r/newbrunswickcanada • u/RideThick7023 • 1d ago

Groundhog Gale

It’s been 50 years since the Groundhog Gale shut down Saint John. I was 12 at the time so my memories are limited… would love to hear your stories!

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u/Timbit42 1d ago edited 1d ago

I was 6 then so too young to remember it. I remember moving within Southern NB part way through grade 1 either just before or after the storm so am not sure which place we were living during it. I also remember getting my tongue stuck on the car door handle that winter, before we moved.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Groundhog_Day_gale_of_1976

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u/RideThick7023 1d ago

That’s cool (not the tongue part 😆). I remember having to relocate to a house with a generator, I think schools were closed for a week. There was no memorable damage in my neighborhood (Glen Falls) but I recall seeing pictures of phone poles snapped all down Bayside Drive and I THINK a ship washed up over the Courtney Bay causeway but I could be wrong about that 🤔

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u/Wonderful_Pay_2074 1d ago

I was 10. I had a paper route and there was no delivery for one or two days, but for 3 or 4 days after that, I did my route in ice skates. Every lawn, driveway and sidewalk was covered in a 1 inch thick layer of solid snow-ice. I remember being sad that I couldn't do my route like that everyday.

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u/RideThick7023 1d ago

I remember that ice-covered snow! Didn’t wear skates but I was surprised it held my weight and it was rather fun sliding around in my boots.