Here Back East

The Snow is Falling

Reading the wintry weather reports in the Messenger the last few weeks— from my 79-degree and humid Florida patio — not only reminded me of my growing up years in western New York in the 40s and 50s but prompted me to contemplate traveling west to Downieville to bask in the snow drifts and covered roads on Route 49. Images of the snow deluge brought back fond memories — school closed, sitting next to Dad all bundled up in his WWII red painted surplus Jeep while he plowed Louie’s Parking Lot on Stilson Street for whomever was venturing out to their downtown office in Rochester. The high drifts allowed for me and my best friend Bobby Mulindike from across the street to build snow forts big enough for the both of us and his boxer, sharing peanut butter and jelly sandwiches Bobby’s mother made for us special on such occasions. Sometimes, we would sneak out of our houses with our BB guns and play soldiers in the snow. Once, we made a fire inside a snow fort — we ended up getting smoked out.

We did not have TV weather forecasts then. We relied upon the daily newspaper for the reports, and word spread fast among us kids when snow was coming. In the post-war years, many of us collected clothing and gear brought back after service. We often dressed in oversized Army shirts and jackets while we bivouacked among the snow mounds created by the city snowplows clearing the major roads. Our parents warned us to be careful we were not plowed under by one of those converted garbage truck snowplows. The best part was warming ourselves in front of Bobby’s fireplace with hot chocolate and Bobby’s boxer to lay our heads on. I believe my love for a working fireplace was inspired in those times after a hard day in the snow, the Mulindike fireplace roaring and crackling.

I was disappointed when the roads were cleared and it was back to school. Downieville weather over the past several weeks sounds a lot like Rochester. I really enjoy those pictures of the piles of snow in front of the Messenger office. Have fun, guys.