WISCONSIN STORIES IS A PARTNERSHIP
OF THE STATE HISTORICAL SOCIETY OF WISCONSIN
AND WISCONSIN PUBLIC TELEVISION.
Tracy Will: TONIGHT, ON "NEWS FROM THE PAST"
AN ICY STORM COATS SOUTHERN WISCONSIN
SNAPPING THE POWER POLES
AND KNOCKING OUT ELECTRICITY FOR THOUSANDS;
WISCONSIN'S LONGEST LASTING BLIZZARD
SHUTS DOWN THE CITY OF MILWAUKEE;
A WARM ARMISTICE DAY IN 1940 TURNS INTO A RAGING BLIZZARD.
THESE STORIES AND MEMORIES
OF "ICE, SNOW AND COPING WITH THE COLD"
ON WISCONSIN STORIES.
MAJOR FUNDING FOR WISCONSIN STORIES
IS PROVIDED BY THE MEAD WITTER FOUNDATION, INC.
WISCONSIN RAPIDS, WISCONSIN.
ADDITIONAL FUNDING IS PROVIDED BY
THE HALBERT AND ALICE KADISH FOUNDATION
PHILIP J. AND ELIZABETH B. HENDRICKSON
AND AN ADVISED FUND OF THE COMMUNITY FOUNDATION OF SOUTHERN WISCONSIN.
GOOD EVENING, I'M TRACY WILL.
AND WELCOME TO "NEWS FROM THE PAST."
DEBBIE KMETZ IS ON ASSIGNMENT.
THROUGHOUT WISCONSIN HISTORY, SNOW AND COLD
HAVE ALWAYS AFFECTED OUR NEWS, WEATHER AND SPORTS.
SO, TONIGHT, WE'LL BRING YOU THE GOOD NEWS AND BAD NEWS
ABOUT WISCONSIN'S WINTER WEATHER.
FIRST, THE BAD NEWS.
REMEMBER THE ICE STORM OF 1976 ?
IT WENT DOWN IN THE RECORD BOOKS
AS ONE OF WISCONSIN'S WORST NATURAL DISASTERS.
THE '76 STORM COATED THE SOUTHERN HALF OF WISCONSIN
WITH AS MUCH AS FIVE INCHES OF ICE.
WINDS GUSTING TO 60 MILES PER HOUR
MADE THE BAD SITUATION WORSE--
BENDING TREES TO THE GROUND
SNAPPING ICE-LADEN POWER LINES AND POLES
AND LEAVING THOUSANDS WITHOUT ELECTRICITY.
AS DANGEROUS AS ICE CAN BE
IT WAS IN 1947 THAT THE LONGEST BLIZZARD ON RECORD
PUMMELED SOUTHERN WISCONSIN
AND PARALYZED THE CITY OF MILWAUKEE.
DRIVERS LEFT THEIR CARS IN THE STREETS
AS THE THREE-DAY STORM DUMPED UP TO 27 INCHES OF SNOW
AND GALE FORCE WINDS CREATED 15-FOOT DRIFTS.
TRAFFIC STOPPED, PEOPLE WERE STRANDED
AND BUSINESSES, SCHOOLS AND FACTORIES
CLOSED DOWN FOR DAYS.
FOR A FIRST-HAND ACCOUNT
I TRAVELED TO THE EAST TROY TROLLEY MUSEUM
TO SPEAK WITH LEROY STELLPFLUG
A FORMER PABST BREWERY WORKER
WHO SPENT THE WORST NIGHT OF THE STORM
SNOWBOUND IN A MILWAUKEE TROLLEY CAR.
TELL ME WHY YOU WERE GOING TO WORK THAT NIGHT ?
WELL, FIRST OF ALL, TO MAKE A LIVING.
THAT'S ALL THEY HAD OPEN, WAS THE THIRD SHIFT.
THE STREET CAR CAME-- ON TIME.
WE GOT TO ABOUT 23rd AND NATIONAL
AND THEN WE SAW MANY STREET CARS AHEAD OF US ON THE TRACK
AND AUTOMOBILES.
AND WE WERE STUCK.
DIDN'T GET TO THE PABST BREWERY COMPANY
THAT NIGHT ?
WELL, BEER BUSINESS STOPPED THERE FOR A WHILE.
I THINK THAT EVERYONE ELSE WAS STRANDED SOMEWHERE.
