Community Chat

[I am still oxox]

I remember the day very well my husband had taken the day off we spent to day at Manhattan Beach Brooklyn and just got home and the lights went out, I called my Mom who lived in Scarsdale at the time and they had no lights. We had a battery powered TV and was able to broadcast and put together all the pieces. I was my younger brother's 45th birthday and he was in his office near Grand Central I am not sure how he got home. We spent to night at home in the blistering heat, and sat out back of our building during the day. Later that Friday we came up to my Mom for dinner and to spend the night, my neighbor called and power had been returned, so we ate dinner and went home, to clean out the fridge and pack for our scheduled trip to a hotel in NJ, its a time I do not want to remember this day yet I can not forget it. 

[PA Mom-mom]

@I am still oxox  I'm not remembering news about that outage. I do clearly remember the outage in the northeast in 1968. It became a national story, because songs and a movie were made about it. It was suggested that there was a significant increase of babies being born nine months later. 

Here in PA, we're kind of used to losing power for hours on end. 

ETA: Yes., I stand corrected. It was 1965, not 1968.

[newjersey]

I think it was 2003, not 2004.   

[ValuSkr]

I don't remember that one either.  But, as was mentioned, in PA, outages aren't unusual.

[felixmom]

The northeast blackout that I remember was in 1965. I was junior in high school and did my homework to candles on the kitchen table! That afternoon, my friend (and still friend!) had gone to Harvard Square by bus to purchase the latest Beatles album and were chatting excitedly and never noticed the lights were out. Got off the bus and there was my mother with a flashlight and our dog waiting for us! Good memories...

[docsgirl]

I was born and raised in New York.  If memory serves me correctly, the blackout was sometime in the 60's.  We lived in Queens, but my dad who worked in Manhattan walked all the way home.  The reason the 60's rings a bell to me is that I was still in college (St. John's University) and still living at home.  When he walked through the door, my mom flung her arms around him as she was so grateful he was home safe and sound.  How I miss my wonderful parents and our house in Queens.

[Lucky Charm]

My oldest son was up visiting his girlfriend (now wife) in NYC and I called him to ask him how it was going with the outtage.

They had no idea what was going on.  They thought it was just the house and maybe the street they were on that had a power outtage.

Now he works for the power company.  (con Ed)

[Zaimee]

@felixmom @docsgirl 

I remember the 1965 blackout in NYC. I was also in 8th grade in junior high school (JHS 185) in Queens, NYC!

 I remember reading a book, Death Be Not Proud, by candlelight.

And, my father worked in Manhatten in the garment center and had to stay overnight since the elevator and subways stopped working.

[KBEANS]

@newjersey 

You're correct, it was 2003. The reason I know that is because I was nervous, as my son had just been appointed to the Police Academy. They were mobilized throughout the 5 boroughs.

His phone died and we didn't hear from him for hours, until my husband's nephew a Lt. ran into him at his post and he used his to tell us his location.

There was another blackout NYC in July 1977; when I was a teen. I found that one so exciting as I was out with friends when it happened. I was too young to remember the first one in the 60's so here was my blacklout!  😂 

Someone had the sense to say go home because blackouts could be dangerous. My friends boyfriend drove a few of us home.

It was terribly scary because there were no traffic lights or lamp post lights throughout Manhattan.

Suddenly, I realized that it wasn't so cool, especially when we began to witness all the looting and mayhem in our neighborhood!

When I finally got to my building I had to walk up 4 flights of stairs in a pitch staircase! When I got near my floor, I wondered if it was the correct floor because it was easy to lose count. 😝 I was getting paranoid in that staircase!

My neighbor saw me come in the building and had come out to assist. She flashed a flashlight in my eyes and I screamed. 😝 She yelled back at me and said; Kbeans what the he ll are you doing out in a blackout! 

I started wondering that myself. 

[CatsyCline]

@Zaimee  i remember reading Death Be Not Proud i think also 8th grade.  i remember the author wrote about the brain tumor, scary.  it was the size of an orange, or was it a grapefruit...

My mother was ironing and we were watching cartoon shows on TV when the lights went out in 1965. i was 8.  one of those things you never forget!  we lived on Long Island.  we had just gone to the World's Fair a few weeks before it ended.