Snow Closures at Tech

Emails from March 5, 2007

Dennis,
Tech closed for a day (starting at noon for 24-hours) in January or February, 1994. That winter seemed like it had the worst 2-3 week stretch of any of my five winters in Houghton.

Jonathan D. Hassert
BSME 1994

***

Dennis,
I do recall one University closing and I believe it was during the 1997-98 school year. It was for the windchill and I'd like to say that the reading was -40°F... although I can't be sure.

I'd like to also thank Rick Elsner and his wife Trudy for putting on a great Alumni event in Minneapolis. We all were able to see the Huskies beat the Gophers in Mariucci Arena. I already look forward to next year's game.

Brent Romenesko EMY-2001

***

Hello Dennis,
Regarding Tech closings, in my six years I only remember one - when I was a freshman in '97. After a brief check of my old e-mail (and people ask why I save it) it was in fact Thursday, January 16th, 1997. Of course it had to be the day of the week that I only had one class.

Figures.

Josh Brand
2000

***

I remember they closed school once in 83 or 84 after first period, when we had such strong winds. They also cancelled classes the Monday after Thanksgiving break in 85, due to a storm that kept most of the students from
arriving at Tech.

Julie Toll

***

The Monday after Thanksgiving 1966 Tech was closed to a snowstorm that covered The UP. I spent the weekend in Engadine after leaving from Pontiac Sundday afternoon and didn't get back until Tuesday morning. Tech opened back up on Tuesday for regular classes

Regards

Dean
BSGE '69

***

Dennis,
I recall the winter of 77-78, we had an 80 below zero wind chill one day and classes were not called off....I know, because I walked from Wads all the way across campus to find my Econ Professor didn't show up....

I also recall the following winter when we had nearly 400 inches of snow...no classes cancelled that winter either....

Marty Ball
Class of '80

***

Dennis,
I believe that the winter of 93-94 was the year we had classes cancelled. My wife was working in the Forestry department. I was at home studying for something or other. She called and said that due to the number of frost-bit cases and the below -100F wind-chill factor in the center of campus (formerly known as the wind tunnel), they had decided to cancel classes. I, in my infinite wisdom, decided to go fishing with a couple of local friends, on Keweenaw bay. Add to the standing wind chill, the top speed of 60MPH on my snow mobile and it was stupid cold getting to the fishing spot, 19miles out of Baraga. On the bright side, we limited out on lake trout very quickly that day. Although it took an hour in the sauna to bring my body temp. back into the range of normal.

By the way that was also the year that some attempted to take an ice boat all the way across Lake superior. And, it was the year that Lake superior was considered completely frozen.

Doug Loose

***

I am pretty sure that Tech delayed opening after the Christmas break in January of 1997 due to closing of the bridge (high winds, lots of snow) in the two days before school was to start. I only remember the year because I drove up early to hang out with friends and found the basement flooded in our Hancock rental house.

Shannon Pipik (2000)

***

Dennis:
Tech was closed one day in the 96-97 school year for very cold wind chills. There was also a day where off campus students did not have to come to school, but those of us living in the dorms were still expected to go to class. That didn't work out so well . . . It was my freshman year and I had broken my ankle playing broom ball, so I remember being very happy to have a day off of classes and not have to crutch around in the bitter cold.

Laura (Arlt) Gerold ('00 and '02)

***

Dennis, I knew winter would hit the Copper Country sooner or later, but I’m surprised that Tech would close from a foot of snow. I remember Tech closing in the winter of 71-72 – I recall a snowfall of 4 feet in a day. Maybe some of my contemporaries can corroborate that. That morning, not an engine sound could be heard. Later on, we heard a few snowmobiles. Tech re-opened the day after, but it took several days to clear all the roads.

George Hermanson, ‘73

***

Dennis,
I am a '77 grad and in my four years at da Tech I do not remember ever getting a day off because of snow. The fact that you closed last Friday amazes me and makes my stories of "When I was in school...." a little less dramatic! Here in the Washington DC area people panic with the forecast of winter weather -- a mere mention of flurries brings an onslaught to the grocery stores for bread, milk and toilet paper -- I have yet to understood why those three... And with the first siting of a snow flake, rumors run wild of early dismissal, cars head to ditches causing massive traffic tie-ups, and all TV stations energize their Storm Tracker Radars! Winter here is quite amusing!

Bill Wellman

***

Dennis,
Tech closed twice I believe in the '79-'80 or '80-'81 and '81-'82 winters.

In the earlier case I remember walking to Hancock in blowing snow so bad that I had to navigate by watching the curb at my feet. That made the bridge an adventure.

In '81-'82, it was snow and lots of it. Folks in the apartment building were truly unhappy with 2 French Horn players practicing for half an hour.

Regards,
Eric Horner '82

***

Dennis-
I was just reading through the latest newsletter about Michigan Tech closing last Friday. I started at Tech in 1984 and remember classes being canceled at noon on the first day of spring term 1985, which would have been in March at that time. I was at the ad building, changing some classes and saw the signs. I went to my friends house by campus, let them know and no one believed me! Oh well, they still tried to go to class and I just hung out all afternoon!

Keep up the good work, I enjoy keeping in touch with Houghton and Tech through the newsletter!

Susan Gresens
1988

***

I do remember a closure for sub-zero temps. It was my Freshman year, which would have been the winter of 93-94. If I remember correctly, it was actually warmer that day than it had been for several days prior to the closure. Wasn't that also the year that Superior froze completely - something like the first time in 18 years?

Cheers,
Angela (Schmidt) Myers '97

***

Tech closed once, I believe, in the winter of '95/'96 when 18 inches of snow overnight was coupled with a bank robbery stand-off in downtown Houghton. By the time the stand-off ended, there was too much snow in place to plow it, so it had to be dug out a scoop at a time. Since no one could get through downtown Houghton, classes were canceled.

Dan Brzezinski
1998

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Dennis,
I can't remember if Tech closed while I was there from '79-'84. I do remember looking out of my room (360 WWH) at the hanging "Keep Right" road sign over US 41. Typically, it would either be vertical, or would be angled toward the east, pushed by the west winds. The higher the winds, the greater the angle. In those rare instances, it would hang towards the west, pushed by east winds. When it did, we usually got dumped on.

John Mangum
'84

***

Hi Dennis,
I love the newsletter and wanted to write regarding Tech closings. During my freshman year, Tech closed its doors due to the windchill. That would have been January or February 1996. I remember it clearly because there were no classes, but I was still stuck statue building!

Melonie (McKenzie) Stothers
Class of 1999

***

Dennis,
Good to read your article this week like each week.

After reading (and being surprised at) your article this week about the blizzard I got to thinking about the time that it was closed when I attended Tech. It was 1995 I believe and I was living in Wadsworth Hall.

We woke up that morning and I turned on the radio. The talk was that it was darn cold outside and with wind-chill it was reading -74F!. I donned my winter coat, hat, and shoes for the trek up to the SDC for a 10:30 class. Each step of the two blocks uphill brought with it another body part I couldn't feel. By the time I entered the building, my mustache had a thick layer of ice and I was afraid my lungs were going to sue for separate maintenance.

The return trip afterwards wasn't as bad, at least it was downhill. My only class for the day out of the way, I headed to the cafeteria for lunch. I worked there as a student supervisor and my boss, Susan Adams, came out to tell me that 'they were going to suspend classes for twenty-four hours starting at noon.' Course I wished they had decided on this around 10am. The story at the time was that Tech was the only school in the state that was open that day (though I doubt it's true).

