Throwback Thursday: These Old Photos Show Boston’s Blizzards of Yesteryear
Courtesy of the Boston Public Library, Leslie Jones Collection
Whether you delight in the snow or prefer to tune out the forecast, there’s no denying that when the Common is blanketed in a delicate dusting of white, the city feels uniquely calm and beautiful.
A good snowstorm has yet to pummel the region this winter, which means Bostonians can still look forward to shoveling out their cars, slipping and sliding on the city’s brick sidewalks, braving windy intersections, and other charming wintertime activities.
To remind you of what could be in store for this month, here’s a look back at Boston’s bygone blizzards through the lens of Leslie Jones. Jones captured countless snapshots of daily life in Boston during his 39-year-long career at the Boston Herald-Traveler. Jones’ work is preserved on digitalcommonwealth.org, a digital archive of the Boston Public Library.
Take a (snowy) step back in time below.
Courtesy of the Boston Public Library, Leslie Jones Collection
A blustery wind sweeps across Tremont Street on February 6, 1920.
Courtesy of the Boston Public Library, Leslie Jones Collection
Snow and ice cover an automobile parked outside of Harvard gates.
Courtesy of the Boston Public Library, Leslie Jones Collection
Bostonians head to the Common after a snowstorm in 1923.
Courtesy of the Boston Public Library, Leslie Jones Collection
A woman attempts to clear the back window of her car in the snow.
Courtesy of the Boston Public Library, Leslie Jones Collection
Two men on skates work to rescue someone who’s fallen through the ice on the Charles River.
Courtesy of the Boston Public Library, Leslie Jones Collection
A pair breezes past the John Harvard Statue in Harvard Yard.
Courtesy of the Boston Public Library, Leslie Jones Collection
Some 18 inches of snow begin to pile up in front of Park Street Church.
Courtesy of the Boston Public Library, Leslie Jones Collection
A group of men tries to free a horse and cart from the snow.
Courtesy of the Boston Public Library, Leslie Jones Collection
A snowstorm keeps people from getting to work from Upham’s Corner in Dorchester.
Courtesy of the Boston Public Library, Leslie Jones Collection
The Boston Common after snowfall on February 5, 1932.
See more work by Leslie Jones at bpl.org.
