OLD-TIME WINTERS IN NEW BRUNSWICK. 
487 
Old-Time Winters in New Brunswick. 
The idea which commonly prevails that our winters are mild- 
er than they were in the days of our grandfathers seems to have 
little foundation. The fact that the present winter has proved an 
uncommonly mild one is more than offset by the fact that last 
winter was the most severe of any in the memory of those now 
living. It is not likely that there has been any material change 
in the climate of St. John since its discovery by Ohamplain. 
James Simonds, who may be considered as the pioneer of 
English settlers at St. John, writes of some of the winters of his 
day. Under date March 6, 1769, he says: “Have had but little 
snow this winter, but few days that the ground has been covered.” 
Again on Feb. 18, 1771, he writes: “There has not been one 
day’s sledding this winter, 'and the season is so far advanced there 
cannot be much more than enough to get ithe hay from the 
marsh.” 
Extracts from the diary of Rev. Frederick Dibblee, the first 
rector of Woodstock, N. B. also show that mild winters were not 
uncommon a century ago. On December 25, 1803, he writes : 
“A fine Christmas, there is not an inch of snow. Ice closed last 
night.” By way of contrast we find that the next winter sleighs 
had been to Fredericton prior to the 22nd December and found 
good travelling all the way, which was a thing quite unusual on 
the upper St. John, the current being in places quite rapid. The 
winter of 1807 was remarkable for mildness. Mr. Dibblee writes 
on the 8th. of January : “River open, only five cold days to date, 
we never had such weather.” This was followed a few days 
later by a snowfall of 18 inches, but on February 19 he writes: 
-After amazing heavy rains the ice ran today, nothing but a 
little ice left on the roads and scarce any snow in the woods.” 
Coming down to more recent times we have evidence of mild 
winters. A worthy resident of Lower Norton, Kings County, 
Azor Hoyt, writes in his diary on the 10th February, 1824 “a 
violent storm, with heavy gale of wind for 36 hours, broke up the 
river, sweeping away bridges, stacks of hay, timber and fences.” 
