Volume 18 , Issue 5

The Groundhog's Day

Since Groundhog day is upon us (February 1st or 2nd), we decided to do some research on "Groundhog Day." No! We are not watching the Bill Murray movie "Groundhog Day" that we have watch umpteen times already. We went to the newspaper archives, back to 1894, January 31, Wednesday, to see what "Groundhog Day" was like in the late 19th century.

Found on Newspapers.com

The Indianapolis News, Indianapolis, Indiana, dated 31 January 1894, Wednesday, page 8, had the following headlines: The Groundhog's Day." Is it February 1 or is it February 2? Authorities differ on the subject and much contention had resulted with legal enactment and an option from the attorney-general was expected.

The article said, "On the second day of February the groundhog, or the American marmot, makes his forecast, upon which many millions of people depend for exact information regarding an early spring or a prolonging of winter."

Did you know the groundhog myth had its origin among the hill people of western Virginia, eastern Kentucky and Tennessee? It was brought thence to southern Indiana about the beginning of the present century (1800).

There was unfortunate speculation that placing the groundhog among the prophets a serious misunderstanding would arise. Some of the pioneers were of opinion that it was upon February 1st that the groundhog made his forecast. They held that it was upon that day that he made his appearance from his winter's sleep to spy his shadow in the sun. If his shadow could not be seen he remained out of his hole satisfied that the winter was broken, the weather would be mild and favorable to outdoor living, and that spring would appear in just six weeks from the date.

On the contrary, if the day was sunny and his shadow followed him, he would return to his burrow sure of the fact that winter would continue just six weeks longer.

Back in 1894, Indianapolis, Indiana, the then Governor Matthews had been questioned as to his opinion whether February 1 or February 2 was really the day. "Whatever doubts I may have had in the matter," replied the Governor, "have been settled by the Legislature, and I now accept February 2 as the day. In my own county of Vermillion, and I believe in all the Wabash counties, a great majority of the people accept February 2 as the day."

State Auditor Henderson gave his views, "There is a serious difference of opinion in Kokomo regarding the date. Howard county, as a whole, would decide, if the matter were put to a vote, upon February 2, but a considerable number of very respectable people still stand by the first day. I suppose this is because of early training."

Opinion By the Attorney General
Attorney General A. G. Smith was asked for an opinion as to the constitutionality of making February 2 Groundhog Day, without submitting the question to a direct vote of the people.

"The question is entirely new to me," said Mr. Smith, "and I do not care to be bound by an off-hand opinion. The Legislature clearly has a right to make such an enactment. This action, however, took form in a resolution of which I can find no record in any index, though I distinctly remember such a resolution was passed. The matter is all the clearer in my mind because my memory was refreshed by an event that took place on February 2, 1887. On that day we elected David Turpin to the United States Senate. That was Groundhog Day and that was a groundhog case. I have noticed with some degree of pain a growing inclination to call the gourndhog by the New England appellation of 'woodchuck.' This name, however, will never be accepted in our rural communities. In my old home in Jennings county, while there are a few who still hold to February 1 as Groundhog Day, and are undisturbed by their neighbors in holding such an opinion, the word woodchuck would not be tolerated there for an instant. There is another species of groundhog is considered edible. Some of the members of the Legislature that passed the resolution recognizing February 14 was the day. In this, of course, they were clearly wrong; that's St. Valentine's day."
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