Harsh Winters and the Struggle to Attend School

Two people shoveling snow at Paris Mill February 19, 1936.

Winter made getting to school even more difficult. As Marie Chisholm remembered, “No one ever transported their kids to school if they lived here in town.”[1] Heavy snow and freezing winds made the journey dangerous, and some students had to walk several miles through knee-deep snow. Roads were often blocked, leaving children with no choice but to face the harsh weather on foot. A few families who had the resources would take their children to school, but for most, walking was the only option, no matter how tough the conditions. Not surprisingly, children from the various grades were often absent during these times, especially when colds and bad weather swept through the area, making it difficult—and sometimes unsafe—for students to make the trek.[2]

There were even days when it seemed school might not open at all. One snowy Sunday afternoon, Mrs. MacIntosh and Mr. Davidson returned to Fairplay with Mr. Boyer and found the road between Fairplay and Como deep with snow. Together with Mr. Purrell, they wore down the drifts by foot. “Mrs. Mac pushed too,” the note read with admiration—and a touch of humor. “We wish we had had a camera.” [3]