OT: The Greenville/Upstate Snow on March 31st, 1971.

[Freddie.B.Cocky]

I post this on or around March 31st almost every year.

On March 31st, 1971 Greenville received a snow of approximately 11”. Of course, it is highly unusual for Greenville to get snow in March period but to receive a large snow on March 31st was just unheard of in Upstate SC. The snow started around noon and most people I worked with thought we would only get a dusting or perhaps just enough to barely cover the ground.


However, it continued to snow and snow heavily until approximately 5:00 PM and by that time Greenville had received approximately 11” – at least where I lived. The city and surrounding areas were completely caught off guard and traffic was paralyzed. At the time I worked about two blocks from downtown. Many people that I knew that worked downtown or near downtown spend the night at the Bus Station and even some in their cars because as I mentioned earlier traffic was at a complete standstill.

I was able to get home because 1) the car I owned was heavy and 2) I knew some back roads and I was able to avoid the blocked roads and streets where traffic had came to a complete standstill as a result of cars getting stuck, etc.

But I will never forget that snow as long as I live.

Do any of you remember the snow? And I don't want to hear any excuses such as I wasn't born then. LOL!

 

[USCBruce]

Of course I remember it. I was the only one in my family who got home that night as I rode my bike home from school in the snow! My Mom had been to the dentist in Greenville and got stranded at the Holiday Inn at Mauldin Road and I-85. My Dad worked at Union Carbide in Simpsonville and well, he drove a Volkswagen, so needless to say he struggled to get home! I think we were out of school for a week.

 

[Freddie.B.Cocky]

WHAT! No one else remembers the snow? COE were you living in Greenville in 1971?

 

[Freddie.B.Cocky]

Of course I remember it. I was the only one in my family who got home that night as I rode my bike home from school in the snow! My Mom had been to the dentist in Greenville and got stranded at the Holiday Inn at Mauldin Road and I-85. My Dad worked at Union Carbide in Simpsonville and well, he drove a Volkswagen, so needless to say he struggled to get home! I think we were out of school for a week.

I didn't know her at the time but the girl that later would become my wife worked in the Daniel Building in downtown Greenville. And when we were talking about the snow a couple of years later she said she spend the night in the Bus Station.

 

[CockofEarle]

WHAT! No one else remembers the snow? COE were you living in Greenville in 1971?

Freddie, the yrs all run together

 

[Freddie.B.Cocky]

Freddie, the yrs all run together

The years run together for me, too, but I just remember that snow because it was unprecedented for Greenville and still is today.

 

[gamecockdad]

I didn't know her at the time but the girl that later would become my wife worked in the Daniel Building in downtown Greenville. And when we were talking about the snow a couple of years later she said she spend the night in the Bus Station.

I remember when the snow started just as we were heading back to class after lunch. Then the bus got stuck going up a hill and having to walk 2 miles home. My mom also worked in the Daniel Building and stayed there that night. I’ll never forget her telling us that 2 guys got desperate and broke into the cigarette machine in the canteen.

 

[Freddie.B.Cocky]

I remember when the snow started just as we were heading back to class after lunch. Then the bus got stuck going up a hill and having to walk 2 miles home. My mom also worked in the Daniel Building and stayed there that night. I’ll never forget her telling us that 2 guys got desperate and broke into the cigarette machine in the canteen.

WOW! That was really something. I could see smokers doing something like breaking into a cigarette machine. I use to be a chain smoker but quit in 1979. But, I remember being on a business trip one time in Baltimore, me and the guy I was with had just got back to the hotel after dinner and a few mixed drinks. I failed to pack extra cigarettes and when I realized I was out I went down to the lobby to buy cigarettes but the lobby was closed. Long story short I found someone who could get into the lobby and give me change to buy cigarettes. It was like I was on dope. I remember just tearing through my suitcase ripping all of my cloths out on the bed trying to find where I had packed cigarettes only to find I hadn't packed any. It's rough on people who smoke, I can tell you that. I'm glad I quit smoking, boy it was very difficult being a chain smoker but I was able to quit thank God.

 

[FORKCOCK]

What a great time to be a kid. I do remember having to make up school on a Saturday though. That sucked.

 

[FORKCOCK]

The thing about that snow was that it would snow a few inches, then sleet a few. We ended up with about 13 inches but had several sheets of ice in between.

 

[titaniumspur]

I think we had a light dusting of snow on March 31 the next year if I remember correctly.

 

[rogue cock]

I remember it well. Was 9 years old, had just moved to Greer a couple of years prior. My mom has pictures of my sister and I playing in it. We could barely walk in it. Dad was working at Homelite at the time and somehow made it home from across town.

 

[jeff2001]

I remember it well. Was 9 years old, had just moved to Greer a couple of years prior. My mom has pictures of my sister and I playing in it. We could barely walk in it. Dad was working at Homelite at the time and somehow made it home from across town.

I was only 1 1/2 , so of course I dont remember. But, my dad worked at Homelite for 40 years. He was lucky to be able to retire before John Deere bought it and moved everything to Mexico. I'm not trying to change the subject. Lol

 

[Freddie.B.Cocky]

I was only 1 1/2 , so of course I dont remember. But, my dad worked at Homelite for 40 years. He was lucky to be able to retire before John Deere bought it and moved everything to Mexico. I'm not trying to change the subject. Lol

I had an old roommate when I attended North Greenville Junior College whose dad worked at Homelite - this was 65'-67. Based on what you stated above sounds like my friend's dad would have gotten his retirement in easily before the plant moved to Mexico.

 

[rogue cock]

I had an old roommate when I attended North Greenville Junior College whose dad worked at Homelite - this was 65'-67. Based on what you stated above sounds like my friend's dad would have gotten his retirement in easily before the plant moved to Mexico.

