Thursday, May 19, 2011

A Dark Day

For those like myself who live on the east coast of the colonies, there has been the most dreadful weather over the past week.  I can't remember the last time I saw the sun.  Such was the case 231 years ago for residents of New England.  On 19 May, 1780 those in New England and part of Canada went about their day in the dark. 

The Dark Day, as it was called, began around 10 in the morning.  It became as dark as night outside, requiring people to use candles to go about daily life.  The darkness did not clear until the following day, but by then one case safely assume everyone's natural clockwork was set off by the bizarre weather.   It is thought that the cause of the phenomenon was a combination of Mother Nature's darkest elements: forest fire smoke, thick fog, and cloud cover. 

Now one can only hope the current dark day New England is experiencing 231 years later will soon be gone!

9 comments:

  1. Isn't this weather dreadful? I've gone into work and left work in the rain the past four days! It's supposed to clear up this weekend, but who would trust someone who gets paid to incorrectly predict the weather? I think I'd take a weird darkness at this point, at least it would be something different!

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  2. Are you and Lauren from New England/Boston? If so, I think you both need to come to "my" museum's opening for "What's Under Things? Hidden Colonial Clothing"! All about shifts, stays, stockings, garters, busks ... I would be beside myself if you guys went to the exhibit!

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  3. That sound AWESOME! What museum? Give us the deets!

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  4. EEEEK YAY! It's at Pilgrim Hall Museum in Plymouth. The opening reception is May 28th (Memorial Day weekend) from 5-7 pm. However the exhibit will be up until December 31st. I know over the summer I'll be volunteering there, especially on weekends, and doing some design work, if you can't make it to the opening (which is totally understandable!). I have been designing the museum's exhibits since 2009, and I am REALLY excited for this one!

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  5. I'm also on "the east coast of the colonies" but I'm enjoying the rainy weather. I've had the chance to walk my dog in the rain and gone to work with a nice mist. Since I both live and work near the water, it makes me feel that I'm more connected to the misty, sea-smelling area (in all its fishy glory.) I can't take it for TOO long though.

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  6. It's pretty dreadful here in the Midwest, only instead of rain, we have COLD WEATHER. It's been in the 40 and 50s the last week. It was 65 today! I'm sorry, I don't do 50. I don't even do 65 in May. I do 70! 75, 80! I love the heat!

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  7. @Kristin, Aw I don't know if the 28th will work for us, boo. But I will keep you updated if we do manage to go! I certainly want to.

    @Katie, I feel your pain! I was wearing winter clothes this week, WINTER CLOTHES. We're talking turtleneck sweater. It's May; that's just not right!

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  8. @Heather, it's a pretty horrendous weekend for an opening! But, if you guys can't make it, there's an open invitation for you guys to come down and get a personal tour!

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  9. I don't wear turtlenecks (I prefer not to die by asphyxiation by my own clothes), but I've been up to three layers and sometimes my winter coat! I keep looking at the map and thinking, "Um, Midwest, it's May, not November. Could you please bring me the sunshine and warm 80s? I could do without the humidity, but because I know this is the Midwest, I'm going to get whacked with the 90% humidity when it finally does come, aren't I? If you could give me a sign before you bring the Plague of Humidity upon me, that would be great. That way, I have the army of inhalers ahead of time...for once."

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