Today in New England History — August 25

The Great Colonial Hurricane of 1635

On August 25, 1635, New England was struck by what’s recorded as the first major hurricane in colonial history. With estimated winds exceeding 115 mph—equivalent to a Category 3 storm—it made landfall between Boston and Plymouth. The storm devastated the region: a 20-foot tidal surge swept through Boston, destroying farms, flattening homes, felling thousands of trees, and causing at least 46 fatalities, including numerous Native Americans. The impact surpassed many later storms in the 19th and early 20th centuries in its intensity and scope.

A Notable Air Tragedy in Maine (1985)

In a local tragedy with broader resonance, on August 25, 1985, Bar Harbor Airlines Flight 1808 crashed near Auburn/Lewiston Municipal Airport in Maine, resulting in the deaths of all eight people onboard—among them, the well-known peace activist and child actress Samantha Smith.