IT GOT TO BE A COUPLE HOURS LATER
AND WE WERE LOOKING, YOU KNOW
"WHERE ARE THE CITY SNOW PLOWS ?"
THE WIND WAS BLOWING, THE SNOW WAS FLYING.
BUT WE WERE SAFE
WE HAD THE TROLLEY PULL ON THE WIRE.
WE HAD LIGHT AND HEAT
AND I HAD MY LUNCH BUCKET.
SO, I WAS WELL-PREPARED FOR THE EVENING.
SO, WE JUST WAITED OUT THE NIGHT
JUST A FEW POOR SOULS ON THERE THAT WERE CAUGHT.
SO, AT ABOUT 3:00 IN THE MORNING
I JUST SAT THERE AND ATE MY LUNCH
AND LET THE NIGHT GO BY.
YOU FELL ASLEEP ON A CANE CHAIR LIKE THIS ?
WELL, I JUST LEANED BACK, LIKE THIS
AND AGAINST THE WINDOW, LIKE THAT.
IT WAS NICE.
I FOUND SOME OF THESE PHOTOS.
LET'S TAKE A LOOK AT SOME OF THESE THINGS.
NOW WHAT DO YOU SEE ?
DOES THIS LOOK LIKE ANYTHING YOU EVER SAW
DURING THE COURSE OF THAT ?
WELL, DURING THAT STORM
THE STREETS WERE TIED UP THAT WAY.
AND THAT'S WHY LATER ON, PLOWS COULDN'T GET THROUGH
BECAUSE THE CARS BLOCKED IT, YOU KNOW.
OTHER PEOPLE HAD WARM PLACES TO SIT
SITTING IN A TELEPHONE BOOTH.
YES, TELEPHONE BOOTHS.
PROBABLY CALLING HOME, "WE'RE STUCK HERE.
"WAIT FOR US.
DON'T KEEP THE SOUP WARM."
( both laugh )
AND THESE ARE TROLLEY BUSES.
HERE, YOU CAN TELL BY THE POLES ON THE WIRE
TWO POLES ON THE WIRE.
BUT THEY'VE GOT LIGHT AND HEAT.
SO, THE DRIVER SITS INSIDE AND HE'S OKAY.
THERE THEY ARE.
HERE'S TWO STREETCAR MOTORMEN, HERE
DISCUSSING THE LATEST DEVELOPMENTS.
"WHERE ARE THE SNOW PLOWS ?"
MILWAUKEE, THE GREAT CITY ON THE LAKE.
STOPPED IN TIME BY A BIG SNOW STORM.
THE LAST BUS TO MAKE IT OUT.
I'VE NEVER SEEN ANYTHING ELSE LIKE THIS.
I AM 76 YEARS OLD.
AND I HAVE NEVER SEEN ANYTHING LIKE THAT.
THAT WAS TOPS ON MY LIST, THERE.
THAT STORM.
THAT WAS ONE I'LL NEVER FORGET.
COMING UP NEXT
BASHING THROUGH DRIFTS AND THE SNOW BLOCKADE
IN RURAL WISCONSIN.
AND ONE OF THE DEADLIEST BLIZZARDS IN WISCONSIN.
Announcer: "YOU'VE GOT TO SEE DANGER TO AVOID IT"
WARNS THE NATIONAL SAFETY COUNCIL.
SO, WHENEVER YOUR CAR IS COVERED WITH SNOW
DON'T JUST GIVE THE WINDSHIELD A QUICK BRUSH OFF WITH YOUR HAND
LIKE OUR FRIEND HERE.
BUT DO A REAL JOB, GET YOUR BRUSH
AND GIVE YOURSELF A CHANCE TO SEE OUT
AS WELL AS BE SEEN.
GET ALL THE SNOW OFF THE WINDSHIELD.
MAKE SURE YOUR WINDSHIELD WIPERS
ARE OPERATING PROPERLY AND AREN'T FROZEN TO THE GLASS.
GET THE HEADLIGHTS CLEANED OFF
AND THEN THE SIDE WINDOWS.
AND DON'T FORGET THE HOOD AND AIR VENTS.
THEN, THE REAR WINDOW AND STOP LIGHTS--
YOU HAVE TO SEE BEHIND, AS WELL AS AHEAD.
YOU'RE GETTING THERE
BUT YOU'RE NOT THROUGH YET.
