Snowy Sumas - 1980

Another set of snowy Sumas pictures.  These were taken in 1980  by Ivan Miesuk on his commute into town to the Border Chevron which he owned and worked.  

Picture 1

 Photograph posted with permission from photographer, Ivan Miesuk.

Photograph taken in 1980. This is the old route into Sumas. We are looking east on West Front Street towards where the road crosses the railroad tracks and turns on Cherry Street.  

Picture 2

Photograph posted with permission from photographer, Ivan Miesuk.

Downtown Sumas during a northeaster!  This is taken from the SE corner of  1st Street looking south down Cherry Street. You can see the brick building in the background that is currently the WOW Hair Salon.  At the left is Lo's Garden Chinese Restaurant. This was taken during the 1980 storm.

Picture 3

 Photograph posted with permission from photographer, Ivan Miesuk.

Looking south down a snowy Cherry Street from the front of  the Border Chevron Station.  The gas station was located at 608 Cherry Street on the SE corner where it  intersects with 2nd Street.

Picture 4

 Photograph posted with permission from photographer, Ivan Miesuk.

 A snowy Border Chevron Gas Station and Garage!.  It was located at 608 Cherry Street which was on the SE corner where Cherry and 2nd Street intersect..  This is looking NE where you can barely see the steeple of the old Methodist Church behind garage.   

Icy Sumas - January 1975

The silver thaws that use to hit the Sumas region was always an awesome and dangerous sight.  Often accompanied by downed power lines and broken limbs, the  simmering surreal landscape was a beautiful to look at.  However, driving or walking was nearly impossible as all surfaces were encased in ice.  One could hear the snapping of the branches and the tinkle of the ice as they broke and fell to the ground.  

Picture 1

 Photograph posted with permission from photographer, Ivan Miesuk

Photograph taken in January of 1975.

This is looking north up Cherry Street towards the border.  The left side of the street is where the Pay and Run Gas Station currently is located.   At this time there was no business there and the trees lined the street.   Every few years the city would trim the tree back so they would be trunks with hardly any branches.  

Picture 2

Photograph posted with permission from photographer, Ivan Miesuk. 

 Photograph taken in January 1975.

Looking the opposite direction from picture 1. This is looking south on Cherry Street towards the end of the town.. Today Pay and Run Gas Station is on the right side of the street and the Sumas Drug Store is just pass it.  The trees and vacant lots are long gone.

Tomorrow I will be posting more winter wonderland pictures of Sumas.

Snowy Sumas - January 1969

As we are enjoying beautiful sunny days here in Sumas this week it is interesting to remember the storms of days gone by.  I am sure many of us remember the blizzard of January 1969.   The Arctic wind blowing down the Fraser Canyon and dumping it's snow in our town. The sound of the wind howling and blowing under the door.  Many housewives were busy trying to insulate the gaps with towels to hold the warmth in the their homes.  Of course there was power outages as well.  The lucky families had generators that provided light.  The school children were delighted to have an unexpected school break.

Picture 1

Photograph posted with permission from the Rev. Carl Crouse's Collection.  

Photograph taken in January 1969, Looking east on the East Badger Road. This picture was taken about 4 miles southeast of Sumas, WA.

Picture 2

Posted with permission from the Rev. Carl Crouse's Collection

Photograph taken January 1969, looking east from the Schuett Road towards the mountains. The large barn on the right is still standing on East Badger Road by Garrison Road.  The highway has been redirected and Schuett Road is now an extension of East Badger Road. 

Picture 3

Photograph posted with permission of Rev. Carl Crouse

Photograph taken January 1969, of the Nooksack Valley High School with snow drifts obstructing the front entrances.  This is looking east from the parking lot in front of the school. The High School is located on the corner of East Badger Road and Nooksack Road.

Photograph 4

Photograph posted with permission from the Rev. Carl Crouse's collection.

Photograph taken January 1969 of the Sumas Elementary School on the corner of Lawson and Mitchell Street.  Rev. Earl Crouse posing in front of the school where the road was freshly plowed.

Photograph 5

Photograph posted with permission from the Rev. Carl Crouse's collection.  

Photograph  taken January 1969 after the storms were over. The snow drifts became dirty and and muddy.  The exact location near Sumas of this photograph is not known.

I would love to see some stories of the blizzards that used to be common here in Sumas.  Please share what you remember!