Snow and Ice Storm Echoes of a Winter Past

January 6, 2025. Today, we woke up to two inches of snow on the ground. That wouldn’t be too bad except for the massive ice storm that came through yesterday. Our fluffy snow was sitting on top of an inch or more of solid ice. Ice is sitting heavily on trees and power lines. We heard the crackle and snap of tree limbs echoing through town well into the night. 

Roughly 30,000 homes in the region were without power this morning, many having lost power early last evening. My mom’s power finally came back just shy of the 24-hour mark. We’re fortunate – power is still on here. We have the ability to get out and check on friends and neighbors, and we have done so this morning. 

Today has reminded me of blizzards from my childhood. I only recall a few very nasty stints of ice and snow, but some are rather memorable.

During 1977-1978, Southern Illinois had an unusually long and dreadful winter. Snowfall totaled about an inch per day for over three months¹, finally clearing up sometime in April. I was only 3 years old but remember the large amounts of snow vividly – mostly because it was fun to play in! 

The Grocery Delivery 

This photo of me and my grandma – Doris Raines – was taken at Christmastime in 1977, before the mass amounts of snow fell that winter. It is one of my favorite photos because it reminds me of her in a time before Alzheimer’s took her mind and her memories. She was 54, my Grandpa 58, both very strong and determined.

We lived in an A-frame house far out in the country at the top of a steep hill – two towns away from my grandparents. The drive from the main country road was gravel and, in the winter of 1978, impassable. So impassable that Grandma and Grandpa had to deliver groceries to us one very snowy day. They parked at the base of the hill because Grandpa’s pick-up wouldn’t make it up the drive – and my dad’s wouldn’t make it down. Then they trudged – all bundled up, toting grocery bags, through the snow, up that very steep hill to our house. I remember when they arrived, but that’s where my memory fades.

The Ice Storm of 1978

On Good Friday, 1978, an ice storm left about two inches of ice in its wake. Much like today, homes went without power for stretches of hours before being restored. 

I turned 50 this year – my husband is a year older. Age brings an odd wisdom to memories. 

While we checked on friends and unearthed Mom’s car from its thick icy cloak, I was reminded of the weather that long ago winter. I suddenly realized what it had taken for my grandparents to make that trek. 

She was 54, not much older than I am today, and her face will forever be etched in my mind at that age. She was still strong – maybe a bit stubborn – and made a trek two towns away to deliver groceries to her daughter and family.  

Grandma was 83 when she died in 2006. We had many more icy and snowy winters, but none where we were totally stranded. At some point, the tide turned, and now I’m the one still strong and stubborn making treks after the storm has passed.   

This post is part of the 52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks – 2025 challenge from Amy Johnson Crow. The week 2 prompt is “favorite photo”.

1. Emery, T. (March 25, 2018). Region marks 40 years since ice storm’s devastation. Journal-Courier. ↩︎