bjgreen
By Betsy J. Green
“Chilly Blast Ushers in 1919” – believe it or not, this was a headline in the local paper, not in New England.
“At six a.m. yesterday, the gauge at the home of George Russell, weather observer, showed 28 degrees. This is extremely cold weather for Santa Barbara … There was plenty of ice in evidence at an early hour yesterday morning. In the low places, ice said to be a quarter of an inch in thickness was discovered. Family pails, left overnight, were found to be coated; water barrels bulged.”
Downtown stores advertised heating fans and woolen underwear.
Heating fans were a popular item way back when. (Image: Santa Barbara Morning Press, January 1, 1919)
Betsy’s Way Back When book — 1918 — is now available in local bookstores and at Amazon.com. This is the fifth book in her series of the history of Santa Barbara, one year at a time. Learn more at
