Dr. Squirt, the Cushing columnist commented in a 1930s column:
“One winter Grandpa Gullickson planted oats on the Cushing hill in late February. Sheldon Armstrong was able to clear and break land all winter without frost in the ground.”
I did a little Internet research and found that the winter of 1877-78 is considered the warmest winter on record for our area with a very warm December, January and February. Newspaper accounts tell of the spring grass starting to grow by late February, muddy roads all winter, and farmers tilling land through the whole season.
You can read more about the 1877-78 winter at U of MN Winter Records
