People operating plows and conveyer belt loaders remove snow from Portland's downtown streets and sidewalks, while dump truck drivers unload the snow into the Fore River in this film, made around 1940 by the City of Portland.

Portland maintained a snow dump and sand storage lot on Back Cove. Much of the work was done by hand, and the public works department hired outofwork men to clear streets, shovel sand, and sprinkle bags of rock salt into sand to melt the ice.

Skidding cars, one with a damaged fender, demonstrate the hazards of the untreated, icy streets.

Collections of Maine Historical Society. Featuring City of Portland Public Works
For videos of Portland, Maine in the 1940s, go to www.mainememory.net.