Originally published in The Vidette-Messenger of Porter County on February 2, 1951.

There’s Little Doubt That Mr. Groundhog Sees Shadow

There is no doubt but what the groundhog, proverbial weather forecaster, saw his shadow today thus presaging six weeks more of winter.

That is if he was brave enough to come out of his warm underground shelter and face the sub-zero brand of weather prevailing.

However, it was a moot question among many whether the little animal was foolish enough to display his wares on the coldest day of the present winter.

Valparaiso residents in the main were willing after a look at the sky to take it for granted that winter will be with us for another six weeks whether Mr. Woodchuck stuck his snoot out of his lair or not.

There was no argument that the day was ideal for seeing shadows. Bright and early Old Sol made his advent in the east in a sky unflecked by any semblance of a cloud.

It was a 1,000 to 1 bet that even if the little weather prognosticator overslept an hour or two he was still able to see his silhouette.