1959 - Lorain's Weather Forecasting Groundhog

You've heard of Punxsutawney Phil the groundhog. But did you know that Lorain had its own groundhog prognosticator back in 1959?

The article below from the Feb. 2, 1959 Lorain Journal explains it all.

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Groundhog Emulates Scrooge
Porky Prognosticator Proves Too Fearful for Forecasting

It looks as if Lorain just never will out-groundhog Punxsutawney, Pa.

Groundhog's Day dawned bright and clear here (a great day for shadows and all that), but for all Lorain's entry in the groundhog stakes seemed to care it might as well have been the Chinese New Year.

Each year Punxsutawney's porky prognosticator pokes his prying proboscis into the Great Outdoors, takes a quick glance over his shoulder and decides whether we'll have six more weeks of winter.

If he sees his shadow, winter is here to stay awhile. If he doesn't – Nellie fling wide the doors, for spring is here again.

Well, sir, this works fine in Punxsutawney.

So bright and early this find Groundhog's Day, The Journal looked up Lorain's own bonafide resident groundhog who happened to be owned by Tommy Zurnisky of 1522 W. 22nd St.

Would Tommy's groundhog join his fellow forecaster from Punxsutawney and give Lorainites a hint as to whether they should unplug their electric blankets?

He would not.

Would he stick his little snout out of his warm-as-toast cage just long enough for a fast picture – with or without shadow?

He would not.

Would he even answer a couple of questions on his opinion of Groundhog's Day?

He would not.

So that's the way it goes.

Christmas had its Scrooge.

Groundhog's Day has Lorain's own grumpy groundhog.

Bah! Humbug.

But maybe it's just as well. If he had deigned to saunter outside today he most certainly would have seen his shadow – and winter probably would have lasted until July.

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As for Punxsutawney Phil that year, according to the official report in the Journal that same day, he "darn near froze to death." It was 10 below zero at Gobbler's Knob that day and the groundhog "poked his nose out and, as promptly, scurried back into his hole." Meaning six more weeks of winter.

Vintage postcard