I was living in (about 2 blocks from) Harvard Square at the time and working in Waltham (about 5 miles away). By late morning the day after a co-worker and I decided to walk out and got to the end of the trolley line in Belmont. Nothing moving but snow flying up from behind one 8-foot bank. Over the bank we slide down into a tiny commuter's restaurant. The place was wall-to-wall cops. They couldn't go anywhere either and well, they had donuts, and you know a cop looks at a donut with love in their eyes. Finally got a ride to Harvard Square from a guy in an old station wagon with no glass in his windows, just plastic sheeting taped over them. The real problem came when I tried to get up my driveway. The drive was about 40' long and 5' deep in snow. I finally had to "swim" up it in a breaststroke using my open coat to keep me from sinking down with each stroke. By the time I got about 3/4 of the way up I was getting so tired I was beginning to wonder if I was going to make it, but all my yelling finally paid off and my father looked out the door and saw me. He threw me a life ring from out boat that was being stored in the basement and he and my brother pulled me in.
THANK YOU for posting this ! Memories... I used to work at THE COFFEE CONNECTION - which we decided to open - and the place was swamped with people, and dripping skis all day long. Though for a lot of folks, elderly, handicapped, etc... this was a disaster. So many people helped each other all day long...
The days before the internet and computers and smart phones. Everyone walking around without phones in there hands. There were still telephone booths in those days. My parents and in-laws were alive. And my son was born in December 1975 and my daughter in July 1978. Now my youngest grandchild is 14 years old : )
Oddly, Edmund Morris's 2009 bio of Ludwig van Beethoven starts with this very time and place. Apparently he was at Harvard when someone celebrated the end of the blizzard by pumping "Ode To Joy" out the dorm window.
a lot of stories on you tube about this storm. but very few have film a lot only has still pictures. nice too see. i was 19 living south of Detroit in Lincoln Park Michigan. remember it well.
Only thing I remember about this blizzard is trash bags on my feet and me being out in snow as tall as me all the memory I have of that. Over the years I heard everybody talk about it still interesting to come on TH-cam and be able to watch what actually happened in those days and how my parents survived it and so sad that so many other people that didn't. It's good that we have the technology we do have today cuz now they're able to predict as s***
They go right by Out Of Town news stand on Brattle Street in most definitely Harvard Square 11:52 . Know your Cambridge much? I'm guessing not. Miss the old place already.
ANOTHER thing to add to the mix is this was an era where almost nobody had a 4wd vehicle or even an all wheel drive vehicle.........unless you lived in the country.
I was in Florida and we had a very very light snow on our cars or it was some type of freeze. I’d rather be up in the northeast it’s just too crowded in the south. One thing I don’t like about blizzards or snow storms is when people try to drive on them especially when the roads are icy. Now with the internet more and more jobs can be done online. Yeah people got a lot more exercise doing cross country skiing back then instead of watching TH-cam videos.
This footage was the February 6th and 7th 1978 New England Blizzard. Not the Clevland Bomb of 1978 known as the Ohio River Valley Blizzard of January 26th and 27th 1978. They are two different storms completely.
![Boston 1940s in color, Streetcars [60fps,Remastered] w/sound design added](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/Fv4gJ2Bbzm8/mqdefault.jpg)
Can't get over how clear this film is. Thank you for sharing.
That's good camera quality for 1978.
Probably a 3 tube camera, (either Sony or RCA) recorded on 3/4" or 1" videotape.
I was living in (about 2 blocks from) Harvard Square at the time and working in Waltham (about 5 miles away). By late morning the day after a co-worker and I decided to walk out and got to the end of the trolley line in Belmont. Nothing moving but snow flying up from behind one 8-foot bank. Over the bank we slide down into a tiny commuter's restaurant. The place was wall-to-wall cops. They couldn't go anywhere either and well, they had donuts, and you know a cop looks at a donut with love in their eyes. Finally got a ride to Harvard Square from a guy in an old station wagon with no glass in his windows, just plastic sheeting taped over them. The real problem came when I tried to get up my driveway. The drive was about 40' long and 5' deep in snow. I finally had to "swim" up it in a breaststroke using my open coat to keep me from sinking down with each stroke. By the time I got about 3/4 of the way up I was getting so tired I was beginning to wonder if I was going to make it, but all my yelling finally paid off and my father looked out the door and saw me. He threw me a life ring from out boat that was being stored in the basement and he and my brother pulled me in.
