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Archiver > OHBROWN > 1999-01 > 0915983125


From: <>
Subject: [OHBROWN-L] 1917-18 winter,and flu
Date: Sun, 10 Jan 1999 10:45:25 -0500


My parents, b 1898 and 1901 ,talked a lot about the 1917-18 winter. This
am,I found a place with enough ice crust to hold my 250 lbs ,without
breaking thru into the snow. That was part of the problem in 1917-18.
1st,they had an unusual summer. A spring too wet to plant until late,
followed by a very early killing frost in the fall. Too short a growing
season to mature corn. My grandfathers were both dairy-hog-corn farmers
at the time.My grandfather FAGALY filled his mow with those immature corn
stalks. Anyway, there was a blizzard well before Christmas, with deep
drifts,topped by an inch of ice. They had to keep their livestock barned
for a couple months,and carry water to then,for they would injure
themselves outside. Grandfather FAGALY got caught without much
firewood,and although his farm had 50-100 acres of woodlot, they needed
wood close to the house,and cut down an old pear orchard for heat. My dad
was 18. Tom-catting age. But the roads were closed,and it was 6-8 weeks
before he could go the 1 1\2 miles into BETHEL.Oh. My mom talked more
about the flu epidemic that winter,than hardships on the farm. Farms were
isolated, and whole familes got sick. With the thaw,many were found dead.
Past this-her- house on RT 125 ran the IRT Electric RR. It couldn't
run,and went bankrupt. It had been my gpa Brown's METHOD OF GETTING MILK
DAILY TO CINCINNATI,and also it had been my mom's school bus to BETHEL
HIGH SCHOOL. It had also been the source of electricity to this house.
Wife needs computer for her real estate business.Sorry
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