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Labor Day. . . End of Summer, Hurricanes Ramp Up…
September 7, 2026 by Laura Heilenman · Leave a Comment
Labor Day once marked the final lazy days of summer. . . the last stretch before school began. These days, many kids head back weeks earlier and while family picnics and yard games still happen, the holiday loses a little of its shine when it no longer feels like summer’s true close. September’s arrival often brings more than just last of those firefly filled evenings. Although Atlantic hurricane season officially begins on June 1, my family never bothered with travel insurance for our Outer Banks vacations unless our trip began in September. Risky? Maybe. . . especially given how destructive East Coast storms can be. Those hoping for a relaxed Labor Day in 1935 faced far worse. The powerful Labor Day Hurricane devastated the Florida Keys, killing hundreds (many of them World War I veterans working on a highway project). On its front page, the September 4, 1935, New York Times reported the Morgan liner Dixie stranded on a reef with more than 350 people aboard, rescue ships blocked by heavy seas, while the captain radioed that all remained well. We can only speculate that family picnics were put on hold; it was truly, all hands-on deck.
Hurricane Season… ALREADY???
September 27, 2021 by LauraH · Leave a Comment
Each year as the beginning of June rolls around, some of us who live near or have trips to the Eastern Coast of the United States begin to watch the hurricane trackers. By late August through September they are really on our minds as we plan for impact on our homes or vacation destinations. For Virginia Colonists in 1668, even June would have been too little too late to prepare as Virginia had already been hit by a destructive hurricane which would eventually be covered in the April 13, 1668 issue of THE LONDON GAZETTE. So, for the storm trackers out there who have an interest in the past, accounts of tropical storms through Category 5 monsters often appeared in rare & early newspapers.
Labor Day – back to school, end of summer, and hurricanes – Oh My!
September 2, 2019 by GuyHeilenman · Leave a Comment
Labor Day weekend is often received with quite divergent emotions. Most children view its encroachment with sadness as marks the end of their summer and a return to school, whereas at least a portion of parents view it in a positive light as a return to a bit of normalcy, and to sports enthusiasts, the onset of football season. However, regardless of which point of view one embraces, for coastal residents in the east and south, their emotions are typically coupled with a bit of trepidation as it also signals the onset of prime hurricane season. In this regard, the Albany Evening News for September 4, 1935 tells of what has become known as The Great Labor Day Hurricane. The image below tells of at least the initial detail of this historic weather-generated disaster. So, as we ask the Lord’s blessing before enjoying our outdoor BBQ’s today, let’s be thankful these tragic events are few and far between.