Oh yeah, my class at the SDC that cold winter day? First Aid. We were working on something else, but discussion quickly turned to frostbite.

Dave Glaser
Class of '97

***

Why I remember the winter of 85 (I think). There was a heck of a storm at the end of Thanksgiving break. My ride wanted to drive up on Saturday, and we made it to Houghton, but by sometime on Sunday 41 was closed by Baraga as Superior decided to take it over. People found shelter wherever, some friends overnighted in Marquette in a High School gym. School was closed that Monday, but I think it was due more to a lack of participation as so many were stranded on the way up, rather than the weather itself.

Eric Pedersen '90

***

TECH CLOSED ONE TIME BETWEEN '83 AND '85 DUE TO SNOW

TERRY WRIGHT
CHEMICAL ENGINEERING CLASS OF '85

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The day after "Thanksgiving Drive '85", Michigan Tech closed. Too many students where still stranded on the trip back, including myself. I got as far as Marquette after 10 hours.

Rick Paul

***

Dennis,
I graduated in 1998 and I can remember at least two days, if not three, where Tech cancelled classes due to the wind chill being some ridiculous amount below zero. It seems like it would have been in January 1997.

Katie Foco

***

I am not there to experience this winter, but the winter of 95-96 was truly a bad one, lots of snow and very cold. It was my Senior year at Tech, and it closed for at least one day and maybe 2 days. I believe it was February '96 when the closings occurred. I lived in family housing, the upper Daniel Heights at Tech and in one particular storm in '96 (not sure if Tech closed for that storm), my wife and I were planning a trip to Econo Foods. I spent a good hour and half digging the car out - went in to get my wife and when I got back to the car, a snow plow had come by and buried the rear end of the car in 3 feet of snow leaving another 1/2 hour of digging out. I also remember a significant snow storm in early May and ice still floating in Lake Superior in early June '96.

Greg H.
Class of '96

***

Hi Dennis!
I remember Tech closing twice during my tenure. I attended from 94-97. I remember a closure in the winter of 95-96 for snowfall. I think it was a day in February and we recieved over a foot of snow over night. The other day was again in February 1997. That was due to temperature, which were about -10 F with -30 wind chills. I was living off campus at that time and went to Econo-foods that day. It's just a different world when its that cold outside. Ah, memories.

Jeffrey Stier

***

Dennis,
During the winter of 1971-72, a major storm in January or February dumped about 30 inches of snow, followed by bitter cold and extreme wind chills. Tech closed the following day; we were told that Tech had been closed a couple of times in the past for half a day, but had never closed for a full day until then.

I lived in Coed Hall at the time, and a number of us had a good time listening to "Snow Control Central" and trying to get onto the air with crank calls.
("I'm concerned about my roommate. He will do anything for a beer, so he left an hour ago..." <Click>).

I also remember that the snow was coming down so hard that night that the streetlights along the road behind Coed, about 15-20 feet from the building, couldn't be seen at all.

Joe Fishbein '75

***

Dear Dennis,
Another remembrance from the '50's. I remember one winter quarter I had 6 8 am classes. Yes, we had Saturday morning classes back then. When did that end? In any case I remember trudging through the snow to get to these classes. The roads were usually not plowed by 8 am in those days. I am not sure about the snowfall back then, but it was considerable. Do people still build elevated walkways out from the front porch for the winter?

Roland Hanson Eng. Physics '55

***

I remember that Tech closed once during the time I attended Tech (1977-81). The county announced that they were pulling their plows off the roads at noon; Tech closed so students could get home.

-Ken Thorp

***

Hi Dennis -

My first winter in Houghton was in 1995. School was closed (if I recall correctly) more than one day due to ridiculously cold wind chills. All I remember is that every winter during my stay in Houghton seemed miled compared to the first!

Rebecca Bentley 2000

***

OK, I'll bet you're going to get a lot of email about this one. You left out one time in 1985 where Tech was closed the day after the return from Thanksgiving break.

On the Sunday when most students were making the return trip, the Bridge Authority closed the Mackinac Bridge because of high winds and Winter storms. As the group I was riding with passed Cadillac, visibility was nearing zero, and we were navigating mostly by following the taillights of the car ahead of us. I can only assume that the car ahead of us was doing the same by following the next car up the line, and so on.

Those that made it past the bridge (We didn't) didn't get very far after that. Many were stranded in L'anse because high winds were blowing waves over the road. I remember finishing the drive to Tech the next day and admiring all the bushes beside the road that had been transformed into ice sculptures by the frozen spray from the lake.

There was even a T-Shirt made. It had a drawing that someone had make of all the different hazards that the returning students had faced, and below it the caption, "I survived Thanksgiving Drive '85"

Mike Burden ('89)

***

Dennis,
I'm sure you will get several e-mails about the Thanksgiving storm of 1985. My sister and I were driving up from the lower peninsula with hundreds of other Tech students. We made it to the bridge in normal fashion but once we hit the UP, it got ugly. We listened to the radio and it seems like we no sooner turned off a road and they announce that it has been closed. The worst part was that little area near L'anse where the road goes down close to Lake Superior. We were going around 20mph and a wave came off the lake and came over the car. The windshield wipers stopped for a second, then when the started again, we were weaving between boulders and logs that the waves were throwing up onto the highway.

Then thinking we were in the home stretch, we were going around 30mph and were about 30 miles from Tech. Strangely enough when we were 20 miles from Tech, we could only go 20mph. We finally were only 8 miles from Tech, but yep, we were going 8mph. From door to door, the normal 9 hour trip was 14 hours. We made it around 10pm so we had time to rest up and find out that they cancelled classes.

Kurt Franz
1990

***

Hi I attended Tech in the 1971-72 school year. It must have been in early 1972. They school was closed for 1 day due to bad snow.

Thanks .....
Randy Majewski / EDS OnStar

***

Dennis, On memories of Tech closing... I remember campus closing once during the winter of '81-82. The only reason it stays in my aging memory is that it was my freshman year and in Wads we were regaled with stories of "This is the first time Tech has closed in X (you choose the number) years!" And I particularly remember it 'cause a friend of my now-husband & I, who was of the male persuasion decided that since classes were canceled he'd make the walk to Jim's Foodmart for beer! Against all advice to stay in due to whiteout conditions, he donned parka, gloves, ski pants AND his chemistry goggles and an hour or so later finally returned with a 6 pack. Can't remember what month that happened in, but I think it might have been around the time of one of the big CH 101 tests.

Peggy (Perkins) Barchi, '85

***

I vaguely recall two closings in my time at Tech. 1985 First day after Thanksgiving break the school was closed because a huge portion of students were stuck south of L'Anse due to highway closings. My carload (as well as 2 or 3 others who had CBs) holed up at a cafe on 26 10 minutes or so south of L'Anse.

Early 1990's tech was closed because instructors/professors couldn't make it to campus. Don't remember as much about that one though :)

JT Shupe BS-CS 1990, BS-STC 1990, MS-RTC 1993

***

Dennis,
How appropriate that Tech wins a "plaque" for donating the most blood. Cholesterol anyone? :)

As for snow days, the Mu Beta Psi alumni were recalling one year (we think it was 1993-94) when Tech closed following a particular cold spell. Coincidentally, the day before a friend of mine who lived in Co-Ed (McNair) was wiping ice off his eyelashes when a fellow resident suggested that "Someone should call the Governor" about the fact that we had class when everything else -- including the entire state of Minnesota -- was closed. He did (and actually got to talk to Engler!), and the next day they canceled classes at noon. By my recollection, they were also called the following day, which we thought was amusing considering it had warmed up about 30 degrees by then.

