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Reflections: Easter weather 100 years ago was far from springlike

Perth County residents were still contending with snowstorms during their first days of spring

The arrival of Easter generally brings with it thoughts of warm sunshine and whiling away lazy afternoons outdoors. The bunny, chicken family and ducks pictured on this vintage Easter card from the collections at the Stratford-Perth Archives, for example, are enjoying a boat ride on a pond full of blooming water lilies.

A hundred years ago, the G. Edighoffer and Son store ran ads in the Mitchell Advocate declaring that “Easter with its glorious spring-like weather is really the first real fashion event of the year for street attire. ARE YOU PREPARED? WE ARE!”

Reflections: Easter weather 100 years ago was far from springlike Back to video

They had men’s spring suits and women were reminded they offered “some clever spring coats designed after Paris modes at less than you would expect.” Like it does this year, Easter fell in early April in 1926, and everyone seemed to be looking forward to some relief from winter weather as much as new clothes and chocolate treats.

In mid-March of 1926, the editor of the Stratford Mirror wrote that “in a daily paper of March 12, 1906, we note where yours truly had picked dandelions on that date. This year it was snowballs.” On April 9, 1926, the Mirror reported that “several tourists who were going through the city the other day had their pictures taken on the snow pile behind city hall. No doubt they will make a footnote which will read, ‘Taken on the snow mountains of Stratford on the Avon’.”

The Listowel Banner of March 25, 1926, described how “dust was flying in Listowel last March but so far this year the only dust around is that raised by shovelling coal” –presumably to keep furnaces running. On April 8, 1926, the Banner reported that “after outstaying its welcome by several weeks, winter gave what many consider its final kick on Wednesday and Thursday, and again on Saturday of last week. The storm on Wednesday and Thursday blew down poles and wires, put the Hydro out of commission, and for days made telephone and telegraph communication impossible…The storm was general throughout Ontario and . . . it will be several weeks before all the services will be fully restored.”

Daydreaming about drifting along in a rabbit’s rowboat in a new spring outfit or anticipating a “delicious batch of Hot Cross Buns” from a local bakery were likely pleasant diversions from shovelling away winter’s last “kick” in 1926 and, seem like good options for 2026 as well. Best wishes from everyone at Stratford-Perth Archives for however you celebrate the arrival of spring!

The Stratford-Perth Archives welcomes donations to the collection and is open for drop-in research from Tuesday to Friday, as well as other times, including Saturdays, by appointment. For details about what’s available during Reading Room drop-in hours and appointments for in-depth research, please visit www.perthcounty.ca/StratfordPerthArchives, call us at 519-271-0531 ext. 259 or email archives@perthcounty.ca.

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