From the Archives

Notes from Rhinebeck Historical Society
March 2025

Rhinebeck: Snow Through the Years

From snowflakes to a blizzard, you can dig up a history of snow in the Rhinebeck Historical Society’s archive!  

The featured photograph this month depicts Tom Schaad, Susan Schaad, and Henry (Hank) V. Schaad, three kids in the snow posing for a quick snapshot near 56 Livingston Street. In those days, Elwood Decker lived in the white house.

Years before, in March 1888, the snow started to fall, and fall, and fall. The Blizzard of ‘88 was featured in the March 17, 1888 issue of the Rhinebeck Gazette. Check out the excerpt included here “One of Rhinebeck’s young men.” 

Photograph, black and white, view in winter of 1915-16, looking South from Market Street intersection with Mill Street; visible at right are the Rhinebeck Hotel, signs for the Hub Garage, and Town Hall, in the middle are individuals crossing snow-covered street, at left are a pair of mules drawing a sled with a driver.
Rhinebeck man with dog in winter.
Beekman Arms in Winter "THE OLDEST HOTEL IN AMERICA, RHINEBECK, NEW YORK" is printed below a snow covered view of the Beekman Arms.
1890s to 1920s East Market, Rhinebeck in a snowstorm.
1890s to 1920s East Market in a snowstorm.
1890s to 1920s Antique sports car in the village.
Boys on sleds in the snow.
Snow piled high on the roadside.
Three kids in the snow- looking North East back of houses on 56 Livingston. Children are Tom Schaad, Susan Schaad and Henry V. Schaad Jr (Hank). Elwood Decker lived in the white house.

A year after Groundhog Day was first celebrated on February 2, 1887, the groundhog predicted six more weeks of winter in 1888. This was the year of the Great Blizzard. Don’t miss the coverage of the Blizzard of ‘88 in the March 1888 Rhinebeck Gazette. In 2025, Punxsutawney Phil predicted six more weeks of winter. How accurate was he?

Happy Researching.
See you in April! 

From the Archives,
Researcher Bonnie Wood
March 2025

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