About a year later, classes were canceled one day when snow was falling at a rate of about a foot per hour. Someone also chose that very day to rob a bank in downtown Houghton. They didn't make it, figuratively and literally -- a sharpshooter got him, and the hostage was freed. The Daily Mining Gazette would probably have that story in their archives somewhere.

Thanks for the newsletter!

Kevin Britton ('97 BSME)

***

Dennis,
Tech did close one day when I was there because of snow. I believe it was the winter of 72. The snowfall and drifts were so extensive you could not even get out the door.

I remember the snow went three-quarters the way up the doors at the ME and Chem. buildings.

All the cars up in married student housing were completely covered.

Bill (Class of 74)

***

Dennis:
You did not imagine it. Michigan Tech did indeed close one cold day during an extended sub-zero stretch in 1994 due to extreme cold. This was a year when Lake Superior froze over completely thereby stopping the lake-effect snow machine. Of course, classes were not called off until noon and everyone had walked to campus. It was a bit hard to believe at the time since us Tech guys were supposed to be pretty hardy against winter weather. When a week later we hit zero degrees F, it felt pretty balmy in comparison and several students were wearing shorts outside on account of the heat wave.

Dave Gilles
BS EMY 1995

***

Dennis,
I definitely remember when classes were cancelled due to the brutally cold weather in the 90's. The temperatures were down in the negative 25 degree range with wind chills around negative 75!!

I live in Chicago now and the winters are nothing compared to the U.P. If there is a flake in the sky it is a major news story. I loved Houghton and the snow when I was there...but I've seen enough to last a lifetime!

Jeremy Phillips
1996

***

Tech closed for one day in January or February 1972. The Houghton AM radio station stayed on all night using "the emergency broadcast provisions of the FCC." I recall something like 20+ inches, also with winds out of the east. If memory serves me right, it was a Monday night-Tuesday morning since I was trying to get back to Daniel Heights from a Vet's Club meeting at the Bosch Brewery. This is the only time I recall Tech closing between 1965-1972.

Stephen Palac

***

I was up in Houghton from 1981 to 87. Once after Thanksgiving or Christmas break the school closed because the Bridge was closed due to wind and snow storms. Another time the school did not close but classes were optional.

Sue Rice

***

I remember the closure for wind chill a few years back. I don't remember just how low the wind chill got (-60 range I believe), but I do remember walking to the Admin building from Wads for my student job, and having to turn around and go back after finding out it was closed, now THAT was cold. I was at Tech from 98-03, and I'm guessing it was either 99 or 00, don't remember for sure, but I'm guessing that was the most recent closure since I don't remember hearing about any since.

BJ Tomiko
CS '03

***

Hi Dennis:
I think the closure you're talking about was in January of 1994. That wind was BRUTAL!

Michelle (Schwerha) Baker
1995

***

I recall Tech being closed during the 1981-82 school year. I don't remember the dates, but I remember the day very well. I lived in Hancock in a house with 5 other guys. Tech was closed and we were beside ourselves, here we were with free time and no beer in the house. So we emptied our backpacks of books, got dressed up in ski and snowmobile suites, got out our ski poles, put on our ski goggles and made a trek down to the store. (you could not see without goggles - the snow hitting cheeks and eyes felt like sand coming out of a sand blaster.) The store was closed, but the guy that ran the place lived upstairs. So we knocked on his door and he gladly came down to sell us what we came for, all the beer we could carry. So we spent that long snowy day sprawled out on the living room floor, drinking beer and playing a popular board game at the time, Risk.

Thanks for bringing back the memories.

Best wishes,
Dave Bezesky

***

Hi Dennis,
I remember an official snow day during the winter quarter of the 1981-1982 year. It was on the day of a dreaded Calc II exam, so it was like a gift from above. It was snowing so hard I remember looking out of my dorm window on the Portage side of East Coed (OK, McNair Hall) and not being able to see the street lights in the lots across US 41.

There may have been another in the winter of 1978. I was attending L'Anse High School but living at Alberta and I worked at the dorm cafeteria there. There was a major storm and I had to wade through thigh-deep snow to the cafeteria to help those college students find leftovers to eat till the real cooks could get in. That could have been a Saturday though.

Becky (Shetron '85) Nold

***

Dennis,
When I was there 1978 - 1982, we had one day in 1981 that school closed at noon when the county pulled the plows off the roads due to extreme cold and high winds. The hydraulic fluid was freezing in the plows.

Dan Richards

***

Dennis,
There are two occurrences of Tech closing due to weather conditions in the mid-90's that I recall. One was that day which you mentioned with severe sub-zero temperatures. Yes, they waited until noon to cancel classes and close campus. It was mid-40s below zero standing temperature that morning with a wind chill exceeding 90 below if my memory serves me correctly. It was a shame to cancel class since I had already made my way onto campus and had planned to spend my entire day on campus only for Tech to close a few hours after I arrived. By the time campus was closed everyone who was going to make it was there already and the temperatures had actually come up some by that point. I do believe that was the year Lake Superior froze over which only happens a couple times within 100 years.

The second occurrence was on a Friday. It had begun to snow the previous evening and the area accumulated 30+ inches of snow within a 24 hour period. Since classes were canceled resulting in an extended weekend, my roommate and I took the day to dig out his car and travel to Ironwood for some of the best skiing during our Tech career on Saturday! Of course, it took us over 4 hours to get to Ironwood (normally a 2-2.5 hours trip). It was probably not the safest thing to do, but the reward for risking the trip made it worthwhile. Ah, knee deep powder in the midwest!

Sure makes the reason for this recent closure appear as though Tech is getting really soft like the more southern regions of the US. 5-7 inches & 15 inches over 2 days - bah, big deal! ;-D

Thanks for the memories!
Jason

***

Dennis,
I recall coming back from Thanksgiving break in '85 (I think) in a full-on blizzard starting from 150-175mi south of the bridge. I was riding with a buddy from WADS in his old, rusty Toyota (a piece of you-know-what) and the heater DIED 1/2 way across the U.P. (doing a rip roaring 20MPH the whole way). We were stopped 35mi from Michigan Tech when we were told trees had been washed over the road (!!!). We were housed for three or four hours in the basement of a church then headed out after the OK was given. All told, it took twenty four hours to get from Detroit to Houghton. On arrival we found the classes were cancelled! We celebrated with 8 hours sleep before having a few beers (too pooped to party - can ya believe it?)

Best regards!
Jeff Binns '88

***

Dennis,
To shed a little light on the closing in the 90's - I can confirm that Tech did close at noon in the winter of 1995 as that was my last winter in Houghton. In fact, if memory serves me, the WOLF reported a windchill of -84F that morning. and I distinctly remember it being abnormally chilly on my walk in for an 8AM lab! Thank you for continuing to bring a little bit of Houghton to all of us no longer close enough to enjoy it.

Sincerely,
Todd Daenzer
Class of 1995

***

Dennis,
I recall Tech closing during my tour of duty. I believe it was in 1978 - it was due to a lot of snow compounded by sustained winds which kept the roads from being cleared.

I have a question, when I was there, I worked at Roy's Pharmacy - does it still exist, did it move. I worked there from 1977 to 1982.

Thanks,
-RB

***

Dennis - Classes were canceled during my freshman year '78-79. I don't remember the month, but do remember lugging hockey bags of beer from Jim's, back to Tombstone (Wadsworth).

