The Great Snow of 1950, which commenced the evening before Thanksgiving,
is recalled as one of the worst to hit the region in the 20th
Century, stranding most citizens in their homes, with the
melt-down resulting in flooding, photos of the Mt. Zion community
near Kelly's Store and the Mt. Zion United Methodist Church
SNOWFALL IN WV WAS 20-40 INCHES
Transcribed From Calhoun Chronicle
Nov. 30, 1950, By Norma Knotts Shaffer
One of the worst snowstorms in recent times has been raging in the
Calhoun area since last Friday. Nearly three feet of snow, followed
by high winds, virtually left this section isolated from the outside world.
Most highways were blocked by heavy drifts, some as high as ten feet.
The usual bustling business of Grantsville on Saturday was off, and
by evening the town was described as a "ghost town," with few venturing
out in the face of the storm.
Calhoun teacher Ernest Kelley and wife Pauline examine snow-pile
cleared from Rt. 16 near Kelley's Store and Mt. Zion Church
Repairs to the town water system were
completed as scheduled, in spite of the bad weather, and service was normal
by Saturday noon.
Bulldozers belonging to Hope Natural Gas company and Godfrey L.
Cabot, Inc. were put to work Monday and Tuesday in an effort to dig out
the snowbound communities. Some mail was brought Tuesday for the
first time since Saturday and one bread truck was able to get through with
much-needed bread.
Locals use small dozer to clear highway near old McDonald house
Schools in the county were dismissed one day ahead of schedule because
of the water shortage in Grantsville, and students received an extra long
holiday as the storm brought further delays with no school. Many
college students were stranded at their homes, unable to return to their
schools from Thanksgiving holiday.
Two of the town's physicians, Dr. John S. Boling and Dr. W. C. Holcomb
were stranded at Mount Zion for nearly two days and finally walked the
six miles back to town.
It is reported that Rev. H. L. Underwood made the most of a journey
from Mount Zion to Grantsville on foot.
Students Have Two Week Holiday
A two-day Thanksgiving holiday turned into a two-weeks vacation for
the pupils of Calhoun county schools as snow and floods kept students at
home.
It required nearly a week for many to dig out after the record snowfall. Warmer weather then brought floods to many
sections of the county. On Sunday morning the Russett-Stumptown road
was closed by high water and other roads were covered during the day.
By Monday water was over Route 16 by the high school and travel to Grantsville
from the south was strictly by boat.
One of the business places to bear the greatest damage was Garland Stump's
grocery store and filling station which had three feet of water Monday.
Mr. Stump was able to move his stock and fixtures Sunday night and was
back ready for business by Tuesday morning.
The river continued to raise until three o'clock Monday afternoon.
After it had reached its crest it began to fall rather rapidly. Rt.
16 was open for traffic Tuesday morning and other main routes soon were clear. | 
