DARK DAY: We pick up today with a subject we started writing
about in April – the date the daytime skies got dark enough for
street lights to come on and for birds to go to roost.[neWLine]
A reader had inquired about the exact date, and while many
people remember the occurrence quite well there’s some discrepancy
about the date it occurred in 1950.[neWLine]
Let’s get started:[neWLine]
Shirley Putt writes, “”According to my mother, it was Sept. 23,
1950. I was born Sept. 19 and when it came time to take me home the
skies were completely dark. She always teased me and said they had
to darken the skies so it was safe to take me home! She said it
turned out to be a huge fire in Canada.””[neWLine]
Richard Kroh of Woodbridge, Va., says the sky darkened at about
3 p.m. and stayed dark through the next day. “”Many people thought
Jesus was returning.””[neWLine]
Jerry Kleisath says the date was Sept. 24, 1950, and the
blackout began at 1 p.m. and lasted until 5-5:30 p.m. “”The
Pittsburgh Pirates played second game under lights and Erie
football played under lights, too. A pilot reported using
instruments for flying. There was no smell of smoke, and I don’t
think there was a fool proof explanation. The same thing happened
in the New England states on May 19, 1780, with no known
cause.””[neWLine]
A woman calling for Victor Peterson of Kushequa assured us that
this day of darkness was Sept. 24, 1950. He is certain of the date,
she tells us, because he writes important dates on the wall of his
basement – and it was among them.[neWLine]
Eleanor Walker of Limestone, N.Y., says the day was Sept. 25,
1950, “”my daughter’s first birthday.”” She wasn’t sure of the time
but thought it was around 2 or 2:30. The street lights did come on.
“”They were having a horse pulling contest in Limestone and they
had to stop.””[neWLine]
The papers said it was “”so-called”” Canadian forest fires.
Later, they said it was “”military maneuvers.”” “”I don’t know if a
decision was ever made or not,”” she added.[neWLine]
More personal recollections of this “”dark day”” soon. In
addition, we’ve received some background information about this
strange story.
