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Shovel Trouble
Who is going to shovel
all that snow? That question has faced many a Richmonder over the years when
snows cover the local landscape and make foot traffic and movement
difficult. As early as 1895 there was an ordinance requiring folks to remove
any snow that could cause problems.
In 1912 the law was
more explicit, making it the duty of householders to remove snow from in
front of their premises. Even though the earlier law seemed to say you had
to do something, in the preceding years most people had done nothing. 
However, in 1912,
police began immediately to serve tickets on those who ignored the law. In
January, over 150 people came to police court to face Judge Crutchfield and
reluctantly pay the $2 fine—although many did not bother to show up. Those
who appeared stressed the point that in previous years, no one had been
fined, so why start now?
Taking into account
the opposition, the Times-Dispatch report of the story was headlined:
“Sidewalk Snow Can Move Itself.”
There was also the
argument about the constitutionality of the law, the premise being, “Since
the sidewalk is public property and not owned or controlled by the abutting
owner or tenant, he could not be compelled to keep it in order.”
Furthermore, people
complained that not everyone with sidewalks of snow was being summoned to
court. How come city buildings were not required to do the same as private
homes?
As an example, folks
pointed to the new John Marshall High School where ice and snow made
sidewalks “dangerous to navigation.” Part of their argument was that the
city had given raises to the school janitors, so why couldn’t they help with
the shoveling?
The newspaper noted:
“Unless Justice Crutchfield throws out the entire batch, lawyers will tell
him that he must put the entire city in jail.”
Oddly enough, City
Building Inspector Beck had been served a ticket for failing to clear snow
from around the Seabrook Warehouse. Beck’s statement was: “I am not
responsible for the condition there; the place is used for storage purposes
by the fire department.” He did relent somewhat, got workers to get out
their shovels, and was able to pronounce: “There ain’t no snow around city
hall and the police can go to blazes “
The fines and
subsequent debate about them made citizens fully aware of the law and who
was supposed to get out a shovel and get to work.
Ray Schreiner is a volunteer at the Valentine Richmond History Center and the Virginia Historical Society, and is an avid reader of old newspapers.