It also snowed my first day in Houghton that year, which was around the end of August. Nothing stuck, but the sight of light flurries was a sign of things to come. I believe we set a record for snowfall that year as well.

Tom Kispert '83

***

Dennis,
I recall closing due to the extreme cold, probably during the 93-94 school year. I also recall classes being canceled in 96(maybe) due to snow. This was memorable because of the bank robbery/hostage situation that occurred at the same time. The suspect's car was stuck in the snow and had a stand-off with police as the snow kept coming. Those kinds of things don't happen often in Houghton, so they tend to stick with you. I believe classes were canceled starting at noon and didn't resume until noon the next day. Not sure if this classifies as an official "closing".

Brian Steward '97

***

There was a big blizzard in '72 or '73 that closed the university for one day. The blizzard came in the evening and it hit -25 F that night, with fierce winds and a lot of snow (3 feet? More? Can't recall.) It was announced that evening that classes would be cancelled for the next day, so suddenly the pressure was off for studying. So what did we do? Of course, we went for a walk in the blizzard! All we did was walk from DHH up to the student union and back, with a stop at the library to warm up, but it seemed to take forever. I even got stuck in the snow (up to my crotch) at one point and a friend had to come and pull me out. Not the stupidest adventure I ever had, but definitely on the list.

Jim Pulsipher '74

***

Watch the e-mail memory limit closely, I expect you will receive a flood of messages on this one.

During my tenure at Tech, the school closed twice. Once during the winter of '81-82 in January. The storm was from the east and the winds were blowing the drifts too high for the snow plows to keep up. The snow was not especially wet, just too much volume to control.

The second time was the Monday after Thanksgiving Break in 1985. I graduated that November, but my roommates endured the marathon drive through snow storms from the Big Mac bridge to Houghton. They got into a caravan of Tech students and would drive until the lead car fell off the road. The caravan would stop, pull the lead car out of the ditch and place them at the back of the line. The caravan would start up again and drive until the new leader ditched it. I heard some people say it took 9 - 11 hours from the bridge to Houghton. Of course the time probably gets longer with each retelling,

Kurt Westphal

***

Dennis,
During the '85-'86 school year, I believe Tech was closed a few times. I was a sophomore and still living in Wads when Tech was closed because of a big storm after Thanksgiving break. Many students were stranded in Naubinway and spent the night in a local church, including myself, before continuing on to Houghton. Also, I remember Tech closing because of high winds and freezing temps sometime during the winter. My dorm room was right across where Walker Arts was being built and my roommate and I watched the Christmas tree they had put up blow off the building. From what I remember, it had been quite a few years since they had to close the school and those were the only times during the mid to late eighties.

Karen(Potter)Ulicny '89

***

Dennis,
The only closure during my 5 year career ('84-'89) was the Monday after our return trip of "Thanksgiving Drive - '85" (I still might have the T-shirt somewhere that some enterprising student sold right afterward).

US-41 was washed out between L'Anse and Baraga. We made it to just past Negaunee and Duck's Demon II had to backtrack at the advice of State Troopers on the CB to get the last room at a hotel a few miles outside Marquette. The next day was bright and sunny, but we passed a number of Tech bound students poking the plowed snowbanks on the side of the road looking for their abandoned vehicles. The next few days were consumed swapping survival stories.

Ben Beach '89

***

Greetings from sunny Southern California, where at lunch today it's 81 degrees. I'm writing in response to your question about Tech closures. I'm not 100% sure about this, but I believe Tech was closed for a day or two in January or February of 2000. We experienced blizzard conditions, and the snow plows just couldn't keep up. I remember having to make a special trip to Econo before-hand just to make sure I had enough food for the few days I wouldn't be able to get my truck out of the parking lot. Ah...those were the days.

Jen Yotz
MS Forestry, 2000

***

Dennis:

When people here in California ask about Winter in the Keeweenaw, I have plenty of material to draw from, but the following is always a popular story:

It was the Winter Quarter of 1983 in my freshman year at Tech, and I was living off-campus in Chassel. During mid-terms, we awoke one day to find it bitterly cold outside. The news reports were claiming temperatures around -50F with wind chill, and warning people to stay inside.

Knowing Tech's reputation for "never" closing due to weather, I figured that during mid-terms there wasn't a chance that school would be called off. Still, I clung to the radio, fingers-crossed, as one local school closure after another was announced. Unfortunately, an hour before my first exam was scheduled to start, Michigan Tech still wasn't listed. I resigned myself to my fate and started bundling-up for a cold trip to school.

My roomates didn't have exams until the afternoon, and weren't at all interested in setting foot outside, so I borrowed the keys to the car and set off on my own. Once outside I could feel my eyelids stick briefly every time I blinked, and my hands felt frozen stiff by the time I made the short walk to the car! The lock didn't want to open and I fumbled with the keys, but finally got in and sat down on what felt like rock-hard vinyl seats. It was then that I found out what engine block heaters are for. I turned the ignition and absolutely nothing happened.

Back inside I checked with my roomates and there was still no mention of Michigan Tech closing on the radio. Cursing, I put on an extra pair of socks, wrapped up with a scarf, pulled my hat down so that only a slit for my eyes was exposed, and headed out on foot. Once underway, I felt surprisingly comfortable, still, when I heard a vehicle coming up from behind, I stuck my thumb out for a ride. It was the first time I had ever tried to hitch a ride, and was glad to see the local in a pickup pull over to the side of the road. I climbed in, and it was then I saw the shotgun he had across his lap, pointed vaguely in my direction. As the music from Psycho was blaring in my head and I heard my Mother warning me to never, ever hitch-hike, the driver explained how he was local farmer and rancher and was out hunting the coyotes that were taking his sheep. To my great relief, he dropped me off when we got to US-41 and turned around to continue his hunt.

After trudging along the highway for about 10 minutes, the only vehicle to come along was the US Postal semi. carrying the mail. I stuck out my thumb, and although he later admitted he was not supposed to pick up passengers, the driver took pity on me and gave me a lift to campus. He couldn't believe I was out there in such weather. I was beginning to feel kind of foolish, myself.

It was about five minutes past time for the exam to start, and I hustled through the nearly deserted campus as fast as the many layers of clothing would allow. Finally, I came to the room where the test was to be held, and was greeted by an empty room with a sign posted at the entrance. I stared in disbelief, as I read that the exam was cancelled. Eventually I recovered my composure, had a good laugh, and went off to find some friends in the dorms who told me the about 20 minutes earlier exams had been called off and school was closing down for the day!!

Alex Hays, '86

***

Dennis, there was a time in the mid-1980's when the road was closed between L'Anse and Barraga and they decided to close Tech on that first Monday back from Christmas vacation because of that. I think there were other days as well in my 4 year career there between 1984 and 1988.

Stacey E. Morrison, MS

***

When I attended Michigan Tech in '79..'83, the campus closed *twice* (don't recall the exact years). I distinctly remember this because it was unheard of for the University to close due to the weather and it definitely happened twice while I was there.

That was then, this is now. The schools down here (I'll grant you that these are our children and not college-age adults) are constantly being closed because of the weather. Heck, there were major closures when the morning low's were sub-10F. City folks - bunch of marshmallows. ;-) We had to walk 2 miles to campus from downtown Hancock in every kind weather 7 days a week. And it was uphill both ways. :-D

David Howell

***

Dennis,
I remember a snow day in the winter of '71 or '72 when Tech closed. I was taking a European history class and there was a test scheduled. Because of the snow day, I had extra time to study and I'm sure I did much better on that test because of it.

