On Tuesday, January 29th, 1936, Birmingham and much of the nation was in the middle of a significant cold wave. Three infants had died of exposure during the cold spell. Two of them suffocated when their mothers wrapped them in tightly to protect them against the cold in their beds. In the Birmingham Age-Herald, the U.S. Weather Bureau forecast called for increasing cloudiness with light rain in southwestern sections of Alabama. It also called for warmer weather on Wednesday. Cloudy weather was expected on Thursday, with warmer conditions in eastern and southern portions of the state.
The headlines of the day related to FDR’s veto of the veteran’s bill and the death of King George V. Huey Long’s wife planned to serve out the Kingfish’s unexpired term after his assassination. There was lots of continued debate about the New Deal. Gasoline Alley, Dick Tracy and Little Orphan Annie entertained Birmingham residents from the comic pages. Wednesday, January 30th was the President’s birthday. A celebratory ball was planned that night at Municipal Auditorium.
A full page ad in the Age Herald everyone to “buy something” in honor of FDR’ birthday. Blach’s advertised men’s suits for 18.95. Magnus’ Food Store at 10th Avenue and 20th Street South advertised fresh mixed eggs for 28¢ and a two pound can of Snowdrift for 52¢. One pound of Maxwell House coffee went for 28¢ and beef roast was 15¢ per pound.
Interestingly enough, the front page of the Age Herald that week carried an article that said one of the causes of careles driving was too much talking. Better to be a dull passenger than a dead one. Who would have thought that sixty eight years later, almost an identical debate would be going on about cell phones.
It started to snow at 7 a.m. on the 29th in the Magic City. And it would continue to snow for nearly twenty four hours. If temperatures had not been hovering just abut freezing, the snowfall might have been even greater. When it ended early on the 30th, eleven inches had fallen on the city. It was an all time record for any twenty four hour period and any single storm, both records that would stand until the 1993 blizzard. Fourteen people died across the state.
The headlines of the day related to FDR’s veto of the veteran’s bill and the death of King George V. Huey Long’s wife planned to serve out the Kingfish’s unexpired term after his assassination. There was lots of continued debate about the New Deal. Gasoline Alley, Dick Tracy and Little Orphan Annie entertained Birmingham residents from the comic pages. Wednesday, January 30th was the President’s birthday. A celebratory ball was planned that night at Municipal Auditorium.
A full page ad in the Age Herald everyone to “buy something” in honor of FDR’ birthday. Blach’s advertised men’s suits for 18.95. Magnus’ Food Store at 10th Avenue and 20th Street South advertised fresh mixed eggs for 28¢ and a two pound can of Snowdrift for 52¢. One pound of Maxwell House coffee went for 28¢ and beef roast was 15¢ per pound.
Interestingly enough, the front page of the Age Herald that week carried an article that said one of the causes of careles driving was too much talking. Better to be a dull passenger than a dead one. Who would have thought that sixty eight years later, almost an identical debate would be going on about cell phones.
It started to snow at 7 a.m. on the 29th in the Magic City. And it would continue to snow for nearly twenty four hours. If temperatures had not been hovering just abut freezing, the snowfall might have been even greater. When it ended early on the 30th, eleven inches had fallen on the city. It was an all time record for any twenty four hour period and any single storm, both records that would stand until the 1993 blizzard. Fourteen people died across the state.
on January 30, 2005, 1:04 am
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