Homelite was a good company. What I remember about it was the annual Homelite Day in the spring/summer with fair rides and food behind the factory. Dad left about 1974 and went to J.E. Sirrine. Sirrine didn't offer the same annual fair...I wasn't happy

 

[jeff2001]

Homelite was a good company. What I remember about it was the annual Homelite Day in the spring/summer with fair rides and food behind the factory. Dad left about 1974 and went to J.E. Sirrine. Sirrine didn't offer the same annual fair...I wasn't happy

YES, I love that at Homelite every year. It was awesome
NOT TRYING TO CHANGE SUBJECTS...

 

[Freddie.B.Cocky]

Homelite was a good company. What I remember about it was the annual Homelite Day in the spring/summer with fair rides and food behind the factory. Dad left about 1974 and went to J.E. Sirrine. Sirrine didn't offer the same annual fair...I wasn't happy

Well, I'm sorry.

 

[Golden Cock]

I remember it very well. Had talked to my firm and told them I couldn’t get out of my driveway. I had company with me so that was fine. Later we did manage to get out of my driveway and made it to the liquor store. I didn’t share that part with my boss.

 

[Freddie.B.Cocky]

I remember it very well. Had talked to my firm and told them I couldn’t get out of my driveway. I had company with me so that was fine. Later we did manage to get out of my driveway and made it to the liquor store. I didn’t share that part with my boss.

Well as long as one had liquor to comfort them then everything was okay. LOL!

 

[Brace1]

I remember it and I was 4 years old at the time. The reason I remember it so well is because I was a patient, at Greenville General Hospital and they let me and a couple other children go out to see the snow. That was one of the best memories of my stay there, because I was in that Hospital for 3 months after being diagnosed with spinal meningitis.

 

[importcock]

Not to hijack your thread Freddie but I'm from lake City so we probably didn't get that snow but 2 years later in February of 73 we had the biggest snowfall on record for SC, at least in our part. Some areas got over 20 inches. I think we got over 15. At the time Lake City was one of the biggest tobacco markets in the state, (maybe the country) and there were tobacco warehouses all over town. Unfortunately for them they weren't built to support that much snow so most of them collapsed under the weight. I remember it started snowing shortly after we got to school and by 9:30 or so they put us on the buses and sent us home. My dad had the forethought to buy us a little kerosene heater and that saved us. We were without electricity for several days. If you like you can read about the Great Southeastern Snowstorm of 73 here: https://www.weather.gov/ilm/Feb1973Snow

 

[Zann77]

I was at Presbyterian College the year of the big snow. I-26 was closed. Some of the boys drove on it anyway, towing each other riding some sort of big metal disc-I want it say garbage can lids, but they were rather larger than most garbage can lids. The only other car they saw was a State Trooper going the other way. As I recall, a good time was had by all, but they got off at the Jalapa exit and didn’t repeat the ride.

Does anyone know what happened to the big rock between Newberry and Clinton that the schools painted?

 

[Freddie.B.Cocky]

I remember it and I was 4 years old at the time. The reason I remember it so well is because I was a patient, at Greenville General Hospital and they let me and a couple other children go out to see the snow. That was one of the best memories of my stay there, because I was in that Hospital for 3 months after being diagnosed with spinal meningitis.

My gosh, that was sad being in the hospital with spinal meningitis. I grew up a few blocks from Greenville General Hospital and have a lot of both good memories and sad memories about GGH. My mom passed away in GGH in 1965.

 

[cockthehammer#]

I was in the 5th grade & a member of our school's safety patrol squad in March of 1971. I remember this snowfall very well.

 

[ruffledfeathers]

Not to hijack your thread Freddie but I'm from lake City so we probably didn't get that snow but 2 years later in February of 73 we had the biggest snowfall on record for SC, at least in our part. Some areas got over 20 inches. I think we got over 15. At the time Lake City was one of the biggest tobacco markets in the state, (maybe the country) and there were tobacco warehouses all over town. Unfortunately for them they weren't built to support that much snow so most of them collapsed under the weight. I remember it started snowing shortly after we got to school and by 9:30 or so they put us on the buses and sent us home. My dad had the forethought to buy us a little kerosene heater and that saved us. We were without electricity for several days. If you like you can read about the Great Southeastern Snowstorm of 73 here: https://www.weather.gov/ilm/Feb1973Snow

Yeah, remember that one. We had 21 inches. Either that one or the 69 ice storm , we lost power for ten days.

 

[GandBinNC]

Not to hijack your thread Freddie but I'm from lake City so we probably didn't get that snow but 2 years later in February of 73 we had the biggest snowfall on record for SC, at least in our part. Some areas got over 20 inches. I think we got over 15. At the time Lake City was one of the biggest tobacco markets in the state, (maybe the country) and there were tobacco warehouses all over town. Unfortunately for them they weren't built to support that much snow so most of them collapsed under the weight. I remember it started snowing shortly after we got to school and by 9:30 or so they put us on the buses and sent us home. My dad had the forethought to buy us a little kerosene heater and that saved us. We were without electricity for several days. If you like you can read about the Great Southeastern Snowstorm of 73 here: https://www.weather.gov/ilm/Feb1973Snow

I wasn't around for the snow of March 31, '71, but it struck me that that snow was just shy of three weeks after USC beat UNC for the ACC title. I think that game was March 13th.

I was around for the 1973 snow, though just a little over a year old. We were living in Savannah, GA at the time. I remember seeing photos of the snow and hearing stories about. Obviously, it was quite a rare occurrence to see snow in Savannah.

 

[18IsTheMan]

In true SC fashion, was it 65 the next day?