Backwoods Blog

BLIZZARD ’64

Backwoods Blog;

in the woods and on the road…

Wes and Cassie Hersey Christmas photo   (circa 1958)

I was going through the old family photograph album and came across this Christmas photo of my great grandparents Wes and Cassie Hersey. It was taken at my grandparent’s farmhouse, Ralph and Laura Hersey Stitham, sometime in the late 1950s located on the Framingham Road in Littleton. From what I was told, my great grandfather was a part-time minister, large animal veterinarian and ran a family saw mill in Monticello. Although I was too young to remember him, I like to think I’m continuing one of his lines of work. 

My earliest Christmas memory is the Christmas of 1964 when I was four and a half years old. We spent Christmas at my grandparents farmhouse that year, which was the only time in my childhood that we did not spend Christmas at our own house (and perhaps that’s why it stood out). We spent the holidays at my grandparent’s house because we were living in Bristol, Connecticut that year and we drove back to northern Maine for Christmas. This was the year of the ’64 blizzard and we were right in the middle of it heading north! Now, I’m not sure if it was actually Christmas Eve as we were on the highway trying to make it home for Christmas, but it does make for a better story. I asked my mother if she could confirm the details, but all she remembered was the freezing windshield and endless, blowing snow. That’s what I remembered too (even though I was four), along with stopping numerous times to check the car and clear it of snow. All I know, is that we eventually made it, that we arrived very late at night and everybody was certainly glad to see us! It turned out that Santa had made it through the storm as well, and toys were under the tree the next morning; a train set, a writing desk, baby dolls for my sister, trucks…

In case you noticed the colored light effect on the black and white photos, I did not use a filter.  It accidentally occurred when I used my iPhone to take a picture of the picture sitting on the kitchen table and the unintended reflection of the Christmas lights in the window created the effect. Also, if you look closely at the following picture, you will see photos of my great grandparents on top of the bookcase right next to Santa’s sleigh and reindeer. 

Christmas is a time to revisit old memories and to make new ones. It’s interesting to see what returns from years long gone and see how it influences our Christmas experience this time around. Merry Christmas from Backwoods Blog and may you have a smooth entrance into the new year!

In the woods,

Dave

December 20, 2023

Christmas Day at our grandparent’s house  (1964)

Christmas Day (1964)

Our apartment house in Bristol, Connecticut   (1964)

Waving to the camera person…