Headlines from the state's worst winter

Here are some Deseret News headlines and brief details from January 1949 that highlight why it was Utah's worst winter:

• Jan. 4: County snow plow kills 9-year-old. Duane Lindgren, a student at Plymouth Elementary, was killed near 4800 South and Redwood Road.

• Jan. 4: Storms hold hundreds in Salt Lake. The transcontinental railroad was shut down because of 40 mph winds and 10-foot snow drifts over the tracks in Wyoming and Colorado; 200 passengers were stranded overnight at the Salt Lake airport.

• Jan. 5: Diving mercury paralyzes Utah industries. It was 7 degrees below zero in Salt Lake and 25 below in Fairfield.

• Jan. 10: Blizzard paralyzes Southeast S.L. area. 50 mph winds accompanied the storm; 25 rabbit hunters from Ogden were stranded in Hansel Valley.

• Jan. 11: Snow traps 18 families in Salt Lake City homes. Residents in the Vimont Avenue area near 2300 East and 2700 South were stranded by snow drifts.

• Jan. 22: Slides trap 2 Utah trucks (in Daniels Canyon); Gov. J. Bracken Lee declared a state of emergency to deal with Utah's starving sheep and cattle.

• Jan. 24: Blinding blizzard plugs S.L. streets. 35 mph winds blocked 3300 South near 2100 East and forced closure of U-30 to Tremonton and Morgan.

• Jan. 25: 22 below zero cold grips S.L.