Tuesday’s weather — the first significant snowfall in over 2 years — reminded us that despite climate change, we still can get whacked.
There was a lot more snow in the 1930s, when this photo was taken. It was before 1938 — the year the Merritt Parkway opened, which itself was 20 years prior to I-95 (known then as the Connecticut Turnpike or “Thruway”).
The Post Road was the only way to drive between New York and New Haven (and points beyond, like Hartford and Boston). Traffic — including trucks — was terrible, folks who remember those days say.
Our current woes, in other words, are not new.
Look closely at the vehicles in the image above. They had none of the modern safety features we rely on today. You needed chains on tires. Wipers, heaters and defrosters worked poorly.
It didn’t look the plow guys had been out, either.
So the next time you’re stuck at that terrible Post Road West/Riverside Avenue/ Wilton Road corner, think about those folks in the 1930s.
It was a long way to Boston.
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