howeenterprise.com
Monday, January 7, 2019
Page #10
Here's Howe The North Texas freeze of 1937 One might think that the recent cold weather was too much to bear. But "climate change" took place in exactly 82 years ago last week right here in Howe. After experiencing a 1937 Christmas with weather much more like the Fourth of July, old man winter put on a show that was remembered by anyone that experienced it.
began restoring service from the Whitewright plant Wednesday and partial service was restored by nightfall. It was reported at the time that the estimated damage would run into an incredible three figures at $300.
Telephone service was badly crippled according to E.G. Gann, the manager of the Tom BeanIt all started with a slow drizzling Sherman Telephone Co. Long rain on Wednesday, Jan. 6. The distance communication was temperatures dropped to freezing impossible with a wire up to and heavy fog and mist turned to Whitewright only part of the time. ice on trees and telephone wires. Crews started Tuesday to untangle A blue norther hit at midnight and the wires. blocked out the sun until it finally broke through the low-hanging Howe was without mail service clouds on Thursday, Jan. 14. But from Wednesday night until the freezing weather came back the Sunday night except for a small following day and hung around for amount brought to Howe from another week allowing only two Sherman. The last Interurban days of sun in the first three weeks (Texas Electric Railway) passed of 1937. through at 10:54 on Wednesday night with service resuming late Telephone and electric service was Sunday afternoon. Busses were interrupted only slightly in Howe operated over the highway to with the north and east sections of provide service. the town being without service for several days. But it was the rural During the ice storm, high areas that were really hit hard as schoolers took advantage of the poles and lines strewed the road rare opportunity to enjoy some sides. Poles were broken at the winter sports. Margaret Alice ground, some varying degrees of Erskine, aged 17, sustained a height from the ground while broken leg about 9:30 Saturday others were uprooted. Very few night in South Howe as she poles were left standing as the overturned an improvised bobsled. shattering came from the weight of Two sleds were coupled together ice giving an appearance of having and fastened to the rear of an been struck by lightning. Large automobile for added thrills. The trees with nothing but the trunk accident occurred when an attempt standing were frequent sites. was made to negotiate a sharp turn. Our neighbors in Tom Bean, however, had the worst of it in Miss Erskine was taken to the St. Grayson County. They were cut Vincent's sanitarium in Sherman off from the outside world with where both bones were found to be only communication being by broken. She stayed with her telegraph; although that was out parents, Mr. and Mrs. J.C. Erskine for a while. Local residents after the weather subsided. experienced a taste of pioneer days of their forefathers. Whatever happened to Miss Margaret Alice Erskine? Well, she Electric power went out in Tom married Preston Wight Feb. 6, Bean and stayed that way for a 1943 and lived to the age of 94 week. A repair crew from the when she passed away June 18, Community Public Service Co. 2014.
Caraway Nativity collections, let’s extend this blessed holiday to January 6 by collecting and displaying the Three Kings. Then we can begin celebrating the Carnival season leading up to Mardi Gras on March 5. Mardi Gras ends the day before Ash Wednesday and leads into Easter, and before we know it Spring has arrived. Isn’t that a pleasant way to get through the cold winter months? Many blessings to all my readers.
Continued from page 6 Georgia Caraway and her friends operate the Howe Mercantile at 107-109 ½ East Haning. Store hours are Thursday through Saturday 12 noon until 8 p.m. All five of Georgia’s Denton history books and her book on taking care of your antiques and collectibles are available at Howe Mercantile. She hopes her next book will be the history of Howe. SHOP LOCAL. We can show you Howe!
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