Chesterfield New Hampshire Historical Society
Dealing with Snow
"In the Good Old Days"
Before the mid-1800s, getting rid of snow was not a concern. In fact, snow was an asset for getting around. Surprisingly, while winter travel could be difficult, the snow-covered frozen ground could make transportation easier. With runners replacing wheels, travel in a sleigh could be smoother and quicker.
Packing the snow was more important than removing it. Horse-drawn snow rollers' huge wheels, weighted down with rocks, would flatten out the snow, making it easier for carts with skis to move. A certain amount of new snow was considered a plus for the road’s surface.
Some considered winter the best time to travel. Sleigh rides and racing were a common pastime. There was an advantage in using normally unavailable snow-covered routes and ice bound waterways as short cuts.
It wasn’t until the 1840s that snowplow patents started to appear. This is credited to the growth of cities where snow removal was necessary for functionality. At first, city ordinances required owners to clear their sidewalks. To clear the streets for carriage traffic, snow rollers and snow shovelers were employed. In 1862, Milwaukee became the first municipality to use a snowplow. The idea slowly caught on in other snow belt cities. In the Northeast, the Blizzard of 1888 became a major motivational factor.
The horse-drawn “wedge” plow was used with several horses. It was hard work for the animals, and it often left large piles of snow blocking side streets and alleyways. Plus, the plow left ruts and uneven surfaces that hindered sleigh drivers.
The horse-drawn “scoop” plow was developed for areas of foot traffic. It could scoop up snow and relocate it. Hordes of snow shovelers were still needed to load the gathered snow into wagons for strategic dumping.
Meanwhile in rural areas, it wasn’t until automobile traffic became measurable that clearing road surfaces became necessary. Cars needed clear, dry streets. At first salt spreading was tried, but that proved not as effective as snow removal. Wooden horse-drawn plows continued to be used until the early 1920s. Then successful designs for car-mounted snowplows were independently developed in Norway and New York. At about the same time, the snow blower was being developed in Canada. However, the shovel is has been around longer than written history.