ONE FINAL DETAIL, AND AN IMPORTANT ONE
OPEN YOUR SIDE WINDOWS A BIT.
IT'S A-OKAY-- TAKE OFF.
NOW YOU CAN SEE AND BE SEEN
FOR SAFER WINTER DRIVING.
AND IN MORE STORM NEWS, IT WAS IN FEBRUARY OF 1936
THAT STATE HIGHWAY 48, FROM CUMBERLAND TO RICE LAKE
WAS BURIED BY A BLIZZARD AND HUGE SNOWDRIFTS.
IN THIS FILM FOOTAGE
INTERNATIONAL HARVESTER CORPORATION
DEMONSTRATES HOW QUICKLY
THEIR SNOW PLOWS COULD CLEAR THAT ROAD.
Announcer: SNOW BOUND ISOLATION WAS A TRAGEDY
TO MANY COMMUNITIES
NOT EQUIPPED FOR MOVING SNOW DURING EARLY 1936.
STALLED CARS AND MOTORTRUCKS WERE MUTE EVIDENCE
OF MAN'S HELPLESSNESS IN THE FACE OF A SNOW BLOCKADE.
HERE'S A HIGHWAY PILED DEEP WITH SNOW.
THAT FOR WEEKS WAS IMPASSABLE FOR AUTOMOBILES AND TRUCKS.
SUB ZERO TEMPERATURES, AND SNOW
FOUR TO 14 FEET DEEP
WERE SERIOUS HANDICAPS TO FARMERS
ALONG THIS ROAD.
BECAUSE THEY HAD TO DEPEND ON HORSES AND SLEDS
TO MOVE THEIR PRODUCTS TO MARKET.
SCHOOL BUS SERVICE WAS DISCONTINUED.
SICKNESS BECAME EVEN MORE SERIOUS
WHEN MEDICAL AID WAS DEPENDENT
ON BOBSLEDS OR SNOWSHOES.
HARDLY BELIEVING THAT SUCH HUGE DRIFTS
AND HEAVILY TRODDEN SNOW
COULD BE CLEARED WITH A MOTORTRUCK
MANY GATHERED TO WCH THE OUTFIT
FORCE IT'S WAY THROUGH DRIFTS
IN SOME PLACES MUCH DEEPER THAN THE HEIGHT OF THE TRUCK.
THE TRUCK FORCED THE PLOW
THROUGH ORDINARY DRIFTS CONTINUOUSLY
TOSSING ASIDE LARGE CHUNKS OF SNOW.
THE SUCCESS OF THIS SPECTACULAR SNOW-MOVING OPERATION
EXCEEDED ALL EXPECTATIONS
AND LEFT NO DOUBT AS TO THE ABILITY OF THE OUTFIT.
FOUR YEARS LATER, SNOW PLOWS WERE AGAIN PUT TO THE TEST.
THIS TIME, ON ARMISTICE DAY, IN 1940.
IT BEGAN AS A WARM NOVEMBER DAY, WITH HIGHS IN THE '60s.
BUT WHEN A COLD FRONT ROARED IN
MANY HUNTERS WHO HAD VENTURED OUT
WHERE CAUGHT UNPREPARED
FOR ONE OF WISCONSIN'S DEADLIEST BLIZZARDS
WITH WINDS GUSTING UP TO 80 MILES PER HOUR.
JEAN LECHNER, FROM PRAIRIE DU CHIEN
WAS 23, NEWLY MARRIED AND PREGNANT AT THE TIME.
SHE AND HER HUSBAND, RAY
TOOK THE DAY OFF TO GO RABBIT HUNTING.
AND GOT CAUGHT IN THE ARMISTICE DAY BLIZZARD.
THE WIND WAS SO STRONG
OUR LITTLE TRUCK DIDN'T HAVE ENOUGH POWER.
AND IT WAS STARTING TO BLOW SNOW.
THE SNOW STARTED COMING IN AROUND THE WINDSHIELD.
THEN IT GOT TO BE LIKE A WHITEOUT.
YOU KNOW, YOU'VE DRIVEN THROUGH FOG IN A WHITEOUT
WHERE YOU COULDN'T SEE A THING.
COULDN'T SEE THE ROAD, YOU COULDN'T SEE--
RAY SAID, "I DON'T KNOW WHAT TO DO."
I SAID, "JUST LET ME DRIVE, OKAY ?"
AND I'VE DRIVEN SINCE I WAS 14.
