This historic storm dumped at least 50 inches of snow during a three-day period with drifts up to eight feet high in open areas, stalling many trains in the countryside. It affected cities along the US northeast coast from Delaware up through Maine and further into Canada. Winds often were 50 mph and higher. At least 400 people perished along with 100 seamen with more than 200 ships and vessels either badly damaged or destroyed.

Food, heating fuel, water, communications and electricity dwindled in supply.

Shown are men digging out an intersection at the corner of Mulberry and Main Streets in Hartford, CT. Note the row of tall metal utility poles in the background with long crossarms that each held four insulators. These supported either electric lighting or trolley service cables. It is difficult to determine what type since no wires are visible in the photo (they probably fell with the heavy sleet, ice and snow).

On account of widespread mass destruction of broken poles (many with two dozen or more crossarms), urban telephone, telegraph and electric utility lines were subsequently placed underground as part of the storm restoration, especially in New York City.