Retrospect: County was buried in snow

Jay County was blanketed in snow 40 years ago this week. 

On Dec. 6, 1977, The Commercial Review reported that 11 inches of snow had fallen in the area over the past three days. Schools were closed Dec. 5 and 6, a Monday and Tuesday, and the National Weather Service forecasted an additional 3 to 5 inches to fall going into Dec. 7. 

The Jay County Highway Department had all hands on deck, as employees worked to clear the highways and county roads of snow. 

On Dec. 7, temperatures were in the teens as more snow continued to fall in the area. Stranded cars and semi-trucks had blocked Indiana 26 and Indiana 18, while Indiana 67 and U.S. 27 each had one lane open. Jay County Sheriff Gerald Kirby urged residents to stay off the roads, and schools remained closed. 

A new snowstorm pummeled the area on Dec. 8, dropping another 5 inches of snow. Schools remained closed for five consecutive days, and highways throughout the county were shut down or had only one lane open. 

After four straight days of operation, the street department’s efforts to clear roads were hindered by equipment breakdowns, which were later repaired with parts delivered by snowmobiles. 

Jay County finally began to thaw out the week of Dec. 12, when temperatures were reportedly in the 40s.