Images from another winter storm. NOAA photo.

Seventy-five years ago today, March 25-26, 1941, central and northern Maine were hit with a severe storm that did considerable damage to telephone and telegraph lines. Strong winds and heavy wet snow took down many lines, and most of the northern part of the state was cut off from any wire communications.

The telegraph companies contacted W1BAV who established communications with Presque Isle and relayed instructions to the service men there. By night, lines were reestablished to many parts of the state.

Between 7:30 and 9:30 PM on the night of the 26th, hams had most of the state hooked up and standing by. By 9:30, the telegraph companies had established enough service so that they were able to advise the hams that they could stand down.

These details were recounted by Maine Section Communication Manager H.W. Castner, W1IIE, in the July 1941 issue of QST.

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