October snowstorm. This photo was taken by Frederick Ferris Thompson. The following was written on the mount: Amateur Photographic Exchange Club label affixed to verso gives title, photographer, photographer's address (No. 2 Wall Street, New York), date (exposed Oct. 15, 1862, developed Nov. 10, number (369), negative (tannin), print process (brass-toned), and notation "For Proff. Himes." Mr. Thompson had taken photographs in Poughkeepsie in the past. More than likely the above snowfall occurred somewhere in the Catskills. A strong coastal storm impacted the Mid-Atlantic and New England States on October 12-13, 1862 (Sources: "National Horse Fair Postponed on Account of Stormy Weather," The New York Times, October 14, 1862 and "The Horse Fair," Hartford Daily Courant, October 14, 1862). The precipitation likely ended as accumulating snow on October 13 as colder air worked into the storm's circulation.
Source of photos: Library of Congress
