Look Back: 1901 Weatherbirds
The Weatherbird debuted on Feb. 11, 1901, and continues to grace the front page of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch.
Here are some of the Weatherbird drawings from his first year on the front page. At that time, Harry Martin drew the bird (another artist picked up the duty when he left the paper in 1903). During that first year, the bird commented on the weather more than the news of the day. He (and she) appeared in various costumes, and even went duck hunting (an odd pastime for a bird.)
Dan Martin is the current Weatherbird artist; he celebrated 30 years of sketching the cartoon in 2016.
— by Beth O'Malley, bomalley@post-dispatch.com
Feb. 11, 1901
The very first Weatherbird, bundled against the cold, smokes a cigar as he perches on a wire in the snow. The temperature that Monday was 32 degrees in the morning, but the forecast was for colder weather.
Feb. 20, 1901
The 'bird is agog at the thermometer reading. The weather that day was 19 degrees at noon.
Feb. 21, 1901
Perhaps the 'bird has a toothache, or is trying to keep his ears warm in the cold weather?
Feb. 28, 1901
The 'bird runs through an unexpected rain.
March 9, 1901
"Just like London" is the headline on the article about fog combining with soft-coal smoke to turn the city dark. The 'bird holds a lantern as he tries to find his way. The article states: "Dogs congregated in dark alleys and discussed the question of buying the moon, the sun being in abeyance. Some of the scared curs howled dismally, adding to the eerie aspect of things."
March 14, 1901
A bundled-up 'bird is ready for the cooler weather.
March 15, 1901
A wind-blown 'bird has his bowler hat blown off his head as he carries a shopping package.
March 19, 1901
The 'bird's umbrella is blown inside-out and his bowler hat is gone with the wind.
March 20, 1901
A dapper 'bird wears an overcoat, top hat and carries his walking stick under his wing.
March 28, 1901
"This is spring for you," says a crestfallen 'bird.
April 4, 1901
"I am an Easter bird," says the 'bird after hatching from the egg.
April 9, 1901
A 'bird is ready for a round of golf (and is expertly mixing prints).
April 10, 1901
A 'bird admires her large hat.
April 16, 1901
A surprised-looking 'bird holds an umbrella and smokes a cigar.
April 18, 1901
The bird is ready to play ball. An article on the sports page says: "Baseball for the season in St. Louis has been offiically postponed until Friday, owing to the conditions in which the grounds at League Park were left by the rains of Tuesday." The Cardinals were scheduled to play "the Chicagos."
May 4, 1901
A lady 'bird wears an elaborate hat in the sunshine.
May 13, 1901
The 'bird sips an icy drink through a straw.
May 25, 1901
Two birds cuddle on a wire as the Man in the Moon watches.
May 29, 1901
A group of birds sits on a wire; one wearing a woman's hat with a flower, the next a straw boater and the one on the right a flat cap.
May 31, 1901
The 'bird holds an umbrella to keep him dry in the rain.
June 5, 1901
The 'bird winks over a foaming beer mug.
July 17, 1901
"This is good hobo weather," says a bedraggled, bindle-bearing 'bird.
Aug. 1, 1901
A police'bird, carrying a billy club, says: "I am on the Broadway Squad."
Sept. 4, 1901
"I am not dead but almost," says the 'bird, cigar at his side.
Oct. 8, 1901
The Weatherbird, in his finest tails and top hat, says: "I am going to the VP Ball too."
Oct. 12, 1901
"It's awfully muddy," moans a female 'bird. The city received more than a 1/2 inch of rain by 8 a.m. that morning.
Oct. 19, 1901
The bird, well-dressed for the occasion, says: "I'm going duck hunting."
Nov. 6, 1901
"Send out another ton of coal," the 'bird says into the phone.
Nov. 27, 1901
Some drawings are lost, as some were cut out of the print page before it was preserved on microfilm.
Beth O'Malley
Beth O'Malley is the reader engagement editor.
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