1950snowstorm

As you read and look at the pictures below, please send us your memories of
this event - that is, if you are old enough to qualify. Email your memories to
dennis143@comcast.net or mail to WAMCC, P.O. Box 517, Weirton, WV 26062

..... Help us to Preserve Our History and Culture for Future Generations .....

The Great Thanksgiving Snowstorm of 1950

The Greatest Snowstorm in the history of the Weirton-Steubenville area occurred during the Thanksgiving Holiday weekend
of 1950. The event began as a strong cold front swept through the area dropping temperatures into the single digits. The
orginal storm that brought the cold front weakend over the great lakes, but a secondary low pressure system developed
rapidy along the coast of South Carolina. This strong secondary storm began moving northward as a Nor'easter dragging
lots of Atlantic moisture back into the United States. Strong High Pressure in northeast Canada caused this storm to park
at Washington D.C. as it continued to pump in moisture back over our tri-state area. The Storm with "no where to go"
began to take an unusual northwesterly track moving to the great lakes area (replacing the orginial low pressure).
For this whole weather event, our tri-state area stayed in the pocket of cold air and all the moisture fell as heavy snow,
while areas to our northeast (like Buffalo, New York) received moslty heavy rain. This was the perfect snowstorm for
our area with all the right ingredients 1) Frigid Cold Air in place 2) Strong High Pressure to the Northeast 3) Strong Low
Pressure along the Atlantic coast. The storm was also called the Great Appalachian Storm of 1950. Snowfall totals of 44
inches were reported in this area for our greatest snowstorm of all time.
Scroll down to see pictures captured by the Weirton Steel Bulletin photographers below.

Enlarged Version of above Picture can be seen at Weirton Area Museum and Cultural Center
The picture above was taken between Avenue's B & C for the Weirton Steel Bulletin during the record
Thanksgiving Weekend Snowstorm of 1950. Cars appear as igloos parked outside of the Fekaris Confectionery
and People's Restaurant on Main Street in the upper end of Weirton. P&W buses can be seen parked at the
Weirton Bus Terminal - all cleaned off and ready to go.
Scroll Down for more pictures of this all-time record snow storm.

Enlarged Version of above Picture is on Display at Gus's Goodies
The picture above was taken for the Weirton Steel Bulletin during the weekend of Thanksgiving
1950, when the alltime record snowstorm for Weirton (44") reportedly fell. A snow plow is
clearing the way in front of the Royal Pastry & Home Made Ice Cream Shop, which was then
located at 3778 Main Street. The P&W buses reportedly ran on schedule to Steubenville
throughout the storm. The enlarged version of this picture reveals Weirton's first Dairy Queen,
which can be seen further down at 3972 Main Street (present-day Gus's Goodies).

Enlarged Version of above Picture is on Display at Pixels N Frames
The picture above was taken for the Weirton Steel Bulletin during the record Thanksgiving
Weekend Snowstorm of 1950 at the intersection of Main St. and Avenue C. The A&B Food
Store (1254 Main St.) is just off to the left and north of the Avenue C intersection. Also on the
left is Academy Billiards & Tavern (1300 Main St.), Al's Place (1306 Main St.), and Green Mill
Restaurant (1312 Main St.). Further south, the Leader Market, National Bar, and old Rex
Theatre building can be seen. Steelworks Gate #1 is off to the right of the picture. The enlarged
version of this picture reveals that the man with white hat is WAMCC member John G. Pandelios,
who remembers walking to work in that storm.

Above Picture is on file at the Weirton Area Museum & Cultural Center
The picture above was taken for the Weirton Steel Bulletin during the record Thanksgiving
Weekend Snowstorm of 1950 looking north from the County Road - Pennsylvania Avenue
inetersection. St. Paul's Church and Parochial School are visible on the right. The partially
buried car on right is parked at the Weirton City Building. On the left is the Packard dealer
and an Esso Station in the area known as the "Triangle."

Above Picture is on file at the Weirton Area Museum & Cultural Center
The picture above was taken for the Weirton Steel Bulletin during the record Thanksgiving
Weekend Snowstorm of 1950 looking South on Main St. from the County Road - Pennsylvania
Avenue inetersection. On the left are the Weirton Steel Employees' Honor Roll and the MAB
building. The Old Shell plant is visible behind the MAB building. Drivers became pedestrians
braving the weather, as their vehicles became overwhelmed in the snow.

