The day began unseasonably warm, with hunters heading out in light jackets and farmers tending to chores as usual. But by the afternoon, temperatures plummeted, and a raging blizzard swept across the Northwoods, burying the land under several feet of snow. Many duck hunters were stranded in boats, unable to reach shore as ice formed around them. Farmers lost entire herds of livestock in the whiteout conditions, and train lines were buried under drifts. By the time the storm cleared, more than 150 people had died. The Armistice Day Blizzard remains a stark reminder of how fast winter can take hold in the Northwoods.

Tyler Sitar Editor, Northwoods Ledger northwoodsledger.com