Programs

Historic Hurricane Has Lasting Memories, 78 Years Later

Vermont Public | By Patti Daniels,

Published September 19, 2016 at 9:54 AM EDT

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This Sep. 21, 1938 photo shows the Strandway in South Boston with 100-mile-an-hour hurricane winds which struck New England hard. The Great New England Hurricane of 1938 was one of the most powerful, destructive storms ever to hit New England.

AP Photo

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This aerial view shows the destruction of boats and pier sheds by a hurricane at New London, Conn., Sept. 22, 1938. The hurricane swept the North Atlantic seaboard Sept. 21, leaving damages estimated at $4,000,000.

AP Photo

On September 21, 1938, a hurricane slammed into New England killing hundreds and devastating the region. The storm pre-dated accurate weather forecasting, and left long-lasting effects on the region's economy, landscape and psyche.

The storm is explored in a book by Steve Long of Corinth, Thirty-Eight: The Hurricane That Transformed New England. Long joins us to discuss the history and legacy of the Great New England Hurricane of 1938. We also hear the stories of people in our region who remember the storm as children. [This interview originally aired on March 24, 2016.]

Also this hour, a local connection to Peter Frampton's iconic album, Frampton Comes Alive! VPR's Ric Cengeri reports on a concert that Frampton played at Plattsburgh State University, and the live tracks from that night that made it onto the album.

This broadcast airs on Monday, September 19, 2016 at noon and 7 p.m.