Above Picture is on file at the Weirton Area Museum & Cultural Center
The picture above was taken for the Weirton Steel Bulletin during the record Thanksgiving
Weekend Snowstorm of 1950 in the Weirton Steel Co. railroad yards.
Employees improvised and made makeshift flame throwers to keep all of Weirton Steel's
crucial railroad lines passable during the storm.

Above Picture is on file at the Weirton Area Museum & Cultural Center
The picture above was taken for the Weirton Steel Bulletin during the record Thanksgiving
Weekend Snowstorm of 1950. Construction on Weirton's new community center came to a
halt as the snowstorm blanketed the area. Also, the Weir High School Game against Stonewall
Jackson was cancelled.

Above Picture is on file at the Weirton Area Museum & Cultural Center
The picture above was taken for the Weirton Steel Bulletin during the record Thanksgiving
Weekend Snowstorm of 1950. Most people who needed to travel, walked on Main Street,
where the plow had passed through. Above photo shows a man in front of Louis Capito's
Television store on his way to work in the steel mill. Crago's Amoco Station is on right. This
station would later be purchased by Russ Craft, after he retired from his football career.

Above Picture is on file at the Weirton Area Museum & Cultural Center
The picture above was taken for the Weirton Steel Bulletin during the record Thanksgiving
Weekend Snowstorm of 1950. Employees at Weir-Cove Dairy are loading up the truck to
make their milk deliveries on time, even though the storm continues to rage. Chains were
put on the rear tires of the Weir-Cove Dairy truck.

Above Picture is on file at the Weirton Area Museum & Cultural Center
The picture above was taken for the Weirton Steel Bulletin during the record Thanksgiving
Weekend Snowstorm of 1950. Picture shows the Steel & Wolfe Funeral Home at the corner
of Maryland Ave. and Main Street (Brooke County Border). A Fort Pitt Distributing Co.
truck is shown on left coming onto Main Street.

Above Picture is on file at the Weirton Area Museum & Cultural Center
The picture above was taken for the Weirton Steel Bulletin during the record Thanksgiving
Weekend Snowstorm of 1950. The picture is from lower Main Street looking northward.
On the right are the Chevy Garage, M&B Market, and Weir-Cove Dairy. Further in
background on left is the Kusic Gulf Station at corner of Marland Heights Road. The Cove
Presbyterian Church can also barely be seen straight ahead in background.

Above Picture is on file at the Weirton Area Museum & Cultural Center
The picture above was taken for the Weirton Steel Bulletin during the record Thanksgiving
Weekend Snowstorm of 1950. This picture was taken looking northward at the Mill
Administration Building. The Route 22 sign is pointing the way to turn on Pennsylvania Ave

Above Picture is on file at the Weirton Area Museum & Cultural Center
The picture above was taken for the Weirton Steel Bulletin during the record Thanksgiving
Weekend Snowstorm of 1950. The picture was taken at the Strip Steel Department parking
lot. Most employees either walked to work during the storm or rode the P&W bus.

Above Picture is on file at the Weirton Area Museum & Cultural Center
The picture above was taken for the Weirton Steel Bulletin during the record Thanksgiving
Weekend Snowstorm of 1950. This picture was taken looking south on Main Street from the
intersection of County Road, Pennsylvania Avenue, and Main Street. The Quality Control
Building is on the right, while the Mill Administration Building and Employees' Honor Roll
is on the left. Straight ahead in the distance a P&W bus is the only vehicle to be seen braving
the overpass on Main Street.

Above Picture is on file at the Weirton Area Museum & Cultural Center
The picture above was taken for the Weirton Steel Bulletin during the record Thanksgiving
Weekend Snowstorm of 1950. This picture is at "Crawford's Crossing" where the Main Street
overpass crosses over the railroad tracks. The building behind the workers is the old train
station built in the mid 1920's.

Above Picture is on file at the Weirton Area Museum & Cultural Center
The picture above was taken for the Weirton Steel Bulletin during the record Thanksgiving
Weekend Snowstorm of 1950. This picture is taken from the overpass on Main Street
where it crosses the railroad tracks (Crawford's Crossing). The old railroad station is on the left
and blooming mill is on the right. Men below are working to clear the tracks of ice & snow.

As you read and look at the pictures below, please send us your memories of this event - that is, if you are old enough to qualify. Email your memories to dennis143@comcast.net or mail to WAMCC, P.O. Box 517, Weirton, WV 26062

The Great Thanksgiving Snowstorm of 1950

As you read and look at the pictures below, please send us your memories of
this event - that is, if you are old enough to qualify. Email your memories to
dennis143@comcast.net or mail to WAMCC, P.O. Box 517, Weirton, WV 26062