81 Years ago, Evansville recorded one of our hottest summers on record. In fact on July 13th 1936 the temp soared to 113 degrees. Remember, there weren't air conditioners back then. You'd buy a block of ice, sit it in the house and put a fan behind it. The ensuing winter was just as brutal, with many days recording sub-zero temps. On Feb 17th, 1936 the Ohio River from Cincinnati to Evansville froze over.  The ice was so thick that it halted barge and other river traffic, which also stopped the transport of coal, a vital necessity back in the day.

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During the several days that the Ohio was frozen over, hundreds of Evansville residents walked on the ice to the Kentucky side and back.  Kids skated on the river too, something that never happened before, or since.

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On Feb.22nd, area officials tried to dynamite the thick ice but to no avail. By Feb 26th the ice finally began to break up.  From the Queen City through the bend in the river in Evansville huge chucks of ice floated downstream.  Finally things were returning to normal.

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Mike Sanders
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Below is a video that shows just how thick and dangerous this ice was.  This You Tube video is a report from Cincinnati, where things really started

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