by Beverly Clinkingbeard

The February edition of the newspaper had a column “More Snow Stories.” And, the recent original snow article jogged a few memories of the difficulties the snow presented life in 1936.

“…nine men took groceries and 160 pounds of coal to the Porter McCoy home, three-fourths of a mile west of the Obert filling station. They were forced to walk from the McPherson place, for snow made it impossible for a vehicle to get through. Those lending their aid were Jess Miller, George Traub, Abe Cargill, Bill Tate, Howard Reberry, Paul Jackson, Herbert Inbody and Lige Muntz. The following day Bill Jones and D.B.McPherson carried through more supplies and medicine.

“Lee Stevens, who lives on Ranch 5, 11 miles southeast of Tarkio, accompanied by Clarence Hull and Ed Brown, neighbors, made his first trip to town in a month on Wednesday of last week. Traveling in a bobsled drawn by a team of mules, the three started early but spent most of the day getting here. They came through fields, turning into roads when it was necessary to cross bridges. In Tarkio they loaded their sled with groceries and supplies for 14 families who live in the same vicinity, making a wagon load of provisions to last until another trip to town is possible.”

Another remembered her father saying he and his father walked to Elmo (approximately a five mile walk) on the Wabash railroad tracks to get a few items from the store. What were they in need of? Sugar, tobacco and she can’t remember the third item. Perhaps it was coffee? The family had their meat hanging on the back porch and would go out and carve off enough for their meals. They ran short of fuel so chopped down a tree in their yard and burned it.

Of a recent snow and once the plow had been through, there was the need of gas for a vehicle and a couple of urgent items from the grocery. What was so pressing? Milk – and bird seed.

Until next time and better weather . . .