5 March 2000 – 1902 Ice Storm

As many local residents well know, Carroll County is frequently visited by severe ice storms. The March 1, 1902 issue of the Westminster Democratic Advocate newspaper briefly described one of the worst storms of the last century:

The work of clearing up the debris was begun at once. Telephone workmen continued the work all day Sunday, and the Chesapeake and Potomac Company opened its line to Baltimore by Tuesday.  The latter company will have its lines in this city in good order this week, but it may be two weeks before Western Maryland Telephone Company has its connections restored.

The storm of the snow, hail and rain, forming sleet was general from Washington D.C., north in the Atlantic States. Telegraph and telephonic communication was interrupted, and only a few lines were in operation.   From Boston and New York messages were sent to Chicago, thence South and thence to Washington and Baltimore.  In the latter city much damage was done telephone, telegraph and electric lines, and some cars were laid up.  In some sections of the streets were flooded and in many cellars.  Several horses were killed by falling electric wires.  In Wilmington, Delaware, four men were killed by electric wires and some horses.  At Chester, Pa., great destruction was wrought to all telephone and electric wires.

A dispatch from New York, Saturday night, the 23d, says: – ‘After 24 hours of snow, sleet and rain and a night of high winds, New York had all of today the worst heather conditions it has faced all winter.

Telegraph and telephone wires were down in all directions. Train service in and out of the city is delayed and irregular and suburban trolley service throughout the adjacent portions of New Jersey and Long Island is practically at a standstill. A cold rain turned the snow to semi-frozen slush, impeding traffic and flooding low-lying streets.

The high wind continued to play havoc with ice-coated trees and wires.  Miles of electric light, telephone and telegraph wires are down, making a heavy task for the army of linemen who are attempting to restore the systems.

The telegraph companies have restored limited communication with the rest of the country, except directly south of New York, which is still isolated.  The heaviest damage resulted between this city and Philadelphia.  Telegraph poles were carried down by the immense weight of the sleet-burdened wires. This caused a delay of from one to five hours in the passenger train service of the Pennsylvania lines between this city and Baltimore.

The main trouble as reported by passengers from the South was in the district between Chester, Pa., and Trenton, N.J. At Chester the entire telephone, telegraph and electric light system was a wreck, the town was in darkness and trains on the Philadelphia, Wilmington and Baltimore division were run without the aid of the telegraph, necessitating slow progress.

The worst of the wreck among the wires was between Bristol and Trenton, N.J.  In the 11 miles between those two places more than 100 telegraph poles were broke.  There were reports of burned trolley cars in different sections.   The weight of the ice on the wires caused them to break, and the loose ends encountering cars, set them on fire.

The greatest damage was sustained in Brooklyn, where scores of horses were killed by the contact with live wires, which were everywhere prostrated.  In Prospect Park and in many of the avenues hundreds of trees were denuded of ice-laden branches.'”