STORM: On Jan. 31, 1977, McKean County was still largely shut down from a massive cold spell and snowstorm.

Bradford was mentioned on national television when the mercury dipped to 25 below zero, an Era article read.

A disaster declaration followed for the entire state from President Jimmy Carter. As February began, the cold snap broke, allowing Gov. Milton Shapp to lift the mandatory closure order on schools warmed with fuel other than natural gas.

Retail stores reopened in Bradford, with limited hours and a chilly 55 degrees on thermostats, The Era reported.

“Sure this winter has been murder to live through, but what’s it look like on paper?” asked a brief story on the front page of the Feb. 1, 1977 Era. Readings from Bradford Regional Airport indicated “there have been only five days since Nov. 1 when the mercury didn’t dip below the freezing point, and all five were in November.”

There were 14 November days with temperatures below 20, and two when it was below zero, the Era reported.

“In December, eight days gave us below-zero temperature, with the month’s low a 15-below reading on Dec. 3.”

More than half the days in January were below zero — 17. And the coldest was Jan. 29 at 25 below. The highest. On Jan. 10, 1977, was 24 degrees.

In comparison, this year on Jan. 29, the temperature readings at Bradford airport showed a high of 39 and a low of 24. On Jan. 29, 2017, the high was 26 and the low was 16.

The article continued, explaining the streak of low temperatures.

“In the city itself the last time we were above the freezing point was on Dec. 20, when thermometers read 42 degrees.”

Stories in The Era through the first week or so after the big storm showed the area slowly digging out and warming up. So maybe our weather hasn’t been too bad after all?