2 inches of snow ; 18th very cold; average of the day, 273. Hot fires kept up all day, and overcoats required whenever out of doors. On the 19th the ther- mometer sunk to 19°, the lowest on record for April. Ice on ponds would bear a rabbit. The ground remained frozen until afternoon. 29th, first peach blossoms in orchards. Month very cold, with 6 snowy davs. Latest season on record ; being a month later than 1871.
May 5th. Forests absolutely unchanged in appearance. 7th, strawberries just in bloom, (I have known ripe ones gathered on this day). 9th, thermometer 84°; 10th, 73º at sunrise, which is surpassed by few summer morn- ings. 21st, thermometer 91°. Coldest spring for many years.
June 11th. First mess of strawberries. 24th to 27th,
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ANNALS OF SANDY SPRING.
thermometer 95° at noon for 4 successive days. The first 20 days in June averaged 67°; the last 10 days, 79°.
July 6th. Very hot at noon ; followed by a thunder- storm. Lightning struck Ashton store, indulging in strange freaks, but doing little damage.
. August, cool and very wet. Highest thermometer 86°. Nearly 9 inches of rain fell on 16 days, which promoted luxuriant vegetation, but failed to affect wells, which were very low through the whole summer and fall. The coolest summer on record.
September 24th, thermometer 39° ; a mild frost.
October 13th, first killing frost. 26th, thermometer 75° at noon.
November 30th was very wintry; average of the day, 17º. Month rainy and much corn was injured. The autumn foliage was more than usually fine.
December 20th, the only first-rate ice-getting weather of the winter. 23d, thermometer 66° at noon. No snow to speak of during the month. The year 1875 was the coldest on record (dating back to 1867); every month, · except May and December, being below the average.
January 2d. Thermometer 67º at noon ; the average for the day was 573. There has been no day warmer since. The 19th was the warmest morning since September 17th. 28th, thermometer 69º at noon. Lilac buds were swelled. 29th, thermometer 59º at 7 A. M .; 30th, 21°; a difference of 38°. Month's average 39º, the warmest January on record. Hardly any snow.
February 2d. A powerful wind caused destruction to trees and fences. 3d, first bona fide snow of the season. 5 inches deep. The winter of 1815-76 was the warmest on record, and remarkable for the almost total absence of snow.
300
ANNALS OF SANDY SPRING.
March 17th. A sunny, beautiful morning, followed by a short, but violent storm of hail and snow-a model St. Patrick's Day. 19th, thermometer 13º, the coldest I have known so late. 20th, a wild equinoctial storm of snow and rain. 28th, a rainstorm carried away a portion of the wall of Brooke Grove dam.
The season, which promised to be an early one (myrtles and daffodils being in bloom March 15th), seems now almost stationary. Little or no plowing has been done for 4 weeks, and gardens, with rare exceptions, still remain untouched.
APRIL 2d, 1877.
Last snow in 1875-76 was March 24th. First snow in 1876-77 was October 15th.
Monthly Notes.
April 12th. Thermometer 75°. First day of real spring. Month very dry; there was rain on but 6 days.
May 1st. Thermometer 31° at 7 A. M .; decidedly the lowest I have known in May. It was fortunately too dry to kill all the fruit, but considerable damage was done to peaches in some places. This was the third successive dry May.
June. Considerable Fultz and other weak-strawed wheat was lodged by windy rains in the early part of the month. On the 24th the hot spell commenced. The warmest June on record.
July. A month to be remembered. Among the many sultry days I select 4, viz. On the 2d, thermometer 98º at noon : Sth, thermometer 85º at 9 P. M. (the highest ] have known at that hour); 10th and 11th, both 99° at noon. The 10th was the warmest day on record- 79º at
301
ANNALS OF SANDY SPRING.
sunrise, 99° at noon, and 81º at 9 P. M .; an average for the day of 863º. This extraordinarily hot spell closed on - the 22d. For 29 successive days the noon temperature never once fell below 86°. These 29 days averaged 73º at sunrise, 92° at noon, and 78° at 9 P. M., making the average temperature for this period just 81°, which is 12º warmer than I ever knew it for the same length of time. In the country the comparatively cool nights made it quite endurable, but in cities (notably Philadelphia) even they brought no relief ; the thermometer being 90° or 92° at sunrise on several days, and sleep before midnight was out of the question. There was a heavy rain on the 30th. The last week being quite cool, brought the average for July below that of 1868.
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August was very dry, only 14 inches of rain. The next warmest summer I have known, and the very dricst. Only 8₺ inches of rain fell in the 3 months, being 4} inches below the average for 3 years preceding.
September. The drought broke on the 7th, and very soon we had no cause to complain on that score. From the 14th to 24th there were 3 floods, making 8} inches, or as much as fell during the whole summer. Farmers were alarmed about wheat-seeding, forgetting the promise that seed-time and harvest shall not cease.
October 15th. Snow fell the night before, and the ground was white all day; a sight I never before knew in this month. This was the coldest day until November 24th. Month very cold and dry.
November 1st. Thermometer 75° at noon; on the 2d 74°, the highest on record for November, and warmer than any day in the preceding October. This was the warmest November on record (since 186}); the lowest thermometer being 28°. Wheat got an excellent start.
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302
ANNALS OF SANDY SPRING.
December 8th, A moderate day, the thermometer being 33° at 9 P. M .; but at 3 o'clock next morning - a northwest gale struck us which continued all day, uncapping hay-stacks, and scattering fodder-shocks over · the fields where farmers were so improvident as to leave them out. Thermometer 5° at sunrise, and only reached 9º at noon. The 1Sth was the commencement of 6 weeks' sleighing. 29th, rain froze on trees and shrubbery; this, illumined by a full moon, made the night of the 30th a glimpse into fairyland. The coldest month for at least 10 years, the average being 9º below the normal for December. So closed the great Centennial year.
January 1st. The deepest snow for probably 20 years. 1 foot deep on a level, but a high wind next day piled drifts 5 to 6 feet high, rendering roads in places impass- able and everywhere risky. For the rest of that week upsets were the order of the day (or rather night). On the 5th the thermometer ranged from 13º on the Manor to -10° in the Patuxent valley. There was a full 6 weeks of sleighing, the first time for many years. This brightened up the neighborhood wonderfully, and some of its effects (if report is to be relied on) will be permanent.
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