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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Lucknow Sentinel, 2015-01-28, Page 9Wednesday, January 28, 2015 • Lucknow Sentinel 9 The Storm at North Ashfield Public School A Recounting of Actual Events as Recorded in 1971 Margaret MacCharles This is a story submitted by readers as being "from the memorable blizzard of 1971 about a little school and teach- ers' experience" Atyped, fools- cap copywas given to someone to read from two winters ago in a discussion group and the reader "liked the recounting so much that I retyped it into my computer exactly as Peggy had typed it in those pre -computer days." This story is reprinted with the permission of the origi- nal author, Mrs. Margaret [Peggy] MacCharles. To submit your storm stories or historical pieces, please send them and any photos in jpg for- mat to lucknow.editorial@sun- media.ca or drop them into the Sentinel during office hours. The Storm at North Ash- field Public School Arriving at school Tuesday morning, January 25, 1971, I had no idea some of us would not see home again until late Thursday afternoon, as we were storm -stayed in the school during one of the worst storms of the past 25 years. The school day started as usual with little indication of what was ahead of us but it was not long until we noticed that the wind was rising and snow was falling. In about an hour the buses were summoned and the children prepared for home. After the arrival of the first two buses we anxiously waited for the Brookside bus as, by this time the storm was worsening rapidly. About 11:45 Doug Drennan arrived with his load and immediately Mrs. Far- rish started to load her Grade one and two children. Watch- ing them closely she noticed a tiny Grade two girl blown out of the line and by the time she reached her she was helpless in a snowbank against the school. A tragedywas averted and Mrs. Farrish carried her back into the school. We decided then to unload the buses, take every- one back into the school and wait for the storm to abate. This meant we had the Grade 7 & 8 Children from Brookside as well as our own Grade 1-6 pupils. The first afternoon seemed as if it would never end. Jim MacKenzie and George Mac- Donald arrived with the snowplow and offered to go to Lochalsh store for supplies as it was obvious we would be in the school for the night. The children were very excited and restless so we decided to serve supper of sandwiches and cookies about 5 o'clock. Our staff was most grateful for the help given by the three bus drivers (Mrs. Anne Wiser, Doug Lackey, and Doug Drennan) in preparing and serving lunch to the 120 pupils. A long evening stretched ahead of us. About 7 o'clock the hydro went off. Searching the cupboards by match light we discovered one candle and one small flashlight. The younger children were talked into preparing for the night on the promise of a chocolate bar each when they were settled down. Gordon Robb arrived about 8 o'clock with a box of candles and a bag of blankets brought from home and from Jim West's. He lives over half a mile from the school and itis a miracle that he made it to the school with the heavy load he was carrying. However, we were indeed grateful as the school was becoming cool by this time. Our next visitor was Donald Simpson on a snow- mobile with another load of blankets. Jack MacKenzie arrived soon afterwards on his ski-doo to take his daughter home and he, also, brought more blankets. Gayle, who is in Grade I, had no intention of going home. She wasn't going to miss her chocolate bar and all the excitement. She was allowed to stay which was a fortunate decision as a belt on the ski-doo broke and Jack had to walk home. By the time the storm was over his machine was buried in front of the school. Much to our relief the hydro came on about 9:30 p.m. The little ones were very good and settled down without a whim- per - even our one little Kin- dergarten boy from Brookside, who was a model of good behaviour all the time we were storm -stayed. The older ones were allowed to watch televi- sion or play games until mid- night. Mrs. Farrish and Mrs. Mowbray kept a watchful eye all night on their children who were sleeping on the floor in their classroom - seeing that they were covered and reas- suring anyone who wak- ened. The rest of the children slept in the halls or the extra classrooms as Room 3 was too drafty and impossible to heat I kept watch on the boys as one Grade 8 boy was determined that none of the other boys would sleep. Every time I left the hall to tour the school he would have every other boy awakened when I got back About 4:30 in the morning we noticed the school cool- ing off, and investigating dis- covered that the furnace had shut off. We tried unsuccess- fully for about 15 minutes to get it going, and then I decided to call our service man for advice. Doug Lackey, who has had some experience with furnaces talked to him and he sug- gested we try cleaning the electric eye (a safety device on the furnace). We did this and it was music to our ears to hear it going again. Finally morning came and about seven we started prepar- ing breakfast which consisted of 1/2 an apple, 1/2 an orange and a good supply of crackers spread with cheese, jam or peanut butter. After breakfast our faithful snowplow opera- tors returned and once more plowed a trail to the store with Donald Simpson following in the car to get us supplies. As the store was out of bread, Donald brought us 8 loaves from home. Dinner again con- sisted of sandwiches, cookies and chocolate bars. The time passed much more quickly on Wednesday as the waiting and wondering what we should do Tuesdaywas over and we were kept busy preparing food, answering the phone and in general