Thanksgiving Snowstorm 1956 Headlines

Erie Daily Times Nov. 23, 1956.

When Erieites talk about the Thanksgiving Day Snowstorm, chances are they mean THE snow storm from 1956, when two feet of snow brought the City of Erie to a standstill.

Back then, life was a lot less complicated. The entire family got together for a home cooked Thanksgiving Dinner. There was no 24 hour marathon of "A Christmas Story" on TV. If your family had a television, it probably had a tablecloth draped over it and excess food sitting on top of it. 

There was no such thing as Black Friday or Cyber Monday. People did not miss Thanksgiving dinner because they had to work at a big box retail store. People did not camp out for three days in front of Best Buy waiting for a great sale on a big screen TV or a personal computer. 

Isn't it fun to reminisce about the good old days?

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Thanksgiving Snowstorm 1956 Wesleyville, PA

Thanksgiving Snowstorm 1956 on Station Road in Wesleyville, PA. Photo ©Dr. Barbara Chambers 2012.

The great Thanksgiving Snowstorm of 1956 was so big that it is still talked about to this day. The storm dumped 27 inches of snow on Erie County, Pennsylvania over the Thanksgiving holiday. The City of Erie came to a standstill. The snow was so deep that the National Guard was called in to deliver food and clear the streets in November of 1956. 

The picture above shows Hill's Market at 2013 Station Road in Wesleyville, PA. As you can see, cars were stranded on both sides of Station Road (Route 430). Some people had to shovel a path to the street to unbury their cars. Station Road ends at the traffic light at Buffalo Road (Route 20). The big white house is in the center of this photo is located at 3216 Buffalo Road. Plubell Hardware was located on the southeast corner of Buffalo Road and Station Road. It has since been torn down.

How did your family survive this winter storm? Please click here to leave a comment.

Check out this photo of the: 1956 Thanksgiving Snow Storm in Erie, PA.

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State Street Snowstorm Thanksgiving 1956

Thanksgiving 1956 Snowstorm on State Street in Erie, Pa. Photo courtesy of Sandra K. Sagala ©SKS 2012.

The Great Snowstorm of 1956

The Thanksgiving Snowstorm of 1956 was one for the Erie, Pennsylvania record books. Twenty-seven inches of snow brought the city to a standstill. Cars were stranded all over Erie, PA. The National Guard was brought in. Helicopters airlifted food. WICU-TV on State Street. Yes, it was really THAT BIG! This photo shows the S.S. Kresge Co. on the left (on the west side) of State Street. Next is Eckerd Drugs, a chain that started in Erie on the northwest corner of Ninth and State. The Boston Store at 716 State Street is a familiar landmark, since the building still stands. Lots of Christmas decorations hang from the telephone poles.

Did you spend the snow storm of 1956 glued to your radio? What do you remember about November 22, 1956 and the great Thanksgiving Blizzard?

Click here to see a shot of Station Road (Route 430) in nearby Wesleyville, PA Thanksgiving 1956 snowstorm.

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