October 1951: Realizing the Dream of Snowless Sidewalks #throwbackthursdays

By Kelley Luedke • June 18, 2015

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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.

Kelley Luedke

Kelley Luedke is a Marketing Channel Manager at Mayo Clinic Laboratories. She is the principle editor and writer of Insights and leads social media and direct marketing strategy. Kelley has worked at Mayo Clinic since 2013. Outside of work, you can find Kelley running, traveling, playing with her kitty, and exploring new foods.