This is just the beginning! Our collection holds over 300 years of history, including rare newspapers, obituaries, marriage records, birth records, and so much more—most of which you won’t find anywhere else!
Mighty walls of water buffeted Oswego in 1887
Maritime historian Richard Palmer profiles the 1887 Oswego storm on Lake Ontario in a two part series. The northwest gale of Saturday faded by night and roared back with a fury that shook buildings. Winds neared 70 miles per hour along the lakeshore as waves battered the harbor and breakwater. Vessels strained at moorings. the steam barge Van Allen sought shelter with tug assistance. By 8 am tugs moved yachts to safety as schooners and cargo ships reached Oswego with Detroit wheat and Chicago corn just in time to escape the blow. To be continued.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
van Allen
Oswego Manufacturing Company
Navagh
Scott
John Magee
White Star
Detroit
Oliver Mitchell
M.J. Cummings
Chicago