Did you know?
Did you know... Perry also got a little snow in January 1971? Perry received more than 15 inches of wet, heavy snow. Perry still had passenger train service at this time. The Milwaukee passenger train was stalled in Perry with 200 people on board. Passengers filled the depot and spilled over into a lumber yard and the post office. Some elderly and ill travelers were sheltered in nearby homes. The limited supply of food at the depot ran out and some brave souls walked downtown to eat. The First Presbyterian Church opened its doors and provided a meal at 5 p.m. to everyone who could get there. The police advised everyone to stay out of the downtown business area. This was to allow for snow removal and the fact that there was nowhere to park. The McDaniel Furniture Warehouse store on the northwest corner of Third and Willis had its roof collapse. There were no injuries but it was cause for concern for other local businesses. The Schapaugh Floral Greenhouse also had a portion of its roof collapse. Stoners Market opened its door for customers needing groceries. The only way to reach Stoners was on foot until streets started opening up again on Tuesday. Snow removal took many days - due to the huge quantity of snow - and the problem of where to put it all. The Perry Chief headline "Jan. 4, 1971 -- a day to be remembered" says it all.
This article originally appeared on Des Moines Register: Did you know?