The newsletter is always of interest; I especially enjoy the E-Mailbag. Thanks for keeping us up to date!

Linda (Emsley) Roleson, '74

***

Dennis,
I sent a note around to people at work that went to Michigan Tech about school closing and here is what I got back from people.

March 2, 2007:
My son also called me this morning - he got stuck in an elevator last night in the Dow building. Public safety said it was probably due to the high wind. His car was parked in a lot down at the lake level and he said he was worried about getting up the hill, but luckily we sent him up north with our old suburban with 4WD and it plowed thru huge drifts.

Blizzard of 1983:
The state police shut down the roads and we had half a day off of school. I remember driving through Hancock by looking at the lights in the houses to judge if we were on the road or not. What fun.

Blizzard of 1979:
That was a fun walk to Jim's in the blizzard of '79 - It would "white out" so bad that all you could see was your arms and legs, wearing our chemistry goggles. The funny thing was it didn't stop anybody from loading up on beer - Jim's was about out as I recall. That winter was a fun one. There was no snow when we left for xmas break, but it sure snowed afterward. It was fun until it was still snowing in May!

Old Timers:
They NEVER closed when I was there. We were tough back then.

Just a couple of updates.
Brian Fojtik, Winter 1983

***

I remember a very memorable snow storm. It was the winter of either 71 or 72 when there were 56 consecutive days of snow. During this period, we had the snow storm to end all snow storms. It had snowed maybe six inches by 6 PM that day. We decided to go out to a birthday party. When the guest of honor couldn’t come, I naturally volunteered to get him. Although he only lived a couple of miles away, it took me nearly a half hour to get him. By the time I got there, he naturally decided to stay home. I was pushed out of his driveway. You see it continued to snow and the wind had picked up abruptly as well. The wind and blowing snow created a white-out. I never did make it home that night.

The school was closed the next day, the first time since the early 30’s. If I remember right, however, Dr. Hubbard (a Chem Eng prof) still biked into school that day.

Bill Nichols
BS Chem Eng 1971
MS Forestry 1973

***

Dennis,
I do remember at least one time- I believe in 1972- that Tech closed for one day. My feeble memory recalls that it was due to blowing snow and the inability to keep the roads clear.

In regards to Heikke (sp?) Lunta- I do know that our dorm’s (Coed at the time) snow stature was a snowmobile with Woodstock (from Peanuts) on the back and the caption was “Curse you Heikke Lunta” . I believe this was also in 1972 but my memory won’t let me prove it.

Mark Walter

***

Hi Dennis,
I remember digging my car out of a snow drift in Chassell to go to an interview on campus the winter of '71-'72 when I was finishing up my MSME and finding out that Tech and the interview were cancelled.

Anna Hradel

***

Tech Closes? Yes, it does! It closed only for a half day back during the winter of 1978-79 when the season's snowfall totaled approximately 450 inches. It was a great year for winter activities, but especially Carnival. While most areas would have shut down during such snowfall, life at Tech continued!

Joel Franck ('81)

***

Dennis,
I remember one time in 1982 or 1983 when Tech "unofficially" closed. I walked in from Hancock for my Thermo class. The prof came in cross-country skiing. Most of my fellow classmates skipped class. So many students missed class that day, that most classes did not meet and the ones that did, just had review days.

I caught a ride back to the Phi Tau house and found many of my brothers engaged in either a snowball fight or a snow-football game. None of them even tried to make it class. I don't remember why I felt that I had to be there when no one else did.

Because so many students and faculty missed class that day, no "official" grades were taken and the university suggested that it be counted as a snow day, though no official ruling was made. I guess it was a retroactive closing.

I also remember a day in 1980/81 when the school should have closed, but didn't. I remember watching the snow fall from my room in Wads (the subterranean second floor ones on the back side). I was writing a letter home and watched 6 inches accumulate by the time I finished the letter. Classes were held as normal.

Tom Fedorka
ME 1985

***

Hi Dennis,
I bet you get a lot of email for your question about closing school and the related tales.

I was a freshman in 1986 and school closed on the Monday after Thanksgiving break due to weather. It was freezing rain and windy in the Lower Peninsula and turned to heavy snow in the UP. The bridge closed down shortly after we crossed and the highways were shutting down as we drove through the UP. There were 6 or 7 of us in an old van and we just kept driving. Most students stopped in Marquette or Negaunee at the armory but we were a little on the adventurous side and decided to just keep going until somebody stopped us - but they never did. We were blazing trail coming out of Marquette and most of the way to Houghton.

When we arrived in Chassel the state police had the highway closed where it's closest to the Lake. We couldn't believe the size of the waves that were crashing next to the road and washing over it. The police told us to follow the road grader when he takes off. So we waited for the grader to lead the way and saw some amazing obstacles in the road. It went around several boulders and logs (prehistoric from the bottom of the abyss sized obstacles that a grader didn't want to tackle!) that were lying right in the middle of the road and we just followed him for a short stretch until the road peeled away from the lakeshore. At that time the waves were running over the road but not breaking and crashing onto the road. To move those objects into the highway the waves must have been unbelievable. He turned around and got lined up for a return trip and we went on to Houghton.

When we got to campus we parked on the sidewalk behind Wadsworth until the parking lot got plowed and moved the van on Monday. Which had school canceled due to so many students not getting back from the break. There were a lot of stories from stranded students spread all along the route back to Mackinaw City.

Steve Arthur
1989

***

Dennis,
I remember a winters night in Nov/Dec 1971 when Tech got 71" of snow in one night. In fact, the next day (a Tuesday I think) was the first time Tech was closed for an entire day due to weather conditions. It was a good thing we didn't have class the next day, we were scheduled to take the first freshman Bio and Chem tests of that year. The extra day gave me enough study time to get a D (!) on the BL 101 test and I was happy with that.

John Hall (75)

***

Dennis, sounds like y'all have gone soft up there. Closing for only a foot of snow? The mid-'90's closure happened either during '93-'94 or '95-'96 school year. Lake Superior was nearly 100% frozen over and reported temperatures reached -80F with wind chill (Tech did not close that day although the rest of the UP schools were closed) and the next day classes were canceled when it was only hitting -60F with wind chill. We also saw the snowfall total break over 300" during 95-96', snow experts were predicting the snow dumps would still be around when students returned for the Fall quarter, and there was a betting pool for when we'd break the all time record 355" (?). We only hit 328" according to the Michigan Tech site.

Cheers,
Mike
Michigan Tech '93-'98

***

2 or 3 times while I was there. Once was the one you described, in 1994.
The other was in 1996, where a blizzard dumped about 36 inches in 18 hours, all while there was a hostage standoff outside the bank downtown. Seems there was one other time, too, but I don't recall whether that was 96 or 97.

Eric Laverty
BSEE 96, MSEE 97

***

Dennis,
I remember Tech closing one day during my Freshman year back in January or February of 1982. The closing was on a Monday following a storm that lasted all weekend. It got me a one day repreve from a Freshman Chemistry Test. I remember the storm being bad enough that we could not see US41 from the windows of East Coed (now McNair).

Tom Knudstrup
BSEE 1985

***

I remember closing a half-day due to snow in 1965.

Peter M. Balzola (1968)

***

Dennis,
I know there was a closing in winter of 1972 (71-72 school year). I was taking a Calc class and studying for mid-terms. We had 24" in 24 hours and classes were closed. So I had a choice, skiing in a LOT of new powder or studying for the mid-term. Well you can probably guess which choice I made and, yes, I did end up dropping the class and taking it again the next quarter.

