PHOTOS: Freak snowstorm hits Jacksonville in December 1989

Florida Times-Union

Children in the Monterey section of Arlington slide down a snow-covered hill following the freak snowstorm on Dec. 23, 1989. [Bob Self, The Florida Times-Union, Bob Self]

Florida Times-Union

Melissa and Matt Tittle use sheets of linoleum flooring to slide down the driveway at their home in River Hills, near the intersection of Atlantic and Universtity boulevards. [Photo courtesty Linda Tittle]

Florida Times-Union

Karen Franklin and her son, Kirkland, 3, run in the snow near their San Marco home across the street from Lillian Davin Park on Dec. 23, 1989. [Wes Lester, The Florida Times-Union]

Florida Times-Union

Debi Chapman tries to figure out how to get the snow and ice off the car. [Photo courtesy Debi Chapman]

Florida Times-Union

Leonard Figgs, a postal worker, fixes his windshield wiper while stopped in traffic on Atlantic Boulevard and I-95 on Dec. 23, 1989. [Marcy Appelbaum, The Florida Times-Union]

Florida Times-Union

Heather Patrick poses in front of snow and ice-covered car in the Meadowbrook area across from Orange Park Mall. “We had moved to Florida the prior year to get away from the cold and snow in Tennessee,” the girl’s mother, Angela Patrick, said. “I told my daughter that we brought the snow with us.” [Photo courtesy Angela Patrick]

Florida Times-Union

Rebekah Parks, 5, is pulled by her brother, Albert, 8, and his friend Sean Gibner on King Arthur Road in Arlington on Dec. 23, 1989. [Marcy Appelbaum, The Florida Times-Union]

Florida Times-Union

Fellow motorists help push a car up the snow- and ice-covered lanes of a section of I-95 southbound near downtown Jacksonville on Dec. 23, 1989. [Dennis Hamilton, Jr., The Florida Times-Union]

Florida Times-Union

JSO Patrolman Robby Beauchamp directs traffic at the foot of the Acosta Bridge amid a flurry of snowflakes on Dec. 23, 1989. [Daniel Webb, The Florida Times-Union]

Florida Times-Union

Steve Eason, 18, adds a sign to a 4-foot snowman built by Eason, Sean Hendrix, 18, and Amy Eason, 13 on Christmas Day, 1989. The trio used extra snow hauled from DuPont Jr. High School to help build the snowman. [Bill Mulford, The Florida Times-Union]

Florida Times-Union

Dirt is spread on the ice-covered lanes of I-95 to provided traction for motorist. [Times-Union archives]

Florida Times-Union

Traffic comes to a stop on Interstate 95 near Jacksonville’s downtown following a freak snowstorm that left highways and bridges covered in ice and snow on Dec. 23, 1989. [Times-Union archives]

Florida Times-Union

A lone pedestrian crosses the Main Street Bridge, which had been closed to traffic. [Will Dickey, The Florida Times-Union]

Florida Times-Union

Robert Strelle stands outside his car after sliding and hitting a utility pole while trying to pull into his driveway in Arlington on Dec. 23, 1989. Marcy Appelbaum, The Florida Times-Union]

Florida Times-Union

Ron Tittle skates on an ice-covered road in River Hills, near the intersection of Atlantic and University boulevards. [Photo courtesy Linda Tittle]

Florida Times-Union

Charlie Cofer and 7-year-old Meredith Stencil slide down the ice- and snow-covered hill in the park at the intersection of Hendricks Avenue and San Jose Boulevard on Dec. 23, 1989. [Bruce Lipsky, The Florida Times-Union]

Florida Times-Union

With her home and yard covered in snow, it looked like Christmas at Laura Tully’s home on Sunnybrook Road on the south side of Jacksonville. “The heater wasn’t working either because the compressor froze up. It was very cold,” Tully said. [Photo courtesy Laura Tully]

Florida Times-Union

Traffic snarls on ice- and snow-covered travel lanes at the intersection of Broad and Water streets in downtown Jacksonville on Dec. 23, 1989. [Dennis Hamilton Jr., The Florida Times-Union]

Florida Times-Union

Rita Jones pulls her 5-year-old son Timmy on a sled down ice- and snow-covered N. Smullian Trail on Dec. 23, 1989. [Bruce Lipsky, The Florida Times-Union, Bruce Lipsky]