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The first written weather observations of any kind taken in Jackson were by female students of Mrs. Susan S. Oakley at the
antebellum Oakland (Ladies) Institute on North West Street. As part of the curriculum from
June 1849 to December 1855,
students
observed and logged the local weather of antebellum Jackson. Intermittent weather observations were also taken by military
personnel,
both Federal and Confederate, during the War Between the States, 1861-1865. (Indeed, chronicles of battles in the Jackson
and
Vicksburg campaigns in May of 1863 describe heavy rains and roads that subsequently became "rivers of mud".) The war
devastated Jackson,
which was little more than a collection of charred chimneys (hence the nickname
Chimneyville) at its conclusion in 1865.
Some years
later, limited weather observations were taken from the Post Hospital on the southeast corner of Hooker and Willow Streets
from
May 1873 to December 1876.
In June of 1893, the first official weather records were taken and recorded in Jackson. The following is taken from research
done by
Mr. Murray W. Smith, meteorologist, and written during September and October, 1949:
June 1893 - July 1899. Instruments were located near old A&V Depot on east side of South State Street where
Whitehead and Lloyd
Motor Company...(now,where LeFleur Cadillac is located).
Mr. A.M. Stanley (see section 2 below) who was employed by Western Union at about the same time says both of these observers
were
telegraph operators with the A&V Railroad. Mr. Stanley and several others agree on the location of the depot. Although
nothing definite
was determined concerning the location of the instruments, it is presumed that they were on the ground near the A&V depot.
July 1899 - June 1906. Instruments located in rear of Western Union office on south side of East Capitol Street...(503
East
Capitol Street)...
Mr. A.M. Stanley, a retired Western Union operator, now living in Byram says he was employed by Western Union and made the
observations
signed by Mr. Julienne who was manager of the Jackson Western Union office at that time. According to Mr. Stanley, the
instruments
were located on the ground at the rear of the Western Union office. Mr Stanley left Western Union about 1900 and did not
return until
1907 at which time the instruments had been moved.
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