Great Snow Storm of 1881 Benton Street

Great Snow Storm of 1881 Benton Street

This stereoscopic of the east side of the Woodstock Square shows the square following the March 19, 1881 blizzard. Stone’s Drug Store is on the far left. The “Murphy Block” is next, then across Jackson is the “Rathole” and a glimpse of the spire of the Lutheran Church on Jefferson Street.

The winter of 1881 was one of the worst on record in the 1800s, and was the subject of Laura Ingalls Wilder's The Long Winter.

Woodstock Sentinel – March 24, 1881
A movement was set on foot in the village of Greenwood, last Monday morning to shovel out the road between that village and Woodstock. Two or three teams and as many more men started out from the village, in the good work, and as they worked through, pressed into the service as many men and teams as they possibly could. The first of the squad started from Greenwood about 8:30 a.m., and about 12:30, this corps of engineers bore down on our city thirty-five strong, supported by eight or ten teams and passed in grand review by the Sentinel office, the procession headed by thirty sturdy shovelers in double rank, with scoops at shoulder arms. As might be expected, upon entering the square, the company were bent on forage, and they marched directly to the South Side restaurant which was raided for all that was in it, at the regular rates. After the wants of the inner man had been supplied, they formed in front of Medlar’s for a picture of the entire company, and John says he secured a good one, so that if any of the people living in the east part of the county wants to know who the men are that engaged in the good work of shoveling out the Greenwood road, they can find them all at Medlar’s. The course of our Greenwood citizens is commendable and their example worthy the emulation of others.


Benton Street both north and south of E. Jackson
Murphy Block [100-108 N. Benton] In the 1880s, the Murphy Block was often referred to as the Opera House Block because they used the 3rd floor for various performances. Also referred to as The National Block and the 3rd floor hall was National Hall, Murphy’s Hall, the Opera House. Nancy Baker information.
100 N. Benton ? Dentist
102 N. Benton E. A. Murphy & Co. [Dry Goods in 1877 Directory]
104 N. Benton M. Sherman Jewelry (note men in window and large watch sign)
106 N. Benton
108 N. Benton C. F. Thorne (no sign visible)
110 N. Benton
112 N. Benton E. E. Stone Drug Store
South Benton:
101 S. Benton: "Rathole" D. T. Ring Shoes & Boots
Jefferson Street in background: German Lutheran Church
Man holding Kelly Barbed Wire sign
Men with shovels, horses and buggies

Mrs. Bruce Lawrie

1881-03-21