Black SundayOn Palm Sunday, April 14 1935, the day dawned bright and clear, with no dust in sight. Families thought that the worst of the dust storms were over. They opened up their windows so their houses could air out. Many went on picnics to celebrate the beautiful weather. Little did they know that a cold front was sweeping down from Canada. As temperatures plummeted the wind picked up dust and tore across the country. For hours, towns from North Dakota to Texas were pounded with fine dust and darkness. Families who had left for the day returned to find their houses drifted high with dust. The wall of flying dirt continued all the way across the country. So much dust fell in Chicago that shopkeepers shoveled it off the sidewalks. Black Sunday reminded farmers that they still had difficult choices to make.
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