Jon Steele
'75 (35639)

***

Oh yes!

I was in school from '79 and graduated in '83. In 1981, we had blizzards hit us on the weekends 3 weeks in a row. I believe we ended up one weekend (memory is shoddy on this one) with the Friday off. The second weekend, they announced the school closure on Sunday for the following Monday. The second closure I recall quite well because a few of us decided to get a barrel, and using the dog sled (for winter carny races), we went to Jims...but it was closed....so then we trekked thru town and up the hill to the convenient store (name long forgotten) where supplies were to be found....and then back thru town and to a sorority house next to campus.....all with about 3 feet of visibility....

On a different note, I work in Shanghai, China. It's an amazing experience to be wearing your Tech shirt and have so many people come up to you that graduated from there or taught there.....imagine getting your hair cut and having a lady with her sons tell you that she graduated in '82 with her husband....and then the guy sitting next to you say he graduated in '95, trading stories from our Tech days......for our company, we've got to have 10 to 15 Tech grads here alone.

Lee Luetge

***

12 inches shut down the school!?

I have a tee-shirt that says "I survived Thanksgiving Drive - `85"

The Sunday return from Grand Rapids took me 16 hours (4 from Marquette) in my `69 Electra 225. I was one of about 25% of the students that made it. We crossed Big Mac 1/2 hour before it closed due to high winds. Drove on the wrong side of M-28 for a while because it was plowed on that side (hoping the guy in front was paying attention). Made it through Marquette before the State police closed the roads and made students stay in the local gymnasium & the local armory in Ishpeming. Road graders were moving logs and boulders off the highway at Baraga because the 14 - 16' waves on Superior pushed them across.

. . . and they decided to close school the next morning. We got 34" in Houghton that Sunday.

Bob Crump `87

***

Tech closed once when I was at school. I believe it was the winter of 79-80. There were high winds 55 mph and snow. Wind chill was way below zero. Houghton County closed first and then the school. We were low on beer so we walked from the outskirts of Hancock into town to stock up for the closure.

Wayne Griffin

***

I remember the closure of the mid 90's.

I can't remember exactly when it was, but it was due to the combination of extremely low temperatures, and the high winds.

Loren White
1997 Civil Engineering

***

I remember in 2003 or 2004 when Michigan Tech closed at 12 due to wind-chill, also. All other days that year thought students were advised to come to class if they could.

Also I don't know where the original "Heikki Lunta Snow Dance Song" was "Heikki Lunta Go Away" but when I was at Michigan Tech I picked up a CD version of it from the green house on M-26 heading toward dollar bay and it is date 1970 WMPL Radio.

Denise Lilly
Civil Engineering 2005

***

Hi Dennis!
I remember Tech being closed from noon one day until noon the next in the 90s. I think it was January or February of either '93 or '94. I remember it was during a streak of more than a month that it didn't get above zero. I vividly remember walking from one end of campus to the other in the cold and high winds. I had a scarf wrapped around my head with only one eye peaking out so I could see to walk, then my tears froze on my lashes and froze my eye shut and I couldn't see so I had to uncover the other eye. I was commuting from Herman (near L'Anse) then, and I had a class that let out at 10 pm Mondays and I remember the "square tires" as I pulled out of the parking lot at 10:00 on the lonely road towards home.

I thought we'd had other closings since then. I worked at Tech until 2004, and I am sure I drove into work one day - barely making it out of my unplowed country road - only to get there and find out that Tech hadclosed. From then on I made sure to listen to the radio on snowy mornings!

Keep up the good work, Dennis!
Sharon Haapala '95

***

It was closed my last year there. January 2004. :)

Shane M. Rixom, PE

***

In late January / early February 2004, MTu shut down from noon Wednesday to noon Thursday due to wind chills hitting at least 40 below if not colder. I hiked to campus for an EE301 test during 6th week (drop week). I didn't take the test (it was to be at 1:00 PM), but I did walk back home which seemed worse.

Frank H. Guerin
BSCE 1995

***

Dennis,
You're not imagining it. In 1994 we had three really cold days, first day was -80F. School wasn't canceled till the following day and I remember trudging up to the SDC for Pep Band, it wasn't till the second day at -60F that school canceled. A shutdown you're missing though was 1996 when Tech shut down due to the snow storm/bank robbery...

Scott and Sara Withrow
BSME 98 and BSCE 98

***

Dennis,
It was the early 90's during the January NFL football playoffs. A storm blew in Thursday night depositing and blowing snow like nobody's business. We were living out in Boston Location and I had decided not to try to get in to campus. My roommates chose to venture out, only to discover that Friday classes had been cancelled.

We made the mistake of not stocking up on beer for the football game and bravely wandered out the door to walk to the bar up on the highway. We decided to give up after hiking around the second 20 foot snow drift on the road only to discover another. The county didn't plow us out until Tuesday!

Duane Karvonen
1984

***

Tech definitely closed for a day during a particularly bad snow storm that I believe occurred in the winter of 1971-72 (or the winter following that) where we had 50 mph winds combined with heavy snow fall, creating a fierce white-out condition. Classes were canceled and we were told not to leave our dorms because of zero visibility. You couldn't see the next building on campus.

--Randy Down '74

***

I was at Tech from 94-98, and I believe it was closed about 3 times, while I was there. Once, was the mandated day from the Governor, because it was so cold. One was when the local bank had the hostage situation. I can't remember what the third one was. I remember hearing at that time that Tech had only closed about 9 times in its history, and three were during my four years.

Jeff Leitch

***

Hey Dennis,
I graduated in March 1972. The night before graduation, we got 11 inches of snow. As I recall, the ceremony almost got cancelled. They must have realized that since everyone was there, they might as well do the graduation so that we could all go home! I don't remember if they closed school. Must have been about that time they began wondering if March graduations were really necessary!
And oh yes, the drive home was memorable too!
John Northrup
1972

***

Dennis:
Well it was the winter of '71 when I remember Tech being forced to close. They told us it had been 33 years since they had a storm strong enough to close Tech's doors. The winds had been howling for two days gusting at over 40 mph with air temps hovering at -40. By Friday morning WGGL, our campus lifeline to cyberspace, informed us that in fact the halls of Michigan Tech would not open its doors for that day. A small reprieve from Dr. Berry's Chemistry test, or Dr. Chimino's Physics exam; and what were we to do with our newly granted (and unheard of) freedom? Study? or....

Road Trip!! I was living in west Houghton in a duplex behind Wes Klee's Standard (before Amoco) station. I had had the foresight to have parked my trusty steed in Wes' lot at night so I at least had a running chance of rolling out onto Hwy 41...but would it possibly start? Inserting the key in the lock which nearly broke in half trying to turn the frozen mechanism. Sliding onto those stiff "all vinyl plastic" seats that seemed to crack into a hundred pieces. My nostrils nearly stuck frozen together simply from the effort of breathing. Turning the key I heard that sickly sound of rrrrhh, rrrrhhh, rrrrrhhhh, when finally "the Chili Wagon" choked, caught fire and spat out billows of white condensed exhaust; sputtering for warmth. Driving away I could hear the tires nearly squeeking over the crispness of the packed snow so cold. I drove off seeking an open store for party supplies and making the rounds to pick up my roomates girlfriends to! share in our great gift from Heikki Luntta. The streets were nearly deserted (mid-morning) and the snow banks hung high over the roof of your car to remind you that as a mere mortal you are definitely not in charge. I drove past campus and saw hardly a soul out braving the fierce winter winds. The doors to Fisher Hall and the Memorial Union were completely covered over for the snow drifts. It would be a while before the front-end loaders would get them clear enought to open. To this day when a chance snowstrom grants me a day of unplanned freedom (which happens too seldom here in Washington, DC.) I still think of that blizzard and how cozy life can be when you're snow-locked in and the fire is crackling.

