October snowstorm. This photo was taken by Frederick Ferris Thompson. The following was written on the mount:
Amateur Photographic Exchange Club label affixed to verso gives title, photographer, photographer's address (No. 2 Wall Street, New York), date (exposed Oct. 15, 1862, developed Nov. 10, number (369), negative (tannin), print process (brass-toned), and notation "For Proff. Himes."
Mr. Thompson had taken photographs in Poughkeepsie in the past. More than likely the above snowfall occurred somewhere in the Catskills. A strong coastal storm impacted the Mid-Atlantic and New England States on October 12-13, 1862 (Sources: "National Horse Fair Postponed on Account of Stormy Weather,"
The New York Times
, October 14, 1862 and "The Horse Fair,"
Hartford Daily Courant
, October 14, 1862). The precipitation likely ended as accumulating snow on October 13 as colder air worked into the storm's circulation.
Source of photos: Library of Congress