And then it snowed and the wind blew.
Hundreds of travelers were trapped in Nebraska City and the area Sunday when the storm lashed southeastern Nebraska.
And one of the amazing things about the whole storm was the helpful enthusiasm of Nebraska City people.
Memorial Building was opened for the stranded travelers and Capt. Gary Barrett and Sgt. Don Lintz opened the armory.
Mayor A.O. Gigstad personally spearheaded the comfort campaign for the stranded travelers. Cases of Morton House beans and Ocoma turkey rolls were given by the companies for the unscheduled guests at Memorial Building. Rescue squadsmen assisted with the emergency operation.
There was a lot of joy when Supt. James Withee and the Rev. John McCabe said there would be no school Monday in Nebraska City. Although many children took to the outside to frolic in the snow, the majority of the kids preferred the warmth and comfort of homes, probably at the command of their parents.
Nebraska City's streets were snow-packed and mostly impassable but a few of us managed to get downtown. Jamie Haworth offered his jeep and, accompanied by his brother, Ron, we made trips to Memorial Building and the armory.
Most of the travelers with whom we visited were not stranded in snowbanks along the highway. They had made it to Nebraska City where police, sheriff and state troopers halted any highway traffic. And for good cause.
At one time during the morning hours tow trucks were swamped with calls on the highways so much that they could not handle all of them with the urgency the travelers wanted.
Tow trucks had a field day in business. And they didn't have to go far to earn a buck. In fact, Central Avenue and most of its north-south streets were a pretty good market place.
Clyde Stoll's city street crews were on the job early but the strong wind made so much mush of their work in the residential areas.
They kept at it all day and much to the appreciation of the motorists.
We telephoned the Rev. Victor Ireland Sunday morning to learn that Sunday school and worship services had been canceled.
That didn't seem possible. I can't recall church services being canceled because of a storm.
However, the judgment of the pastor was correct as we found out when we drove on Tenth Street. Street crews had already been on the job, but the strong, and gusty winds hurriedly placed drifts across the cleared streets.
Up on the North 40 . . . br.r.r.r.r.r.
In all the storm incidents, this I am sure:
D.W. Kicker put on his red five-buckle overshoes and went outside to scoop snow. Mr. Kicker called to check on the weather on the North 40. I tried to convince him that the snow had covered up my potato plants, but he didn't fall for it.
I did spin a yarn about the snow drifts which I said were about four feet in depth. But really, Mr. Kicker, they seemed more like 14 feet.
Our neighbors to the north, Mr. and Mrs. Fred Baker, were enjoying the weather. They were staying inside in the comfort of their nice home.
Fred said he was going outside and scoop snow, but his Missus said he wasn't. I don't know who won the battle, but when I headed for the door, Fred picked up his pool cue and was heading back to the basement recreation room.
I got a little help in calling the neighbors for some young "models" to frolic in the snowbanks for a few pictures . . . you've never seen such smiling and happy kids and they were having a ball.
Jamie came by after those ding-blasted Colts had beaten my Oakland Raiders and took me downtown where we took some pictures and talked with the stranded travelers. Then there was a trip to the News-Press for more film and off again.
Nebraska City's overnight visitors.
Mayor Gigstad didn't pull any punches. He point blank said "if you're going to be stranded it ought to be Nebraska City because we're the best."
And the 150 or so travelers at Memorial Building echoed their appreciation.
The travelers included: Many students returning to Lincoln and Omaha from Missouri, Kansas and Oklahoma following the holidays; a couple going to Maryville, Mo., to visit; two couples from Spencer, Ia., (now get this) en route to Texas to get away from the midwest winter; an Omahan and his dog en route to Omaha from Kansas; a young couple from Oklahoma en route to Omaha; and lots of children, infants and pets and pets and pets.
Mr. Kicker might be interested that one man with whom we talked was wearing his four-buckle red overshoes. He said it was the only sensible thing to do.
Mr. and Mrs. Lee Fenton had their hands full at Memorial Building and did an admirable job thanks to the help from the many volunteers.
Mr. Kicker and I tried to recall the last big storm.
We decided it was February or March of 1957 when Nebraska City got 15 inches of snow and seemingly everyone was stranded, including this reporter. I was in Wilber, Nebr., for the weekend. The storm started on a Saturday evening and it was Wednesday before I could get back to the News-Press.
And then there was the year of much-much snow. We decided it was 1959 or 1960 when Nebraska City had 40 to 43 inches of snow during the course of the winter.
I remember that we were living in Myrtle Taylor's house across the street from Winton's Steak House and I scooped snow out of that driveway until the pile was well over my head. I had begun to think it would never melt by summer.
That was probably the same year, in the spring of course, the Myrtle's redbud trees blossomed so pretty along the parking.
The return of the stocking cap.
There was a time when a stocking cap was about the only thing any of us wore. It's been a long time, but thanks to relatives in California, the cap has returned to this walker.
Early this morning we put on two pairs of pants, sweater, the old "leaky" zipper overshoes, a pair of my Dad's "Kenneth Chevrolet, Hawthorne, Calif.," white and blue coveralls, my favorite old winter coat, a pair of warm gloves and a green and white stocking cap.
Look out Tenth Street, here we come!
It was just 45 minutes later that we walked into the News-Press building.
Know what I wanted most when I got to the plant?
A drink of water!
Dr. R.C. Fenstermacher, who mans the riverboat lookout north of this station, recorded pretty hefty winds during the storm. His gauge read 25 m.p.h., with gusts to 38 m.p.h.
Well, with all the weather talk, emergencies and extra effort put out by City crews, there is one thought that we kinda like:
This reader says she likes the snow. — "It's God's way of house."