Then, as the sound of crashing timbers and girders died away, a stunned silence fell over the scene. The United States has seen its fair share of heavy snowfall. In total 98 people died and 133 were injured in the theater collapse, making it the deadliest disaster in Washington, D.C. history. The roof of the Knickerbocker Theater, which was designed by Reginald Wycliffe Geare and owned by Harry Crandall, was totally flat, allowing massive quantities of snow to accumulate during the storm. Both Geare and Harry Crandall, owner of the Knickerbocker and a host of other local theaters, later died by suicide. In total, the collapse killed 98 peopleincluding David and Kirklandand injured. The raging blizzard quickly chilled the air, and fierce winds built 20-foot (6 m) snowdrifts. Severe Weather Outlook For Texas - National Weather Service Snowfall was especially heavy in the Mid-Atlantic with this storm spewing out over 20 inches of snow in multiple spots. The Storm of the Century caused $5.5 billion in damages with massive snowfalls from Maine all the way down to Florida (parts of which received six inches). In a split second, the entire roof came down in one piece, Ambrose says. Like us on Facebook to get the latest on the world's hidden wonders. This led to stricter building codes to prevent such a tragedy from ever happening again. $42. The Biggest Snow Storms in US History The Knickerbocker Storm - 1922 On Jan. 28, 1922, more than 2 feet of snow fell on Washington, D.C. The Knickerbocker Storm. The Knickerbocker Theatre on opening day, 1917. The snow has led to hundreds of deaths, disruption in transportation and millions of dollars in damage. This January blizzard brought with it so much wet and heavy snow that it collapsed the roof at the Knickerbocker Theater in Washington, D.C. That collapse killed 98 . However, unlike Snowzilla, the storm in 1922 was not predicted days in advance, and residents were caught off guard. While some parts of the US see snow much of the year, other states are about to enter their frostiest season. In one haunting case, rescuers found an unidentified man whod escaped the collapse physically unscathed, protected by steel beams that buckled upward to form an air pocket, but died of an apparent heart attack. The storm, which hit the middle and upper Atlantic states on January 27, 1922, caused a . Though the region has experienced severe snowstorms in the decades since (during the so-called Snowmageddon of February 2010, Dulles International Airport measured 32 inches of accumulation), the loss of life caused by the theater collapse makes the Knickerbocker Storm the worst in D.C.s history, according to Ambrose. These updated regulations mandated the use of steel I-beams and better support for roofs. On Friday, January 28, at 6 p.m., the pair will read a list of the victims names and light 98 candlesone for each of the deceased. Chronicling America is produced through the National Digital Newspaper Program, a partnership between the National Endowment for the Humanities, the Library of Congress, and state projects. The falling roof struck the theaters balcony and knocked down chunks of the brick walls. ), https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Knickerbocker_storm, http://ghostsofdc.org/2015/03/16/the-knickerbocker-theater-tragedy/, https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/capital-weather-gang/wp/2017/01/27/haunting-faces-scenes-and-stories-from-the-knickerbocker-theatre-roof-crash-95-years-ago/?utm_term=.8e519b1586cb, http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/01/21/AR2009012101298.html. Hundreds of thousands in CT lose power as Isaias' winds topple - Conn However, there are no satellite images or atmospheric observations of the event. The theater's architect, Reginald Wyckliffe Geare, and owner, Harry M. Crandall, later killed themselves.[5]. Temperatures remained in the 20s Fahrenheit (-5 C) through much of the event. The storm would be remembered as the Knickerbocker Storm and was truly one of the most devastating storms in Washington DC. The 11 Worst Blizzards in U.S. History - Treehugger Where was the Knickerbocker Theater in DC? CustomCare10@yahoo.com. What is the deadliest blizzard in world history? A grand jury indicted Knickerbocker architect Reginald W. Geare and four others on criminal manslaughter charges, but they were never convicted. Heavy snow quickly developed from the Carolinas to Pennsylvania as the low drifted north to the Outer Banks of North Carolina on the 28th. More from This Artist Similar Designs. Dulles Airport reported 32.4 inches at the time, while Philadelphia recorded its second-heaviest snowfall at 28.5 inches. 15 of the Worst Snowstorms in History | Phactual Magazine The Library of Congress unifies all content provided by states and permanently maintains the digital information. Temperatures were below freezing leading up to the event and throughout. The storm system was abnormally slow, and that was a key element that may have caught forecasters by surprise. John F. Kennedy Airport saw an average snowfall of 2 inches per hour at one point. That day, news of the tragedy hit front pages around the world. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. A star athlete, he played baseball and basketball at Western High School. Can a storm be a both blizzard and a cyclone? Washington Post, January 1922: There was applause and laughter following a particularly clever comedy situation. Knickerbocker Snowstorm Hits Washington, D.C - siris_sic_12238 Art Block Collections. Interestingly, the history section of a webpage dedicated to the plaza mentions the Ambassador Theatre but omits the Knickerbocker. What's the Difference Between a Snowstorm and a Blizzard?
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