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December 11, 2008
The Ice Storm Cometh ...where's Unitil?
For those of you who do not live in the Fitchburg or Southern NH area, it might be difficult to imagine just how bad our recent ice storm was.
The magnitude of the destruction of trees probably won’t be known for some time. There will be many odd shaped trees when the branches leaf
out in the spring and some may die off before then. You probably saw Fitchburg featured on all the network major news shortly after the Dec 12th
ice storm and then for some days following. The problem was a slow response to getting service back to homes and businesses in Fitchburg and
surrounding towns- 7 days. 12 days and even longer for some homes. Christmas was also fast approaching and neighborhoods where holiday lights
festoon doors and porches and trees and lampposts were all dark, so unlike all the other holiday seasons. There were so many stories to be told
about how each household handled the cold and darkness. Certainly when you come to the reunion in June, there will still be much evidence of
the toppled trees and branches. Just look into the woods. The following poem ties the ice storm and Christmas together describing humorously what
it was like.
Our Nightmare Before Christmas (or Unitil Utilities Suck)
Twas two weeks before Christmas and all through the town it rained and it froze and the trees all fell down. The wires that were strung
on utility poles snapped like a twig and the houses all froze.
We got ourselves nestled all snug in our bed while visions of warmer days danced in our head and me in my thermals and Pa in his cap
stayed huddled together for a bone chilling nap.
The moon on ice the made a crystalline glow and we thought to ourselves, just how long can this go? When what to our wondering eyes
did appear but our son with some coffee and donuts and cheer.
We could see our white breath in thedarkness above and deep under covers I searched for my love. His feet, they were frozen and so was
his head made me think to myself that he just might be dead
The days passed so slowly, we must be in sane as we waited and wondered and called out by name "On Thursday. on Friday, on Saterday
(shit!) on Sunday, on Monday, on Tuesday (please quit!) on Wednedday and Thursday and Friday (oh dread!) the kerosene fumes must have gone to our head.
To add to the pleasure of winter's delight two snow storms came by--18 inches of white. The snowing and blowing made things bad to worse
and we prayed to the heavens our pipes wouldn't burst,
Pa's eyes were now sunken, his expression--not merry, his cheeks had a pallor, his nose like a cherry.The odd little smile on his face
wasen't fun and he often was mumbling "go get my gun".
Then a rap on the door and the fireman said "Are you sick, are you sane and is anyone dead? There's a shelter, there's warmth, you can
come if you're able, we have showers and kindness and food on the table"--and we looked at each other and thought--"what the heck?" yeh--eleven days
later you FINALLY check!
On night number 12 we heard the faint roar of a convoy of trucks and we ran to the door. To the top of the poles, to the stretch of the
cable--please bring us your power just as fast as your're able!
They spoke not a word but went straight to their work and the power came on with ahum and a jerk. They heard us exclaim as they drove
out of sight--MERRY CHRISTMAS TO ALL AND TO ALL A GOOD NIGHT!
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Copyright 2009-2013
Fitchburg High School Alumni Class of 1954 |
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