The Hard Times of a Mail Carrier
Dad was pretty faithful about writing.
The following letter from Glenn Clayton Stover
was written in late November, 1975,
and postmarked 1 December, 1975 - Rod Stover.
|
|
This is Sunday afternoon, and a cold one. I think I wrote you a week ago Thursday when we were having our blizzard. - Well, it hasn't let up much yet. It quit snowing that Thursday evening, but the wind kept howling all night. Friday dawned bright and clear and I made it to Pleasanton by going North 1 1/2, East 1, to (Hiway) #2, then to Hazard, and down to P'town. Mail wasn't there, so waited. At 11:30 I called Ravenna & found that our mail truck was 6 or 8 miles east of Ravenna waiting for heavy equipment to open the road. We finally got our mail about 2:30. Got it sorted by 4:30, so just carried it around town. Reported Saturday at 7:15 and left for the route about 10:00. Roads were not all open and after detouring, I finally got back to the office at 7:00 p.m. Missed only 5 boxes way up in Custer County. Monday, I made it all, Tuesday, it snowed again. I got stuck & gave up a bit early. Just couldn't see where you were going, and if you got into old snow, you didn't go. Wednesday wasn't good, but I made it all by about 5:00 p.m. Put a new pair of radials on the front of the Jeep. The old ones were getting smooth, and I need all the traction I can get. Went to Larry Rathjen's on Thursday, gobs to eat. Friday wasn't too bad, slow going because I can't get to a lot of the boxes. Have to get out and that takes time. Saturday it snowed, blowed, and even a short rain shower. Every drop froze as it hit and it made it extra slick. In the afternoon the wind came up and it really drifted. We had 6 or 8 inches of light, fluffy snow Tuesday, and that really drifted. I got into several places where I wished I wasn't, but did get through. Went through some drifts which were level with the hood on the jeep; was afraid I might get wires wet, but didn't. Got in about 5:00 p.m. and then had to go to Ravenna; needed pills from the drug store, etc. Got home about 6:30 to find Todd & Robyn here. He's had only one day of school in the last 11 days. Robyn was fixing pizza; they found a mix here, and also some ground beef, so we had pizza. Dan Johnson's were here, but left early, they were to go to supper West of Pleasanton, but called later to say that they couldn't make it. By that time, it was snowing and blowing like crazy. Todd's left about 8:00 for Kearney, they went South to (HighWay) 30, and then in. Called when they got home; it took 1 hour and 30 minutes from here to Kearney. Today was clear and sunny, but didn't warm up much. Kearney just reported 10 degrees and predict zero to 5 degrees for tonight. So, we've really had a bit of Winter the last two weeks. I've never had it so bad in all the time that I've been carrying mail; seems like we should get a break soon, but forecasters don't promise much. Thanks for the invitation for cross-country skiing, but no thanks, I've seen enough snow to last me the rest of my days. I just can't remember when we had this much. There is a drift out at Jake Jochem's which I know is 12 to 15 feet deep. I haven't seen Jake to ask him when it was that deep before. (He will know and be able to give the exact date.) I have one old widow lady up in Custer County on one of those dirt roads that I haven't gotten to for 2 weeks. But, I called her son-in-law in Grand Island the other night and found that she was there with them! I had talked with the snow plow man up there and he said that he'd tried to open up that road, but was afraid that he couldn't make it. - Don't know when it might be opened. One thing the last two weeks have done, is to bring my retirement nearer. If I make it through this Winter, I doubt that I'll tackle another. The Jeep is performing very well and I don't know what I'd do without it. Haven't moved the car for about two weeks. |
Back to the Glenn Clayton Stover index...
Back to StoverPipeline home page...