The Weather Diaries: 1873 – 2023
Ebenezer Brown lived on Beaver Meadow Road in Norwich from 1806 – 1874. Between 1867 and 1874 he kept a daily diary describing his work on the farm. He paid careful attention to the weather, his finances, and the comings and goings between family and friends.
Alan Berolzheimer has lived on Union Village Road since 1997. Through these years he has also kept a daily diary, paying careful attention to the weather, the natural world, comings and goings, and notable events in the family.
This year we will publish monthly reports from the weather diaries, comparing the temperature, snow cover, frost dates and other weather information. We will be sure to see stunning changes as well as reassuring rhythms of the natural world holding true.
In 1873, Ebenezer was living on his 120-acre farm with his wife Mary and his two adult sons, Charles and William. His daughter Ellen was a teacher “on the Plain” (or in the village center) of Norwich and was in and out of the home as was his youngest son, Rome, who worked in Hanover.
Ebenezer had 4 horses, 2 milk cows, a pair of oxen, 20 sheep, and 2 pigs. He grew wheat, rye, corn, and oats as well as a large garden. He had a small orchard and produced about 200 lbs of butter a year which he sold in Norwich and Hanover stores.
The Weather Diaries: The Final Entry
Two diaries, 150 years apart… Our year of the weather diaries has come to an end. [...]
The Weather Diaries: December
Two diaries, 150 years apart... For Ebenezer, early December brought extremely cold days, followed by [...]
The Weather Diaries: November
Two diaries, 150 years apart… For Ebenezer, November brought the return of cold weather, sleighs (and [...]
The Weather Diaries: October
Two diaries, 150 years apart... For Ebenezer, October brought cooler weather and the final harvest of corn, potatoes, [...]
The Weather Diaries: August
Two diaries, 150 years apart… Ebenezer Brown, 1873 2 Hot sunny day…Charles [...]
The Weather Diaries: September
Two diaries, 150 years apart... September 2023 brought the first frost, rains, and warm days. The Brown family [...]
The Weather Diaries: July
Two Diaries, 150 years apart... Vermont Journal, July 5, 1873 July was all about haying. Ebenezer's son, [...]
The Weather Diaries: June
Two Diaries, 150 years apart... This month's post only features 1873. It was a busy time [...]
The Weather Diaries: May
Two diaries, 150 years apart… In May 1873, the work of the farm was focused on preparing [...]
The Weather Diaries: April
Two diaries, 150 years apart...April in 1873 began with so much snow that the oxen couldn't break a [...]
The Weather Diaries: March
In March, Ebenezer and his son Charles attended Town Meeting and the district School Meeting. Charles agreed [...]
The Weather Diaries: February
In February, Ebenezer was not as careful at tracking the temperature. The big events included going to [...]