It finally came! This morning our streets and sidewalks are white with wind blown snow crystals that danced and spun in search of the right place to land. While the intensity of the storm ebbed and flowed, excited school children laughed, anticipating their activities at the end of the school day.
Until today, despite weeks of forecasters’ promises, there has been little reason to look forward to a day on a hill. Frequent prognostications of tomorrow’s storm raised the hearts and hopes of youngsters only to have them dashed with a thud at dawn’s early light. Sleds and snow saucers that were set out in anticipation of a day of winter fun had to be dragged back to the garage or put back into the basement. But today will be different! Today they will be in taken in search of a hill, mound, rise, or mountain covered in white and the source of dreams and screams.
Reading the Signs
The excitement of the neighborhood kids as they prepared for day’s end took me back in time and brought a flood of memories. When winter came, we always looked forward to snow and the fun it brought. Forecasting snow was left to the experts but over time each kid in the neighborhood would learn how to read the “signs” of snow.
At night there would usually be two or more sets of eyes looking skyward to see if snow was coming tomorrow — a “halo” around the moon was a sure sign. If my Aunt Gert’s (Ritz) right ankle was swollen change was coming. The slower than usual gait of Mr. McKinney due to the pain in his back meant sidewalks would need shoveled tomorrow. Another predictor of snow was the aroma of cookies or cinnamon buns coming from the Largent home. Mrs. Largent was using the heat of the kitchen and kneading of warm dough to provide therapy for her aching hands.
Our “signs” never told us how much snow was coming, but whether an inch or a foot, a dusting or a blizzard, sleet or freezing rain, they were always right. We all knew when there was going to be a wintry mix on the hill tomorrow. The mix would be sleds of all sizes, skis, boxes, toboggans, and shovels.
Preparing the Sleds
Once the forecast was known, plans were set in motion. Sleds were the preferred mode of transport down the hill so they were pulled from storage and readied for tomorrow’s runs. The runners were cleaned of last season’s rust using steel wool, sand paper or emery cloth. Next came a coating of wax. The method of application varied; the simplest way being to rub each runner with a square of Cut-Rite wax paper. Other sources of wax included old candles or Gulf canning wax. Heat generated by rubbing the runners rapidly or by lighting the candle helped the wax penetrate the pores of the metal runners. Once done, the runners glistened like silver and the sleds were set outside in the cold allowing the wax to harden in preparation for that first run.
While the sleds sat, other means of sliding were considered. A quick trip down to Getz’s, Aults & Crain, Hickes, or even out to Heberlings, just might turn up a flying carpet for the hill. Sometimes these markets received their meat products in special cardboard boxes which had a wax coating inside. By breaking down the sides of the box we were able to turn the box inside out exposing the wax interior. The wax treatment added speed while protecting the box from getting wet — at least for the day.
Billy Skelton had a pair of skis which he broke out at the first sign of snow. With one person riding on each ski, two could enjoy the run at the same time. Someone had a toboggan which was rarely used. It held about six people but it was hard to get started down the hill and it really didn’t go that fast. Barrel staves were tried but discarded as was a bicycle with one of Billy’s skis attached to each wheel.
Joe Turiano had a sled that everyone wanted to ride. It was the smallest one on the hill (about 24 inches long) but it was the most maneuverable. When we made “trains” and “cracked the whip”, this sled was always put at the end. As the train zigged and zagged, the little sled flipped its rider from side to side finally discarding the snow encrusted intruder midway down the hill.
The Coal Shovel
Of all the ways to slide down the hill there was one that everyone used at one time or another. It was the shovel! Not all shovels were created equally, however. The best shovel was a narrow bladed, long handled coal shovel. The grit from the coal kept the metal polished and smooth, the narrow blade was built for speed on snow or ice, and the long handle was great for grip, balance and steering. Those new to shovel riding were scoffed at for showing up with snow shovels. The wide blades made them cumbersome, slow, and difficult to maneuver. Despite all the advantages, there was one significant disadvantage to using a coal shovel. Since it was needed to fire the furnace, you’d better remember to bring it home at day’s end. There were more than a few evenings when three or four boys could be seen combing the side of the hill, flashlights in hand, in search of this critical winter tool.
Some things have changed over the years. With most homes now using natural gas or oil for heat, coal and coal shovels are things of the past. Wax lined cardboard is hard to find because neighborhood markets are gone. Toboggans, sleds, and skis are still with us and snow saucers can be found just about everywhere. Hills for sledding are a little harder to find. If you’re lucky there’s still a hill nearby even if you have to load everyone into the wagon or pickup and drive to it.
One thing that hasn’t changed for me is the meaning of wintry mix. While meteorologists may define it as a combination of rain, sleet, and snow, for me, “wintry mix” will always be sleds, skis, boxes and shovels sliding down “Bury Hill” — Brewery Hill, the area of Tyrone that was demolished to make way for the I-99 Tyrone bypass.
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