Watertown: Snowtown USA (nickname)

Watertown, the county seat of Jefferson County, New York, received so much snow in a 1963 snowstorm that it gained the nickname of “Snowtown.” “Watertown Is Actually A Snow Town” was a newspaper headline on January 28, 1963. “Watertown Becomes Snowtown” was a newspaper photo caption on January 30, 1963.
   
On March 21, 1963, an Associated Press story reported that someone wrote a letter addressed to “Snowtown, N.Y,” and it was correctly received in Watertown. “Letter Is Delivered To ‘Snowtown, U.S.A.’” was one newspaper headline on that day. In 1984, Watertown began a “Snowtown USA” winter festival.
 
   
Wikipedia: Watertown (city), New York
Watertown is a city in the state of New York and the county seat of Jefferson County. It is situated approximately 20 miles (35 km) south of the Thousand Islands, and 70 miles north of Syracuse, NY. As of the 2010 census, it had a population of 27,023, an increase of 1.2% since 2000. The U.S. Army post Fort Drum is near the city.
 
Named after the many falls located on the Black River, the city developed early in the 19th century as a manufacturing center. From years of generating industrial wealth, in the early 20th century the city was said to have more millionaires per capita than any other city in the nation. Residents of Watertown built a rich public and private architectural legacy.
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Climate
Watertown has a humid continental climate (Köppen: Dfb), with cold, snowy winters and warm, wet summers.[5] Unless otherwise noted, all figures cited below are from the GHCN station located closer to downtown.
 
Winters can be very cold: temperatures remain at or below the freezing mark on an average 54 days annually, and fall to 0 °F (−18 °C) or below on an average 20 nights.[6] Moreover, Watertown is located in plant hardiness zone 4b, which means that one can expect the temperature to drop below −20 °F (−29 °C) at least once per year.[7] Summers are mild to warm, and temperatures of 90 °F (32 °C) or above on average occur on only 3.1 days annually. Record temperatures range from −39 °F (−39 °C) on December 29, 1933, up to 99 °F (37 °C) on July 20 and 27, 1894, although the airport has dropped to as low as −43 °F (−42 °C) on January 16, 1994.
 
Google News Archive
28 January 1963, Reading (PA) Eagle, pg. 1, col. 5:
Watertown Is Actually A Snow Town
Watertown, N.Y., Jan. 28 (AP)—Snowbound residents of this area east of Lake Ontario girded today for a fresh onslaught of snow and slashing winds still bucking drifts up to 18 feet high that stranded hundreds of rural families.
 
30 January 1963, St. Albans (VT) Messenger, pg. 12, col. 3 photo caption:
WATERTOWN BECOMES SNOWTOWN—Anne Sterling takes a walk down a snow-lined sidewalk at Watertown, N. Y.
 
5 March 1963, The Daily Messenger (Canandaigua, NY), pg. 1, col. 2:
‘Snowtown’ Residents Carrying On As Usual
WATERTOWN, N.Y. (AP)—“I’m over 70 and I get around fine,” the plucky, frail woman explained and hurried on, unperturbed by the 10-foot high wall of snow that lined the Watertown street.
 
21 March 1963, Aberdeen (SD) American-News, pg. 14, col. 8:
Delivery Made to ‘Snowtown’
WATERTOWN, N.Y. (AP)—The eve of spring brought rain to Watertown, but a letter was delivered correctly to “Snowtown, N.Y.”
 
Miss Lillian Costantino of Watertown received a letter bearing only her name, her street address and the “Snowtown” appellation, earned by Watertown this winter because more than 150 inches of snow has fallen. The on-the-ground snow measurement in the city dropped to 23 inches Wednesday, and it looked as though spring might arrive.
 
21 March 1963, Oshkosh (WI) Daily Northwestern, pg. 23, col. 3:
Letter Is Delivered To ‘Snowtown, U.S.A.’
WATERTOWN, N.Y. (AP)—The eve of spring brought rain to Watertown, but a letter was delivered correctly to “Snowtown, N.Y.”
 
9 February 1966, The Post-Standard (Syracuse, NY), pg. 6, col. 2:
C of C Offers It to Oswego
Watertown Is Willing To Shed Snowtown Title
WATERTOWN—Chamber of Commerce officials here seem anxious to hand over the crown of Snowtown, U.S.A. to Oswego.
 
Stuart Pettengill, president of the Greater Watertown Chamber of Commerce, indicated Wednesday he will gladly relinquish the title.
 
9 December 1984, The Star-Ledger (Newark, NJ), “Travel Calendar,” sec. 9, pg. 2, col. 2:
Snowtown USA, Winter Carnival, Watertown, Jan. 18-27.
 
10 December 1984, The Post-Standard (Syracuse, NY), pg. A7, col. 2:
Steve Oliver works nose-to-nose with his nearly finished snow bear in Saturday’s practice session at Jefferson Community College for Watertown’s forthcoming Snowtown USA celebration.
 
Watertown (NY) Daily Times
Snowtown USA will return with condensed schedule
By CRAIG FOX
.(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)
PUBLISHED: FRIDAY, DECEMBER 18, 2015 AT 12:30 AM
WATERTOWN — Even with no snow so far, organizers have been planning the 2016 version of Snowtown USA.
 
Organizers intend to meet for the fourth time Thursday to plan for Snowtown USA, which pays homage to the north country’s winter weather. It will be the third time that the city is sponsoring the festival since it was brought back in 2014 after a 20-year hiatus.
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“CBS Evening News” anchor Walter Cronkite actually coined the phrase “Snowtown USA.” A few years later, organizers used it for the name of the new festival.
 
(Trademark)
Word Mark SNOWTOWN USA
Goods and Services (ABANDONED) IC 039. US 105. G & S: PROMOTING TOURISM TO GENERAL PUBLIC. FIRST USE: 19841000. FIRST USE IN COMMERCE: 19841200
Mark Drawing Code (3) DESIGN PLUS WORDS, LETTERS, AND/OR NUMBERS
Design Search Code 01.15.09 - Snowflakes
09.03.08 - Ascots; Bandannas; Neckerchiefs; Scarves
09.05.25 - Batting helmets; Caps, nurses; Caps, swimming; Dunce caps; Football helmets; Helmets, athletic; Helmets, construction; Helmets, military; Helmets, protective; Safety helmets
Serial Number 73637204
Filing Date December 24, 1986
Current Basis 1A
Original Filing Basis 1A
Owner (APPLICANT) SNOWTOWN USA, INC. CORPORATION NEW YORK 46 PUBLIC SQUARE WATERTOWN NEW YORK 13601
Attorney of Record RAND R. TIMMERMAN
Description of Mark THE DRAWING OF THE MARK IS LINED WITH THE COLORS BLUE AND RED
Type of Mark SERVICE MARK
Register PRINCIPAL
Live/Dead Indicator DEAD
Abandonment Date October 8, 1987