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FEBRUARY 26, 1970:
Leslie Clemens, pastor of Bayfield Baptist Church, enjoys his own slide which he built in his front yard for the youngsters of the village. The slide, complete with a banked curve at the bottom has been a big hit with local residents. (Photo by Audrey Bellchamber)
STORY BY MELODY FALCONER-POUNDER
Thirty-eight years ago today, on Jan. 20, 1971, Southwestern Ontario was experiencing a severe snowstorm; winds of 100 miles per hour (161 kilometers) blew aggressively across Lake Huron, visibility diminished to eight feet (2.4 meters) and temperatures dropped as low as -15 degrees Fahrenheit (-26 Celcius). Streets and highways soon became totally unusable for vehicular traffic, with cars abandoned. Thousands of school children were stranded for two to three days in area schools; even the Premier of Ontario, John Robarts, was sidelined at a service station on Hwy. 401 for 25 hours.
For several residents of Bayfield the storm also brought with it a power failure, homes on Louisa Street, and over the highway on Keith Crescent, were in darkness and many without a source of warmth. Adversity often brings out the best in people and those with heat opened their doors to those without. Pat Graham, then owner of Graham’s General Store on Main Street, used his store as a headquarters and kept in touch with those in need.
According to an article published in the Feb. 4, 1971 issue of the Clinton News-Record and written by Eric Earl, “Jack Merner, Ken Mackie, Joe Brandon, Don Lindsay and Keith Bunn ran a taxi service with their snowmobiles and some of the people who were given a ride never imagined they would ever ride on one of those infernal machines.”
Earl added, “All in all I think a vote of thanks is in order to all who helped the people in need in our village and I promise not to cuss anymore when a snowmobile goes by and interrupts the program on my TV screen.”
The article went on to acknowledge that the Don Haw’s moved in with the Al Hutching’s and the Rev. Don Beck’s visited the John Lindsay’s. Mrs. John MacKenzie traveled by snowmobile to the home of Mr. and Mrs. Arnold Makins. Meanwhile Les Elliott was stuck in a snow bank and ended up staying with Mr. and Mrs. Earl Cox.
Perhaps what is most memorable about the storm of 1971 was the plight of area school children, as educators were caught unawares and the school bell failed to ring for dismissal at the end of day. One of the worst storms in years kept the children stuck at school for two to three days.
John Siertsema, then principal at Holmesville Public School, looked back on the event for “The Goderich Township History” published in 1984.
“Tuesday morning to us was much like any other wintry morning and it was not till after classes had started that some concern was shown on the part of some parents that maybe we should be thinking of an early dismissal,” Siertsema wrote. “This, however, was soon followed by calls from parents who had been out in the storm saying that visibility was next to nil and that the winds were strong and that plans for a forenoon dismissal should not be acted on, for the safety of the pupils. As in the past, it was hoped that the storm might let up as the day progressed, but this however, did not materialize.
“At about mid-afternoon it was decided that we had better make plans to stay overnight.”
A similar story was taking shape at another of Bayfield’s feeder schools - Huron Centennial near Brucefield.
Then principal, A. Mathers, recounted his story in the Feb. 4, 1971 edition of the Clinton News-Record.
Bayfield Breeze Editor, Melody Falconer-Pounder, took advantage of all the frozen precipitation that fell in January of 1971 to make a friend out of snow. (Submitted photo)
“A substantial order of food was requested from the two stores in Brucefield. During the next four and a half hours, Barry Young, our bus manager, with the help of Gary Triebner, on one snow blower and Bob Broadfoot on another, attempted to deliver the food by bus. Fortunately, a bread truck was stuck in the village and thus not only were the 160 loaves purchased but also the driver became an assistant in trying to deliver it. Two other fellows with snowmobiles ended up delivering the food when it turned out to be impossible to get the bus through.
“A few cans of soup, half a dozen boxes of biscuits and 20 cases of pop became supper for the students. No one complained.”
Extended classes, gym activities, library use and television viewing were all availed upon to entertain the students.
At Holmesville School in an effort to prevent “homesickness” it was decided that the teachers should play the senior students in a volleyball match.
“…this did create a little excitement as well as tiring-out the staff members. The children, however, were still anxious to play and several more games were played with one room challenging the other,” wrote Siertsema.
At Huron Centennial School, coats, gym mats, stage drapes and hall runners became mattresses and covers and classrooms became bedrooms. Some chose to sleep on the floor while others made chairs into a bed or slept on a bed of desk tops.
Wednesday showed few signs that the storm was abating and it was pretty well accepted that another night would be spent at the schools.
At Holmesville School, residents of the village and those in neighboring towns rallied to help. A group of snowmobilers from Goderich brought food and medical assistance in the form of a doctor as three students were showing signs of the flu. These snowmobilers also brought with them about fifty blankets loaned from both the Bedford Hotel and the Alexandra Marine and General Hospital. Other snowmobilers picked up fifty quilts and blankets from village residents who had offered them. Homemade buns and goulash were also provided by neighbors. These supplies ensured that the students would have a more comfortable night’s rest and adequate nutrition.
Siertesma wrote, “Thursday weather condition’s had changed little…By 11 o’clock two buses braved the storm and more Skidoos arrived to transport children to their homes. By 6 p.m. the last bus with a small load, accompanied by a township grader left to make its way down the Cut Line.”
