Hurricane of 1938 explored in Springfield history program

The Springfield Art & Historical Society will present, “A Hurricane in Springfield, Vermont —1938,” at 2 p.m. Saturday, March 17, at its facility in the Cota & Cota Building, 65 Rte. 106 in North Springfield.

In September of 1938, a hurricane roared up the Connecticut River Valley and caused widespread devastation. The wind blew down numerous trees and the rain caused flooding that in some places nearly reached the levels of the 1927 flood.

While most of worst destruction and death occurred on Long Island and in Rhode Island and Connecticut, the damage locally was extensive. There were no deaths in Springfield or the surrounding area but the cleanup required considerable effort. In some areas whole hillsides had trees uprooted. Around town streets were blocked by fallen trees, and amateur photographers captured some interesting shots.

Hugh Putnam will show a number of these pictures and discuss the storm and its impact on the local community. The location of many of the photos is known while others are only thought to be in Springfield. Come and see if you can locate some of the unknown pictures. This program is free and open to all.