Memories of that Dark Day in 1881

The following are memories from Mrs. Thomas Farrell, grandmother of Lynn Farrell of Kincardine. She was born in 1874 and was attending elementary school when the Dark Day incident occurred in 1881. It was similar to what we saw Monday, April 8, a solar eclipse. Thanks to Lynn Farrell for sharing this with us.

Sept. 5, 1881

The Dark Day in 1881 was a memorable one. I was seven years of age at school No. 3. At noon, the weather became dull and gradually became darker and darker. Our teacher dismissed school, telling us to hurry home, something was wrong. We thought that was fine, to get home early.

Before we got very far, we met parents coming to meet us, it got so dark. Jas Fisher was driving a team and wagon. He said it got so dark, he could not see, so he gave the horses the loose line and they brought him home.

People appeared nervous, threshing was going on at my father’s barn. They had a steam engine for power and were afraid of fire breaking out in the loose straw. Some thought the world was coming to an end. People were more or less excited. Coal oil was used for lamp-lighting and even it gave a peculiar light.

The cows were brought home to be milked. We, children, were put to bed; I guess for safekeeping. Someone went out regularly to see that no fire broke out in the straw as the night was passing.

Then mother said there was a change, it was getting brighter. The next morning, the sun came up as usual. So, we think it was a total eclipse of the sun.

Sept. 17, 1950, there was a partial eclipse which brought back memories of the Dark Day. Although it was not so dark, electric lights were turned on and car lights for travelling.

*** A pencilled notation on the back of this entry - “Correction: cause – forest fire smoke from the west.” (She does not say if the smoke was the actual Dark Day in 1881 or the 1950 event.)