Today’s Wisch List column from the Kankakee Daily Journal …
The City of Cold Shoulders’ winter tales
The WISCH LIST
Dec. 26, 2009
I spent last weekend in Atlanta, where the weather was about as warm as, well, Chicago (the natives were restless). Although, it was nowhere near as bad as in Washington, D.C., where the city’s record-setting snowstorm wreaked havoc on holiday travel.
And travelers.
While at Atlanta’s Hartsfield International late Sunday, a man told me how a woman he flew with earlier in the day was informed by the airline that they had to postpone her flight to D.C.
Until Christmas.
This was on Dec. 20.
I have no idea if that poor lady ever reached her destination – a dog sled sounded like a better option – but, regardless, I’m guessing she doesn’t want to hear Bing Crosby belt out “White Christmas” any time soon.
In honor of, this, the first full week of winter, I thought I’d share with you a few of the wintertime “war” stories that Chicagoans have written me about during my time in the city.
So, sit back, grab some hot chocolate and enjoy three frosty tales straight from the City of Cold Shoulders …
A Wind Most Wicked
“I worked at the IBM Building (330 N. Wabash) in the 1970s,” writes Chicagoan S.C. Argento. “When the weather got bad, the building would put up ‘life ropes’ at each corner of the building. This was to help anyone who walked over the Chicago River Bridge, as they could grasp a line and ‘pull’ themselves in.
“Known as the windiest place in Chicago, it became even windier when the river froze and the wind, falling off buildings, would come down the river and accelerate. There was also a `lifeguard’ posted at the southern corner of the building whose job was to rescue anyone that could not pull themselves into the building. I saw an elderly lady blown down, and she was carrying along until the lifeguard got her and dragged her in.
“You calculate the wind chill of a negative-10-degree day with 65 mph winds, and that’s cold. This was the day I decided to pursue opportunities away from One IBM Plaza.”
The Joys of Transit
“One bitterly cold winter day about 10 years ago, I waited in vain for my bus,” Chicagoan Irma F. Gibbons writes. “Since it was only about a half mile to the train, I started walking. I stepped off a curb right through some ice into a very cold puddle of water, which soaked through my boot. I continued my squishy trek to the Blue Line. At our first stop, the sliding doors on the train car became stuck open.
“The conductor had to stand by them, so none of us would fall out. And he assigned a passenger to look out the little window and let the engineer know when the platform was clear of passengers. The car was crowded and cold, but everybody seemed to take it with good humor. My foot was even more frozen than when I first got it wet due to the wind from the open door blowing on it.
“I finally arrived at my destination and caught my last bus. Upon debarking, I slipped on the wet steps and slid down them into a large snowbank! Of course, I was late to work and I referred to this adventure as my ‘Ride From Hell.’ ”
School Daze
“I remember the winter of 1981-82,” writes Chicagoan Gabriel Garcia. “It was bitterly cold, especially the month of January. Everyone was having problems starting their cars, and the CTA was really having problems keeping the bus lines in operation. In fact, Mayor (Jane) Byrne had ordered that the buses be kept fueled with engines running all weekend to avoid not having them start for the Monday morning rush.
“I was a freshman at St. Rita High School, and the announcement came over the radio that all Chicago Public Schools were closed due to the weather. It was announced that most area Catholic grade and high schools were recommended to be closed. Needless to say, I was shocked when it was stated on the radio, and confirmed by the school, that St. Rita High was open for a regular schedule.
“Mom insisted that, if the school was open, I must attend classes. After some arguing, I bundled up and walked out the door to the bus stop. Normally, I would have had to take two separate buses to get to school, but the first bus was more than 30 minutes behind its usual time, so I decided to walk to the next bus line more than a mile away.
“I waited at the bus stop for another 45 minutes with the air temperature hovering around 18 below. I was miserable and angry that I had to be outside in that weather while my siblings were home because their grade school was closed. I finally made it to school around an hour and a half late. I was given a detention for arriving late to school. We didn’t learn anything new due to the fact that around 90 percent of the student body and 60 percent of the faculty staff were absent.
“I moved out of my parents’ home at age 18.”