Commuting by CTA buses during Chicago's notorious Blizzard of 1979.

 

One local weather event many Chicagoans like myself who grew up during the 1960's and 70's era remember and still talk about today, was the infamous January 22nd blizzard that struck the greater Chicagoland area way back in 1979.

 

I was attending my Sophmore year at Chicago's Curie High School back then, and can still recall having to climb tall snowbanks, just to catch the Chicago Transit Authority buses at any given corner.

 

Chicago was hit with a record 22 inches of snowfall, and O'Hare and Midway Airports were both closed for awhile. There were also several snow showers in the wake of the blizzard, and many instances of blowing and drifting snow, making travel difficult along Chicago's many streets and roadways. Many older Chicagoans would share their stories about Chicago's blizzard of 1967 a decade earlier, and make several comparisons about the two huge snowstorms in Chicago.

 

This photograph was found at my link page Northern California Bus Fans, located to the right of your computer screen at www.norcalbusfans.com (   A really wonderful photo website to explore!)

 

In this photograph, photographer Jim Husing, captures a Chicago Transit Authority Route # 36 / Broadway, State bus, traveling through some of the worst winter weather in Chicago, during January of 1979. It was a very difficult time for local Chicagoans back in 1979. many schools were closed due to the extreme weather conditions, and many airlines had cancelled flights at Chicago's airports.

 

Thanks.

Eddie K.