In the Good Old Wintertime

As we move closer to the midpoint of winter and snowflakes flutter to the ground, it seems to be a good time to reflect on the ways Schenectadians have embraced the winter and its attendant outdoor joys. Whether you love or hate winter, we hope you'll enjoy these photos of winters gone by in Schenectady, from the library's photograph collections.




Ice skaters frolic at Central Park, ca. 1916. Photograph from Grems-Doolittle Library Photograph Collection.



This seven-foot-tall Schenectady "snow lady" was formed following a 17-inch snowfall in February 1952. Photograph from Larry Hart Collection.

Local boys maneuver rafts of ice in Central Park, , ca. 1920. Photograph from Grems-Doolittle Library Photograph Collection.



The blizzard of 1888 dumped three feet of snow on Schenectady. Here, you can see mounds of snow piled nearly twice as  high as the men standing at left. Photograph from Grems-Doolittle Library Photograph Collection.



Strolling through Crescent Park, near the turn of the twentieth century. Photograph from Grems-Doolittle Library Photograph Collection.




Horse racing on the Erie Canal near the locomotive plant. Photograph from Grems-Doolittle Library Photograph Collection.



Young men playing hockey, ca, 1926. Photograph from Walter S. Kokernak Collection.