Thanks Dennis, for keeping us up on the news 'fit to print'
Richard Williams '72

***

Dennis,
We had a record snowfall my freshman year. The 72 Keweenawan (p. 317) has the following article under the headline "The Biggest News In The Copper Country Was The Snow":

"During the 1971-72 fall, winter, and spring seasons, over 297 inches of snow fell, breaking all previous records. For the first time in over 30 years, Michigan Tech was closed for a full day on January 25th. What would we have done without "Snow Control Central."

Norm Dollhopf
1975

***

D:
My cloudy memory digs up two instances of "da Tech" closing during my tenure - once following Thanksgiving break, 1985, when about half the student population didn't make it back from break, ending up scattered across the UP, in hotels and high school gyms, and one other time, maybe in '87 or '88. The '85 storm was particularly memorable, though, since lake levels were at or near all-time highs, making the drive around the back of Keeweenaw Bay particularly exciting, dodging logs, and even a boat!

dave

***

I was in grad school in the fall of 1971 when school was closed. I recall driving back to my apartment on the west side of town for dinner and finding 6 inches of snow on the car when I headed back to the Civil Engineering building. The plan was to meet a couple other grad students, grab a few books and head home. But, in the time that took, the security people informed us we were there for the duration since it was impossible to even get out of the parking lot. So, I spent the night finishing all of the tables and graphs for my thesis. In "the good old days", such things were done by hand - tables typed and graphs drawn in ink. In between each study burst, we played hockey in the hall. I also remember that when dawn broke the next day, the cars parked on the far side of street behind the building were completely buried in snow. And, yes, I listened to the progress of the bus bringing the miners back to town. I still tell my now grown daughters that they don't make winters like they used to.

I look forward every week to the newsletter - thanks for bringing back fond memories.

Don Greiner, BSCE 6/70; MSCE, 3/72.

***

Dennis,
I'm sure others have told you this one, but I distinctly remember coming back from Thanksgiving break in the fall of 1985. I think we got about 20+ inches of snow on that Sunday while everyone was driving back. It took 13 hours to get from Monroe in SE Michigan to Marquette, where it would normally take only about 8 hours. Most of this time was spent between the bridge and Marquette in bumper to bumper traffic. The state police closed the roads between there and Houghton and we were stuck for the night. School was cancelled that next day.

That is the only one I recall during my stay at Tech.

David J. Blaida, P.E.

***

Dennis,
I remember Tech closing in the winter of 95-96. We had gotten quite a bit of snow the previous day and then the wind really picked, I think the wind chill was around -30. The thing that I really remember about that day was there was a bank robbery downtown and the radio guys were making fun of the guy for trying to rob a bank during a blizzard. Unfortunately the bank robbery did not end peacefully.

Jeremy Curtis
1999
***

Dear Dennis,
I am sure you will get a lot of accounts of this one, but my during my first winter at Tech (1981-1982), we had a really bad blizzard, total whiteout conditions and all. All of us in Coed Hall were wandering up and down the halls asking each other if anyone was actually going to class that morning. Everyone agreed that it was just too nasty and that they did not care if Tech "never closes". Well, some time in the early morning the news came over the campus radio that for the 4th time or so this century Tech was closing! So, what do you think everyone did next? Huge numbers gathered their snowshoes and cross country skis and made the pilgrimage to Jims Foodmart. Rumor had it that Jim's sold out of beer within an hour of the announcement that morning. It was too cold to go to class but not too cold for a beer run! Best,
John Protasiewicz (class of 1985)

***

Hi Dennis - Re Tech closings - I attended from Fall 66 thru Spring of 70 and don't believe there were any during that time, in spite of the storm that hit Sunday after Thanksgiving in 66. That one turned the usual 8 hour trip from Grand Rapids to Houghton into a two day/one night adventure, including the night spent stopped on US2 between 117 and 77. Some toots made Engadine & had a good time at one of the establishments there, but our group of five got stopped short & spent the night in the car which was being drifted over due to the gale force winds. Finally made it back to Houghton Monday about dark, not sure but I think Tech was not closed that day even though many students were still in transit.
Jim Carpenter
1970

***

I remember a couple of closures while I was up there. The worst was the day it was snowing so hard you couldn't see 41 out the windows in McNair. Due to the players involved (and the fact we were still in the dorms), I want to say it was 1996, but it may have been 1997. That day, to the best of our knowledge, no staff showed up anywhere on campus. There were no custodians in the building, and the cafeteria never even opened.

We made it through the morning and early afternoon on ramen noodles and microwavable stuff, but decided later that night that we were feeling brave and would walk to Burger King to see if they were open. I don't remember the exact wind chill, but it was cold enough for frostbite to be a real concern, so we made sure every inch of skin was covered. For some of us that involved digging out our lab goggles from chemistry to cover that last little area around the eyes.

As we walked down an eerily abandoned 41 (I recall walking right down the middle of the street through frat row), we were amazed by the dead hush that the thick snowfall brought with it. The only things we could hear were each other's voices. We made sure to stick very close together since we could only see the glow from porch lights on each side of the street and couldn't actually make out the houses or the porch lights themselves.

When we reached Burger King, we found that a very large crowd had come up with the same idea we had. I don't think I ever saw Burger King that packed before or after. It was almost standing room only. I'm sure they made a huge profit that night.

On our way back, we were feeling goofy and decided to go diving into the snow banks as we passed. The snow was pretty fluffy and you just sank right in.

Fortunately, the snowfall lightened a bit overnight and they were able to get everything back up and running the following day.

Eric Brace
'98

***

Dennis,
I remember Tech closing during my first years. I believe that it was winter of '81. I was staying in the dorms at Wads when classes were cancelled. Blizzard conditions existed, but we still managed to walk to Jim's supermarket to stock up on some refreshments. At that time, it was mentioned that that was the first time in decades that classes had been cancelled due to weather. It would be very interesting to actually know how many times of the course to the university's history that classes have been cancelled.

Larry Ruhstorfer
Class of 85

***
Dennis: What's all this about Tech closing due to Winter storms? During my four years at Tech ("50 - "54) Tech never closed their doors, even during the 50-51 Winter when the snow drifts were up to the second floor of the dorm. Even though we anticipated the closing, it never came. As I recall, the only exception for not attending classes, was for students who lived north of the Houghton- Hancock bridge, which was the old turntable type, and tended to not function during certain UP style storms. Must be the younger generations of this "modern era" aren't made like the "old" ones.

Tom Kirby "54

***

Dennis,
I remember the return drive to Tech from Detroit in early December, 1985. That storm brought around 3 feet of snow to the Copper Country. Tech closed Monday morning. Lots of stories went around about that trip back, and problems that were had.

Mark Davis

***

I recall the snow closure from the early 70's. Probably 1971 or 72. Tech closed because they could not get the faculty lots plowed after a giant snow storm.

