Lion or Lamb?

by Betty Jane Wilson, society president

March, the month when harbingers of spring are sought by those weary of winter snow, sleet, and ice and there are those who retort "There's always March."

To challenge weather predictions, research of the Valley Falls Historical Society archives produced a sundry of predictions, shortage of necessities for those eager for spring planting and daily existence, leading to the end of winter doldrums.

An 1861 Ayers American Almanac containing the usual moon's phases, horoscopes, home remedies, etc. listed weather predictions for two geographical areas only, including Kansas with Washington, Maryland, Kentucky, Virginia, Missouri, and California. Simple predictions interspersed with historic dates, current political events, all of which enjoyed priority over weather.

March 1861 predictions:
"1, quite pleasant, followed by cloudy, rain, or snow."

In a few days, "Blustery and high winds, bad roads, bad colds" and finally for the remaining three days "warmer and very pleasant."

A brief glance at the Old Farmer's 2015 Almanac, which includes Kansas in the Heartland Region including Des Moines, Omaha, Kansas City, St. Louis, and Topeka with the following predictions for March 1-8, "Rain to snow, then sunny and cold; 9-16, snow, then sunny, cold; 17-23, rain and snow showers, chilly, 24-31, snow, then sunny, turning warm."

Nineteenth and 21st century predictions provide evidence of little change in the "dreaded" March weather activity. Nineteenth century publicatons of a compilation of "a century past" items from the Valley Falls New Era newspapers reveal daily living conditions, anticipations, shortage of food necessities for 1874 Grasshopper Falls citizens.

March 5, 1874 —
"The Grasshopper River has been on a rampage the past two or three days. Because of the scarcity of vegetables, the people have spades and hoes in readiness for early gardening if Jack Frost gets out of the way pretty soon.

"It is claimed the ground hog saw his shadow on the 2nd of February, hence has been hold up since, but we are glad his six weeks is almost over.

"Covered wagons have already passed through our town on their way westward. Potatoes are beginning to be whispered among some our farmers that have been holding back expecting to sell from two to three dollars per bushel. We think they will take less this spring."

March 26, 1874 —
"Sawyer and Mitchell are drying a large amount of buffalo meat for summer use. It would be impossible for us to describe just how a potato tastes, still we have some faint recollection of how they tasted some months ago."

A sneak-peek into April 2, 1874 —
"Last Friday morning at five o'clock, not a cloud was to be seen. The stars shone with their usual brilliancy, but, by half past five, the sky was overspread with heavy clouds and snow was coming down at a fearful rate. At half past seven, it ceased snowing and we measured the depth to be four inches. Perhaps a holdover from the errant month of March's reputation, 'There's always March . . . . . . .' "

The Valley Falls Historical Society Museum will be open at 10 a.m. Saturday.