“The Good Old Days” -By Tom Kuehne

Snow on the Prairie

There are times when a subject for a story in Hometown News becomes hard to create. The following story is entirely offseason, but since we have recently experienced some rather hot days, I thought that maybe this story would help you to feel cooler.

I have recently been reading some of Minnesota's history and came across a story about the winter of 1856. Yes it is a long time ago, but the story was written by the person that lived and experienced this really serious winter storm season. He shared a couple of stories that caught my interest.

The stories originated in Yellow Medicine County, which is in southwestern Minnesota. The area is prairie and at that time was totally void of trees. Four men that were totally experienced in outdoor living, were traveling by dog sleds to a destination when they were suddenly enveloped in a blizzard. Just before the snow arrived, they saw a grove along the river and two men decided to reach it from one direction and the other two decided on another approach. Two men made it to the trees for shelter, but the other two got lost, due to the wind-driven snow. One was found, but died from frost-bite and the other was never found, but his revolver and holster was found the following summer out on the prairie. Evidently the wolves got him.

In another occurrence that winter, two horse pulled sleds traveled on a trail to another fort in Yellow Medicine County. It was a sunny, warm winter day offering a pleasant 30 mile trip. There were 8 people on the combined sleds, including a small baby. They started in the morning and were at their destination before dark. That evening the storm began. It was considered one of the storms that had more snow in the air than on the ground and it lasted for 12 days. Absolutely no travel.

One of the factors that made their being marooned at their destination, was that the destination, like most buildings at that time, was rather limited in size. There also were no cell phones, no bathrooms, no radio, very limited space, however the destination had enough food to feed the guests, which included beaver tails, bear paws, roasted muskrat and fricasseed skunk, which was said not to contain any offensive odors. Those waiting as to whether the party was safe had no information whatsoever. However, the St. Paul newspapers did a story that said all of the party were dead and included details of finding one of the sleigh drivers “frozen in his sleigh with the lines in his hands and the horses frozen stiff in front of him.” But he returned to the original departure point along with the rest of the travelers a few weeks after the start of the trip. The trip back took 5 days.

Out on the prairie the snow drifts were 10 to 20 feet deep with 3 feet of snow between the drifts.

While in the snow sanctuary, those hiding from the storm spent the evenings reading aloud Shakespeare and Burns and did some dancing. The storm survivors seemed to have had an interesting experience. It was said that after the readings in the evenings, they all had a greater appreciation for the two authors.

For feedback or story ideas, email Tom at tom@swanvilleinsurance.com.

If you need help with Health or Life Insurance or for Senior Health Solutions Contact: Tom Kuehne 320-360-0343

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