Karla

***

Dennis,
Tech closed in the winter of 81-82. We received 24 inches of snow in 36 hours. There was no way that the plows could keep up. Somehow, though,many of the students who couldn't get to class were able to get to the local purveyors of adult beverages. Some of us used the time more productively, like sitting in the sauna in East Co-Ed Hall and then running through the snow drifts.

Darryl Johnson
Suttons Bay

***

School was closed when we were all driving back from Thanksgiving break in 1985. All the roads in the U.P. were closed down, as well as the Mackinac Bridge and Michigan Tech students had to be housed by the Red Cross. (start humming the song "Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald" now). I made it back just ahead of the closures but it took 23 hours from Detroit, instead of the usual 10 hours. My ride was a guy that was bringing an aquarium full of piranhas in the back seat of his car, and he didn't want the fish to die, so we stupidly forged on. My mom was really worried because the weather news was even on downstate and so she kept calling the State Police and asking for them to look for us. A few years earlier, a woman met her maker by driving her Yugo (remember those?) off the Mackinac Bridge and no one was sure if it was an accident or not (it was later deemed a suicide) but it made us think every time you drove over it when the bridge sways in the wind.... and it sure did that day!

We stopped to get a bar somewhere north of Marquette to steady our nerves - it was the only place open and we needed to take a break from driving snow-blind for so many hours. When we rounded the bend at Keweenaw Bay, Lake Superior was washing over US 41 in waves, and we had several inches of solid ice encapsulating the vehicle instantaneously. We forged on, and made it to Houghton at 4 am. I had to get out the drivers side of the car because my side was frozen solid. The snow was so deep I had to climb on my hands and knees up to my front door, and when my roommate showed up an hour or so later, we had to dig a spot in the shoulder high snow for her car, or it would have gotten towed. The good news was that the piranhas, and my driver and I made it!

They canceled school that Monday because there weren't enough students to have school. Most were still in Red Cross shelters all over the U.P., or holed up in bars after they put their car in a snowdrift. That was the last time Michigan Tech had closed for weather, to my knowledge. Thanks for the fun memories of Thanksgiving Drive '85. There were even some commemorative T shirts made and sold by some enterprising Michigan Tech students that year. They sold out before I got one.....

Cynthia Protas Hodges

***

Michigan Tech was closed once during the early 1960's because of a storm, but I don't remember the exact year.

Pat Ochodnicky 1964

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Hi Dennis,
I graduated from Tech in 1980 and my husband (then fiance) Ken graduated in 1981. Tech was closed for at least a half-day while we were there, and we think it was the winter of '79-'80, likely Jan/Feb. I remember I was at the Union studying and heard the school was closing, so I decided to head to the ME building to let Ken know. The blowing snow was so fierce that I had to head towards the EE building with closed eyes and try to gauge how long to walk before I would be blown to the ME building. Eventually I made it there, found Ken, and he walked me to my apartment on Jasper. My eyes were closed the entire way and, as I recall, they were frozen shut by the time we finally got to my apartment. My apartment was in an old house and its inadequate wall heater's pilot had blown out. Ken brought a small space heater from his room at the Sig Tau house, and I spent the rest of the day trying to keep warm and listening to people calling in to WMPL to let their families know where they were. I really got a greater appreciation for the strong sense of community in the Houghton/Hancock area that day as I listened to the station completely give itself over to helping the community deal with the blizzard. That day has stuck in my head ever since.

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Hello Dennis,
I attend Michigan Tech during the Mid-1990's and yes, Michigan Tech did close one day. I remember our pipes freezing, I actually thought my roommates were cooking bacon one morning, I heard this sizzeling noise and when I got into the kitchen I realized that our pipes from our washer had broke (washer and dryer were in an area of the house where we had our back door so it was always cold are were spraying all over the ktchen floor.

Here's one more thing I remember that the cars were so frozen that the frost was actually on the inside of the car windows too! Oh the good ole Michigan Tech days. I do miss them!

Pamela Platter Class of 1997

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Dennis,
I remember Michigan Tech closing due to extremely low wind chills during January or February of 1994. The myth at the time was the Governor declared all state institutions would be closed but Tech was still open until the President Thompkins received a call from the Governor reminding him that Tech was a state institution. As an added stroke of genius Public Safety locked all of the doors at noon so if you were on campus and left a building you were trapped outside.

thomas barber '94

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I was around for the Jan/Feb 1982 cloing. I don't remember the exact date. It was either a Friday or a Monday. Since it was announced the evening before, that night was a big party night in Houghton/Hancock with everyone walking to their local source for beverages. Phone lines were hard to get for a few hours, due to all of the party planning going on.

-- Kathy (Larimer) Dudrick, 1984


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Hi,
I graduated in 1995 from Tech. My father, now deceased, recorded EVERYTHING in his journals. My mom looked back in the 1994 journals and he had written “Christine called at 1 p.m. today. They excused them from school at noon due to cold weather”. That was Wednesday, January 19th, 1994. I still remember walking home with a friend whose eyelashes froze together. Now my husband (BS ’93, MS ’95 in EE) and I live in California so this cold weather talk is so foreign. How soon you forget. I was raised in Gladstone so I can say I’m a full blooded Yooper.

Christine Sigfred
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Okay Dennis, yes, there were closures during the winter of 1996-97. Several different times campus shut down when it was bitter cold, the wind was howling and the snow was swirling. I remember one day going to campus early and waiting in the MEEM building for class to start. I looked out the window and couldn't even see the tree outside the window. Soon after classes were cancelled. That was the year that snow started in September and ended in June. I'm sure that others have stories to tell as well.

Amy Murphy '98

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Dennis:
I believe that it was the winter of '93-'94 when they closed Tech due to wind chills. It was so cold that winter that the frost line went 80" deep and water lines were popping like fire crackers. Also, Superior froze all the way across to Canada. I think they tried to get the UP declared a disaster area due to the number of people that were without water. I was living in an apartment up in Dodgeville at the five corners in a converted barn or something and the electric bills were $450/month in the winter.

Before that, I think that the last time Tech closed was back in the '70s because it was a pretty big deal about closing the school.

Sincerely:
Nicholas W. Burrows

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Tech was closed once in 1980 on a Friday in January. The weather was warm, storming by 9 and a blizzard by 11. The school was closed at noon.

Deborah Kozol

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Hi Dennis,
The closure in the '90s was in 1994 -- easily the most brutal winter in decades in the CC. The damage done by frozen pipes lasted for months after. I remember Tech closing once during my time as a student ('71-'75) and it was amazing.

Candy Goulette '75
Lincoln, CA

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Dear Dennis,
Thanksgiving Drive of '85. They canceled school on Monday, November 25th due to a severe snow storm that dumped around 18 inches of snow in just over 24 hours, created 16 - 20 foot waves on Lake Superior and left a number of returning students stranded at the National Guard Armory in Ishpeming. I recall a picture in the Lode of an abandoned vehicle on US-41 where it approaches the Keeweenaw Bay near L'anse. The vehicle was encased in ice due to being struck by a wave. Since we had over 300 inches of snow that year I believe it took several months before they could recover the vehicle.

Eric
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Dennis,
I was an undergrad at Michigan Tech from 1984-1989. During my second year I lived off campus and stayed in Houghton for Thanksgiving break. We were of course on the quarter system then so it was the end of fall quarter. A huge snowstorm came in on the Sunday after Thanksgiving and Tech was closed the first day back for classes on Monday, December 2, 1985 since many students were stranded throughout the U.P. due to closed roads (no students ~ no reason to have classes). Only one of my housemates made it back that Sunday.

Tim J