Even if you're not lucky enough to be working from home during Thursday's snowstorm, at least you aren't battling the snowdrifts in long skirts and giant hats.
Women in 19th-Century New York had to bring their own shovels to get around, while streetcar or bus riders had to jump out and push whenever they got stuck, according to archival engravings and photos from the New York Public Library.
In addition, city dwellers didn't have the luxury of using machines like snowplows to dig themselves out storms like Thursday's, which dumped as much as a foot of snow on some parts the city.
Check out this look back at how the city got through snowstorms of yore and raise a glass to modern technology:
A stroll through the snow when your hat or giant sleeves were big enough to act as a sail.
"Winter In New York--A Snowy Day At The Intersection Of Broadway, Fifth Avenue, And Twenty-Third Street," F. Koch, 1896.
At least you don't have to get out and push when your bus gets stuck.
"Pushing A Streetcar Through The Snow, New York City," Paul Frenzeny, 1872.
Watch out for those police officers who might rub snow on your ears.
"A Policeman Rubbing Snow On The Frozen Ears Of A Passer-By During The Storm," 1888.
We have no idea why a police officer would do this to you during a snowstorm, but apparently it was noteworthy enough to record for posterity's sake.
Forget snow plows. City streets were cleared by hand using shovels and horse-drawn carts.
"The Snow-Storm--Carting Snow From The Streets Of New York," 1867.
There was a big effort to dig out Madison Square Park in 1899.
"Madison Square After A Snowstorm," H.M. Pettit, 1899.
The Sanitation Department's emergency snow laborers might feel some sympathy for these guys.
A pickax is an unorthodox snow removal tool, but this guy is all about it.
"Snow removal," Alice Austen, 1896.
But it wasn't all hard work.
"Sleighing At Harlem, New York," Horace Harral, 1872.
New Yorkers took some time to enjoy the newly fallen snow with sledding.
There was still plenty of time for snowball fights.
"Snowballing On The Lower East Side," Jay Hambidge, 1900.
