Remembering winters past with snowy archival images

Dec 16, 2020

Right on time for all the snow, we’ve rounded up some of our favorite archival photographs of New England winters past. From snowball fights to buried cars, these images capture the beauty and unpredictability of the season in our region.

A young child, dressed warmly, pulls a sled down a dirt road in search of a perfect hill. Snow is piled on either side of the country road.

“In search of snow,” Stowe, Vermont, 1964
Verner Reed photographic collection
A young child, dressed warmly, pulls a sled down a dirt road in search of a perfect hill. Snow is piled on either side of the country road.

"Long Hill" covered in snow, Maple Ave., Shrewsbury, Mass., 28 December 1909

“‘Long Hill’ covered in snow, Maple Ave.,” Shrewsbury, Mass., 1909
The train tracks on snow-covered Maple Avenue in Shrewsbury, Massachusetts are seen in this image with snow piled on either side.

Snow covers farms along Willow Brook in Biddeford, Maine. A road runs over a bridge that fords the brook. A boy squats next to the brook.

“Willow Brook in the snow,” Biddeford Pool, Maine, 1907
Baldwin Coolidge
Snow covers farms along Willow Brook in Biddeford, Maine. A road runs over a bridge that fords the brook. A boy squats next to the brook.

Snow and ice cover trees in Stowe, Vermont.

“Evening Snowfall,” Stowe, Vermont, 1971
Verner Reed photographic collection
Snow and ice cover trees in Stowe, Vermont.

A young boy stands on a snow-covered section of what appears to be Front Green on Brown University's campus.

“Brown University Campus Front Green in the Winter,” Providence, R.I., 1881
A young boy stands on a snow-covered section of what appears to be Front Green on Brown University’s campus.

In a neighborhood of Shrewsbury, Massachusetts, a group of boys and teenagers are engaged in a snowball fight in front of the Intermediate School.

“Boys at the Intermediate School,” Shrewsbury, Mass., undated
In a neighborhood of Shrewsbury, Massachusetts, a group of boys and teenagers are engaged in a snowball fight in front of the Intermediate School.

Roxbury in the winter with a figure in the foreground by a downed telephone pole. The First Church in Roxbury can be seen in the background.

“View of Roxbury,” Roxbury, Mass., 1898
Roxbury in the winter with a figure in the foreground by a downed telephone pole. The First Church in Roxbury can be seen in the background.

Street scene (winter), snow on the ground. Horse drawn wagon, trolley #91, sign: South Station, North Station, First National Bank Building, sign: left: New England Mutual Life Insurance Building, Angel Memorial Park, Far Right: Post Office + Subtreasury. Building, pedestrians.

“Boston: Post Office Square,” 1916
John Booras collection of glass plate negatives
A winter street scene with a horse-drawn wagon, a trolley, and signs for South Station and North Station.

Automobiles are buried in snow next to the Park Square Building on St. James Avenue.

“Blizzard, St. James Avenue, Park Square Building,” Boston, Mass., 1940
Boston Transit Archive, 1895-1960s
Automobiles are buried in snow next to the Park Square Building on St. James Avenue.

Men shoveling snow onto snow conveyor

“Men shoveling snow onto snow conveyor in Copley Square,” Boston, Mass., undated
Boston Transit Archive, 1895-1960s
Men shoveling snow onto snow conveyor in Copley Square.

Look back at our favorites from last year here.