October 1951: Realizing the Dream of Snowless Sidewalks #throwbackthursdays
Even though it's just the start of summer, in Rochester, Minn., the impending winter (and snow) is never very far from residents' minds.
In 1951, Rochester decided that removing the snow from sidewalks once and for all was well worth the investment.
The ambulance drive and two sidewalks of the Medical Sciences Building had “snow melting coils” built into the concrete. In the pictures below, Sanitary Plumbing and Heating Company craftsmen installed the device. Through copper tubing, a Prestone solution, heated to 170 degrees, the device melted snow as it hit, then evaporated the moisture.