organization. On Wednesday afternoon when the storm had let up slightly Jim Simpson came with his ski-doo and we started some children on their way home. Those who lived within half a mile of the school or had relatives dose were taken two at a time to their homes. Two of the children had ski-doo suits and these suits were wom and brought back several times for STRETCH YOUR DOLLARS WITH THE MASSIF! EDS two more children to wear. Everyone had been warned not to set foot outside the school except to go with Jim on the snowmobile and even then, under supervision. We were quite alarmed and angry on discovering that a Grade 8 boy accompanied by a Grade 5 boy had slipped out of the school unknown to us. At this time we were hearing reports over CKNX of lost persons and even deaths from exposure. However, within 10 minutes, as we were deciding what we should do, we received a phone call from a close neigh- bour telling us the boys had arrived there. Doug Lackey, who happened to answer the phone, told him to take a stick to them and lock them in the cellar. Our anger over their actions was surpassed only by our relief that theywere safe. For supper Wednesday night our main dish was soup and soda biscuits. We were most grateful to Mrs. Jack MacKenzie for a box of home -baked cook- ies. ookies. The kindness of all the neighbours was indescribable. Wednesday evening passed uneventfully with all the children being most co- operative and helpful. Again a chocolate bar at bedtime was a big help. About midnight we looked out and saw that the weather had cleared. The bus drivers talked over the situation with the snowplow operators (Sandy Simpson, Peter Van Diepenbeek, Jim and Niel[sic] MacKenzie) and it was decided to start transporting the children home as they thought it could be just a tem- porary lull. I phoned the Board of Education office in Clinton and received an understandably reluctant per- mission to do so (midnight was not the most desirable hour for this operation) - as it turned out it was the best weather we had for getting them home. Immediately, we were on the phone making arrangements, where neces- sary, for the parents to meet KrtiziKditaffff .Cintas Chad Mann 519-357-3015 www.kruzinmannlimos.com A Division of Lloyd Collins Construction Ltd. the bus with snowmobiles. Two plows were working and plowed the twelfth concession to Highway 21. They then came back and the bus with two operators and several children followed it to the highway - taking many to their homes. Another group of chil- dren were prepared for home and this time the bus went as far as Kintail. By this time the storm was raging again, so we called a halt to our bus opera- tions and the drivers came back into the school for the night. About 30 children were still in the school. We were pleased to see Mrs. Doug Drennan who came backwith Doug from Kintail as she had been staying in a house that had no heat. After coffee and a light lunch at about 4 o'clock in the morning we decided to try to get a little rest. Most of the lights were out, all the chil- dren were sleeping and we were tip -toeing around pick- ing out a spot on the floor when suddenly the piercing ring of the school bell was heard. One boy jumped up and stood at attention, several others sat up sleepily rubbing their eyes and Doug Lackey came out of the teachers' room with a startled expres- sion on his face. He had acci- dentally rung the bell when he had intended switching off the light. The switches on both are the same. We had a much- needed laugh over that In the morning none of the students even remembered hearing it. Early the next morning while Mrs. Mowbray was resting on the floor, two little girls who were early risers came over to her. She overheard the follow- ing conversation: "Is she dead?" - "Maybe, but I don't think so." - "Let's cover her up anyhow" - which they carefully proceeded to do. Youth seems to be prepared to face anything. About 7:00 a.m. we were all up and anxiously watching the progress of the storm. We were very glad that our family was reduced to 30 as our supplies were running low and there wasn't much improvement in the weather. Soup and soda biscuits may not be considered breakfast fare but no com- plaints were heard so we served them. Our ever -helpful snowplow operators were again contacted. Itwas decided to leave the school as soon as Highway 86 was plowed. In the meantime Doug Drennan organized a cleaning brigade and the school was tidied up before we left. All parents were again contacted and informed of our plans. It was close to noon when we loaded the chil- dren on the buses and locked the doors of the school. All the children were safely home or billeted within an hour and a half. What a wonderful feeling to relax, knowing our ordeal was over. The principal and staff at North Ashfield will always remember the many thoughtful acts performed by the neigh- bours, the much appreciated efforts of the snowplow opera- tors, the co-operation of the parents, the encouragement received from the office of the Huron County Board of Educa- tion (Mr. Kenwell, superinten- dent of Area A), the helpfulness of almost all the pupils and the assistance received from the three bus drivers who were storm -stayed in the school. In one instance this resulted in considerable loss and hardship at home. It was an experience to be remembered, but hope- fully, not repeated. Mrs. Margaret [Peggy] Mac Charles DUNGANNON LIONS EUCHRE & DARTS DAYS Saturday, January 31st Saturday, February 28th Saturday, March 28th Saturday, April 25th EUCHRE - 2:00 PM - $7.50 per person Light lunch provided DARTS - 7:00 PM - $10.00 per person lunch provided GREAT PRIZES Thanks to our sponsors. ALL proceeds to Community Projects Please cut out and keep this info!! Qj