January 1974 produced an ice storm that crippled our area. I remember awakening to the crack of the large elm tree in our backyard. It fell on the northwest corner of our house with a large limb coming through my bedroom window right between my sister and me. We shared a room with twin beds. The limb didn’t touch us.
Living in the country we depended on our electric pump for the well, so no water. We did have a gas cook stove and furnace. My dad would bring in a large galvanized tube of ice, sit it on the floor furnace and as this melted, we could use it to flush the commode.
Trees fell across our three miles of gravel and blacktop road. Daddy placed chains on the pick-up tires, loaded the bed with wood, and started out with mother. She was the director of nursing at our rural hospital, so needed to be at work ASAP. He cut his way out to the main Highway. Mother also had him run around town and pick up other hospital workers who couldn't make it to work. By the time he returned home, more trees had fallen, so he cut his way back home. The telephone was also out, so he couldn’t call and explain why it was taking so long to get home. He arrived home to three terrified little girls sitting in the dark. His work was just beginning. He had the forethought to take the big igloos with him and had stopped by a local artesian well for water, so we had clean drinking water, water for flushing, and the ability to cook and stay warm.
As I said, Daddy’s work was just beginning. He had to get to the bottom to check on the cows, make sure they had hay, and check on any new calves. How did he do this with trees falling all around, still snowing and sleeting? Honestly, I wish I knew everything he did. He also had to tarp the back of the house. I do know a few days later as the ice melted, our creek was out with water almost to the barn. He took the canoe and paddled all over our bottom land and pastures checking on livestock and fences.
Where does the candle come in? On a dead-end, rural gravel road in January, it was probably completely dark by 4:00 p.m. we used many candles and coal-oil lanterns for the seven days we were without electricity. This was the longest we were without power during my childhood. I know we were blessed to have a resourceful dad to make things as easy as he could for our family, while he worked from early in the morning until fairly late every night. Mother wanted to be at work by 6:30 a.m. and usually wasn’t ready to start for home until 4:30 p.m. it was several days before the timber stopped falling and daddy felt it was safe for her to drive her car into town. Again, our phone lines were down, so no communication if she had difficulty traveling the about 13 or 14 miles one way
To this day, I keep candles and matches readily available. I learned what long days and nights are without light. The silence is so erie except for the sound of the timber cracking and falling.
I could write a book about this longest week but will stop here by saying, I am thankful for the lights I use daily and for all the electrical cooperative employees who work long hours to repair and restore our electricity when we do have storms.
Warren Tull
Mary Frances James Tull