Area farmers also suffered the ill effects of the storm – as livestock too need some heat to survive.
According to the article penned by Eric Earl, “John Land had to get about 15,000 chicks in out of the cold on Thursday morning so with the help of Rev. Don Beck, Ted Gozzard, Don Lindsay and Cal Scotchmer, five feet of snow in the drive was moved and the truck made it to the barns and most of the chicks were saved.”
Winter storms - as Canadians we may love to hate them but we live with them. These true tales of the Great Snowstorm of 1971 show us the resiliency of those individuals who live in this region and how compassionate and caring we are when our neighbors are in need.
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WINTER WEATHER TALES FROM OUR SUBSCRIBERS
Editor's Note: Anyone who lives in this region has a story to tell about a winter storm. The Great Snowstorm of 1971 is but one memorable bout with winter's cold grasp. We invited our subscribers to share their memories, from 1971, and other years as well, what follows are their submissions.
Gwen Patterson
From Gwen Patterson of Bayfield:
I well remember that storm of 1971. It hit on a Tuesday afternoon. I was teaching in Goderich that year, and got storm stayed for three days before Hwy. 8 “opened” to Clinton. The radio said it was “open” so I tried to get home. I should have known better, and I would have turned around, but I could not find a safe place to do so. About three miles out of Goderich, in blinding white-outs, and following a tanker truck, I “followed” him right off the road and into the ditch. I didn’t hit him, thank goodness, and we were “rescued” by a fellow on a snowmobile and taken to a very nearby farm house (which we could not even see in the blizzard). We were warm and safe!
About a half hour later, another fellow was dropped off at the farm house, and as he came in, he said, “Who owns that green car out there in the ditch?”
Well, it was mine, and he had hit the rear and jammed it up under the truck in front of mine! My car was damaged front and rear!
We all made it to Clinton much later that night by hitching a ride in a transport truck.
The next Monday, as I was getting ready to head back to school, this time having to drive my husband, John’s car, he said “Please drive carefully, we are running out of cars”!
Winter storms - as Canadians we may love to hate them but we live with them. These true tales show us the resiliency of those individuals who live in this region and how compassionate and caring we are when our neighbors are in need.
Gayle Dunn
Gayle Dunn, of Bayfield, tells of a severe storm which raged for two days at the end of January 1978. She, her husband, and her young family were living in St. Pauls, ON. Her story begins at 7:30 a.m. on Jan. 26:
A storm was brewing. The barometer was plummeting. The wind was howling. My husband, John, was stewing whether to go to work or stay home.
We were parents of two sons ages four and two. I needed him. Now we were both raised on farms and had experienced storms in the past. We even had a Skidoo should I go into labor. Why couldn’t I manage this time? I was very pregnant, in fact eight days overdue.
Within thirty minutes, a blinding blizzard had set in. John rejected the obligatory call to work. Thank goodness.
Our safe, small, warm cozy home in the next forty minutes was without power. That meant no furnace or water unless we melted snow in the wood fireplace.
By 8:15 a.m. we had a stranded visitor, a nurse. What could be more fortunate for us? I too am a registered nurse, but at any moment I could become the patient.
At 8:30 a.m. another storm-stayed person knocked on our door. This time it was a gentleman.
There we were, destined to spend the day and night together. There was no time to worry about my condition, as we had to care for the children, keep warm and feed everyone. Fortunately we had a fireplace that threw off some heat and became the cooking grate.
Early evening, while the storm temporarily abated, neighbors congregated and asked if I wanted to be taken the five miles into hospital by Skidoo. The roads were still closed. I said, “No Thanks.” It was too risky.
That night we bedded down on the living room floor, the children’s pajamas were their snowsuits.
When Jan. 27 dawned, the temperature in the living room was at 48 degrees Fahrenheit. Many details are vague now all these years later except that the storm was calming. By afternoon, the county plow had cleared one lane and our guests were able to find their vehicles and return to their homes. The power was still off, the house was frigid even with the fireplace and the goldfish were dying.
We packed up and went to stay with an elderly friend in Stratford.
She welcomed us. She had power. She had heat. She had good food.
That evening our electricity was restored at our St. Pauls’ home, John and the boys returned there, leaving me closer to the hospital.
Having this baby was a strong possibility.
An uncomfortable feeling awakened me at 1:30 a.m. on Jan. 28. Feet to the floor, I sped to the washroom and “Oh, no!” my membranes had broken.
My hostess was a sweet, hypertensive, excitable, deaf lady. Did I want to wake her? No.
I immediately called a taxi, only to learn that they weren’t running yet. Then I called my doctor who had to travel to the hospital by Skidoo if and when I got there. Now my first two labors were fast, so I knew I couldn’t wait around. Who to turn too? Johnny and boys were safe at home. I couldn’t bring them out at this time. So I called the police. They would help if necessary. What to do? The taxi company realized my plight and agreed to transport me. Phew. An ambulance would have been my last resort if they were around.
Shortly after 2 a.m. I arrived at the hospital and by 3:45 am our wonderful family doctor, assisted by the Obstetric Nurse, helped me deliver a healthy 8-lb. girl, Susan Frances Ellen Dunn.
The goldfish died. My baby lived.
In my faithful life there have been times when I have questioned my God but quickly I am reminded of that particular storm and how our baby was kept nourished, warm and secure until conditions were safe for her birth.
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