Great story about snowstorm of 1947, says reader

To the Editor:
RE: “Stormy winter weather in Bruce County!”

What a great treasure of a story that Ruth Anne Robinson shared, regarding the snowstorm of 1947 and that era.

Her story led me down memory lane.

My Mom was due to have her first child (my oldest brother) in February during the storm of 1947. She travelled by horse and sleigh two-and-a-half miles on Concession 6, Kinloss Township, with men having to break the horses’ path through drifts ahead of them.

Mrs. Allister (Jean) Hughes, an RN, was on alert and Mom remembers her calling out from the end of her laneway asking if she was okay. A vehicle (I think it was an ambulance) met them on Bruce County Road 1 to take her to Wingham hospital.

She and the baby could not get home for some time so they stayed with relatives in Wingham for about a week after being discharged, when her brother could come from Auburn to take them. They stayed there at her Mother’s place until Dad could get out to finally bring them home.

Fast forward to the 1970s. Concession 5 and Bervie Sideroad had yet to be "built up" so they were often blocked in if there was any wind or snowfall, until the snowplows made their morning rounds in time for school buses. Therefore, the road was often opened too late for me to arrive for work at Kincardine hospital on time.

Jim Ferrier, who lived in Bervie, was a very kind and generous man. He kept an area cleared out in behind St John's Anglican Church for us to leave our car overnight whenever we thought necessary. The next morning Ron would either take me to the car by snowmobile or he would "buck our way" through the drifts with our pick up truck if we thought the truck could make it through.

Great memories, but not wanting to repeat!

Thanks again, Ruth Anne, for your most interesting article!

Janice Hewitt
Kincardine