Late February blizzard wallops Canton and surrounding towns

The view from Washington Street at Dedham Street in the mid-morning on Monday (Mike Tureski photo)

The near 24-hour snowstorm that hit the region earlier this week dumped over 25 inches of snow; closed Town Hall and the Canton schools for two days; and caused several downed trees and branches, including one tree that fell on a house on Messinger Street.

According to DPW Operations Director Bill Walsh, the town utilized over 60 pieces of equipment during the storm, including 16 contractors and 48 town employees. Walsh said staff members from Public Works, Parks & Recreation, and Central Maintenance all worked together to respond to the snow event.

Workers began reporting in at 7 p.m. on Sunday, and full staffing levels were reached by 9 p.m. Walsh said during snow operations, there were several temporary lane closures due to fallen trees; however, all roadways were reopened once the trees were removed and conditions were made safe for travel. Tree-related closures were reported on Pleasant Street, Dedham Street, June Terrace, and Indian Lane.

Walsh said crews worked for 31 consecutive hours throughout the storm, which included periods of high winds and poor visibility. As of Tuesday morning, crews had begun pushing back snowbanks and widening roadways — work that was due to continue over the next couple of weeks. Canton DPW will also be removing and stacking snow at municipal buildings and schools throughout the week.

Walsh said despite significant snowfall, whiteout conditions and existing snowbanks that made pushback operations challenging for smaller trucks, the team remained committed and resilient.

“At no point did we lose access to any streets due to impassable conditions,” he said. “The crew’s dedication and teamwork ensured that the town remained operational and safe during this major storm event.”

Town Administrator Charles Doody said less than 20 power outages were reported in Canton, citing data from Eversource. His understanding was that the outages were in the vicinity of Route 138 near the Stoughton line, and power to all customers was expected to be restored by Tuesday.

Doody was very appreciative and complimentary of the snow cleanup and removal workers. “I thought our DPW crews did an outstanding job of keeping main roads passable for emergency response during the height of the storm,” he said. “They are continuing with cleanup [on Tuesday] after some much-needed rest. In comparison to surrounding towns, Canton leads the pack.”

Deputy Police Chief Patty Sherrill said one tree came down onto a house on Messinger Street and caused minor damage. The department also received several calls for downed wires, most of which were cable wires. Sherrill said several cars were towed for violating the overnight parking ban and “impeding the plows.” CPD also responded along with CFD to a few medical calls during the height of the storm.

Trash and recycling was not picked up on Monday or Tuesday, and according to Republic Services, service would resume when it’s safe to do so.

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