Harrison Township near Atwater in Kandiyohi County, Minnesota — The American Midwest (Upper Plains)

1872 Blizzard

August 26, 2023

1. 1872 Blizzard Marker

Inscription. In 1872, February 2 began as a beautiful winter day with several inches of freshly fallen snow. The animals gave the first indication of the turn in the weather with the birds flying low and the cattle lowing restlessly. By that afternoon, the blizzard enveloped the countryside and lasted two days.

John Hanson, an immigrant from Sweden, left his home in Section 12 of Harrison Township to get a load of wood on this fateful day. When the storm subsided and John had not returned, area neighbors started searching. The body of John was found at this site under the snow less than a mile from his home.

Erected 2019 by the Kandiyohi Power Charitable Trust and the Kandiyohi County Historical Society.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Settlements & Settlers. A significant historical date for this entry is February 2, 1872.

Location. 45° 13.551′ N, 94° 46.84′ W. Marker is near Atwater, Minnesota, in Kandiyohi County. It is in Harrison Township. It is on 105th Avenue Northeast (County Highway 2) 0.1 miles west of 195th Street Northeast (County Highway 10), on the right when traveling west. Touch for map. Marker

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is at or near this postal address: 19350 105th Ave NE, Atwater MN 56209, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in Central Minnesota

and specifically in Southwest Minnesota. It is also in the American Midwest

and in the Corn Belt.

Globally, it is in North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once Rupert’s Land,

the territory of the Mississippian Culture,

and the Louisiana Purchase.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 6 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: Wheeler Lake Camp (approx. 3.6 miles away); Gates Homestead (approx. 4.4 miles away); Green Lake Mounds (approx. 4.7 miles away); Diamond Lake Camp (approx. 4.7 miles away); Diamond Lake Community Park (approx. 4.7 miles away); How Irving Township Got Its Start (approx. 5.1 miles away); Red River Trail (approx. 5.2 miles away); Backlund / Lorentson Monument (approx. 5.4 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Atwater.

Also see . . . Remembering a pioneer - West Central Tribune. (Submitted on August 29, 2023.)

August 26, 2023

2. 1872 Blizzard Marker

1872 Blizzard Marker, from the east image. Click for full size.

August 26, 2023

3. 1872 Blizzard Marker, from the east

1872 Blizzard Marker, from the west image. Click for full size.

August 26, 2023

4. 1872 Blizzard Marker, from the west

Credits. This page was last revised on August 30, 2023. It was originally submitted on August 29, 2023. This page has been viewed 769 times since then and 60 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4. submitted on August 29, 2023.