Aerial view of the frozen Ohio River in January 1977. Note the Covington shore, where Captain John L. Beatty (1914-94) cut the ice away from his floating restaurant, the Mike Fink. (Photo by Terry Duennes. Kentucky Post collection, Kenton County Public Library, Covington.)
By Paul A. Tenkotte
Special to NKyTribune
I’ll never forget January 1977, 40 years ago this month. The Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky region experienced unseasonably cold temperatures, a blizzard, and the Ohio River froze over shore to shore.
On January 16, 1977, the temperature plummeted to -21 degrees Fahrenheit, sinking to -24 the next day, and to -25 degrees on January 18th, the coldest day in Cincinnati’s history since the National Weather Service began keeping official records in the nineteenth century.
Snow had fallen throughout January 1977, setting new 24-hour Cincinnati records of 4.7 inches on January 9th, 3.5 inches on the 10th, and 4.8 inches on the 14th. You could literally see the Ohio River smoking, as temperatures cooled down rapidly on its surface.
Children playing on the frozen Ohio River, January 1977. (Photo by Karl Kuntz. Kentucky Post collection, Kenton County Public Library, Covington)
By January 20th, the Ohio River was frozen solid, and river traffic ground to a complete halt. With the cessation of river commerce, supplies began to run low. People crossed the frozen river on foot. Schools and businesses closed or shortened their hours.
By early February, the frigid temperatures climbed into the 40s, the river ice melted, and river commerce resumed. In its wake, Cincinnatians survived bitter cold temperatures, and added to their memories a rare event—when the gallant Ohio River froze shore to shore.
We want to learn more about the history of your business, church, school, or organization in our region (Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky). If you would like to share your rich history with others, please contact the editor of “Our Rich History,” Paul A. Tenkotte, at tenkottep@nku.edu. Paul A. Tenkotte is Professor of History and Director of the Center for Public History at NKU.
Downtown Covington, 5th and Madison Avenues, January 1977. (Photo by Terry Duennes. Kentucky Post collection, Kenton County Public Library, Covington)
i remember very well that cold jan as a student from alabam and in school there it was very exciting cold but fun