Holly Rockwell who doesn’t look at a donut with love in their eyes???
THANK YOU for posting this ! Memories... I used to work at THE COFFEE CONNECTION - which we decided to open - and the place was swamped with people, and dripping skis all day long. Though for a lot of folks, elderly, handicapped, etc... this was a disaster. So many people helped each other all day long...
I lived between Harvard and Inman square as a kid in the 50’s and 60’s. I live in Florida now and watching this is a real nostalgic treat.
I was a Sophomore at Lesley when this was taken. Feeling a little nostalgic today on the 35th anniversary of the Blizzard of 78. Thanks!
The days before the internet and computers and smart phones. Everyone walking around without phones in there hands. There were still telephone booths in those days. My parents and in-laws were alive. And my son was born in December 1975 and my daughter in July 1978. Now my youngest grandchild is 14 years old : )
Patty Blevins it's amazing to see this clear footage and to think I wouldn't be born for 16 more years!
Everybody was so friendly even the dogs wow great footage.
takes me back to when i use to play on the university campus as an 8 year old. this footage is priceless! thank you so much for sharing this.
Such great footage!
I was out plowing snow for almost a week in Burlington, Mass. There were dozens of buried vehicles on the Mall Rd.
Oddly, Edmund Morris's 2009 bio of Ludwig van Beethoven starts with this very time and place. Apparently he was at Harvard when someone celebrated the end of the blizzard by pumping "Ode To Joy" out the dorm window.
a lot of stories on you tube about this storm. but very few have film a lot only has still pictures. nice too see. i was 19 living south of Detroit in Lincoln Park Michigan. remember it well.
I had just had my daughter and I was stuck in the house for about a week.My roads weren't plowed for a few days
I was in the 1st grade at the time. I probably had fun making snow forts and having snow ball fights.
Only thing I remember about this blizzard is trash bags on my feet and me being out in snow as tall as me all the memory I have of that. Over the years I heard everybody talk about it still interesting to come on TH-cam and be able to watch what actually happened in those days and how my parents survived it and so sad that so many other people that didn't. It's good that we have the technology we do have today cuz now they're able to predict as s***
Not Harvard Square. This video was shot next to Harvard Stadium on the Boston side of the Charles River. Right next to Soldiers Field Road.
The Allston side of the riva.
thank you
Be patient and you will get there...
They go right by Out Of Town news stand on Brattle Street in most definitely Harvard Square 11:52 . Know your Cambridge much? I'm guessing not. Miss the old place already.
I went to work. 6:00 pm to 10:00 pm. The trains were running to Harvard Square.
❄❄that was a crazy bizzard!❄❄
It was also a crazy blizzard
ANOTHER thing to add to the mix is this was an era where almost nobody had a 4wd vehicle or even an all wheel drive vehicle.........unless you lived in the country.
I remember this like it was yesterday. I made so much money from shoveling snow.
Thanks for posting this! Love it.
I lived in Wrentham when this happened. Awesome fun.
This is vintage now huh
People Was so much more Resilient back then hell my kids school closed last year because of rain smh.
Cool of you to post this...thx!
Then Governor Dukakis overheard on WBZ radio at 7:33
Wish I could go back
I was in Florida and we had a very very light snow on our cars or it was some type of freeze. I’d rather be up in the northeast it’s just too crowded in the south. One thing I don’t like about blizzards or snow storms is when people try to drive on them especially when the roads are icy. Now with the internet more and more jobs can be done online. Yeah people got a lot more exercise doing cross country skiing back then instead of watching TH-cam videos.
0.03 is that a jeep cj7, of the wrangler?
03.40 Hi girl,nice skis😍
how many damn blizzards were there in 78? i've seen footage from a dozen cities i think
Where was this taken??
at 11:00 was it really Christmas or was that guy just full of it? 😂
funny, ackwardly rude, moment @ 16:40!
ku - And I was wanting to watch that person ski down that hill - but he took off again.
🥚
That is def,,not 78,,blizzard
This footage was the February 6th and 7th 1978 New England Blizzard. Not the Clevland Bomb of 1978 known as the Ohio River Valley Blizzard of January 26th and 27th 1978. They are two different storms completely.