SO, I GOT BEHIND THE WHEEL.
AND THEN, HE'D STICK HIS HEAD OUT THE DOOR
TO TRY TO SEE WHERE WE WERE GOING AND GUIDE ME.
AND WE FINALLY--
WE WENT ABOUT A HALF A MILE AND THEN STOPPED.
AND A HALF A MILE, AND STOPPED.
AND THEN, WHEN IT LET UP A LITTLE BIT
WE'D DRIVE AGAIN.
I WAS BULLHEADED ENOUGH TO KNOW THAT I WAS GOING TO GET HOME
IF I HAD TO PUSH THAT TRUCK HOME.
HAVE YOU EVER DRIVEN IN A WORSE STORM ?
NO, I'VE SEEN WIND STORMS AND TREES UPROOTED AND STUFF
BUT NOTHING THAT FRIGHTENED ME AS MUCH AS THAT
BECAUSE I HAD A FUNNY FEELING
WE WERE NEVER GOING TO GET HOME.
Will: THE ARMISTICE DAY BLIZZARD
WAS ONE OF THE MOST UNEXPECTED STORMS
IN WISCONSIN HISTORY.
PEOPLE WERE STRANDED IN THEIR CARS FOR DAYS
AND WHOLE TOWNS WERE ISOLATED BY HUGE SNOW DRIFTS.
IN ALL, THE BLIZZARD CLAIMED 162 LIVES;
49 WERE FROM WISCONSIN.
THE ARMISTICE DAY BLIZZARD OF 1940
STARTED BUILDING ACROSS THE PACIFIC NORTHWEST
WHERE THE NEWLY-BUILT TACOMA NARROWS SUSPENSION BRIDGE
ALSO KNOWN AS "GALLOPING GERTIE"
TWISTED IN THE HIGH WINDS, AND COLLAPSED.
THE STORM MOVED SOUTH TO THE FOUR CORNERS AREA
AND WITH A CLASSIC "COLORADO HOOK"
SUCKED UP MOISTURE FROM THE GULF OF MEXICO
ROARED UP THE MISSISSIPPI RIVER VALLEY WITH BLIZZARD CONDITIONS
AND A PRECIPITOUS DROP IN TEMPERATURE.
NOW, WISCONSIN'S LOWEST RECORDED TEMPERATURE
OCCURRED IN EARLY FEBRUARY, 1996
IN COUDERAY, OUTSIDE OF HAYWARD
WHERE THE MERCURY FINALLY HIT BOTTOM AT -55 DEGREES.
THAT'S THE LOWEST TEMPERATURE
EVER RECORDED EAST OF THE MISSISPPI.
LAKE-EFFECT SNOWS OFTEN OCCUR
IN COUNTIES SOUTH OF LAKE SUPERIOR
AS COLD AIR MOVES ACROSS OPEN WATER
AND PICKS UP HEAT AND MOISTURE.
A NORTHEAST WIND WILL BRING THAT MOIST AIR OVER LAND
WHERE IT COOLS DOWN.
AND THE MOISTURE CONDENSES, FORMING CLOUDS
AND TRIGGERING HEAVY SNOWSTORMS.
THANKS TO LAKE-EFFECT SNOW, IN 1996-1997
HURLEY, WHICH IS ALWAYS A SNOWY PLACE
RECORDED THE MOST SNOWFALL EVER IN WISCONSIN, 277 INCHES.
THAT'S OVER 23 FEET !
SO, DEBBIE KMETZ VISITED
THE IRON COUNTY HISTORICAL SOCIETY IN HURLEY
TO HEAR ABOUT OTHER MEMORABLE STORMS OF THE PAST.
Man: MY DAD AND I STARTED OUT WITH--
HE HAD SNOWSHOES AND I HAD SKIS.
WE DIDN'T GET EVEN A BLOCK AWAY FROM HOME
AND DECIDED THAT IT WAS EASIER
TO SHOVE THEM ON THE SIDE AND WALK THROUGH THE SNOW.
Woman 1: YOU COULDN'T SEE IN FRONT OF YOU.
YOU COULD HARDLY FIND THE CAR ON MAIN STREET OF HURLEY.
Woman 2: THAT WINTER, THE SCHOOL BUSES WENT BY
AND WE NEVER SAW THEM.
THE SNOW GOT SO DEEP THAT YOU COULDN'T SEE ANYTHING GO BY.
Debbie Kmetz: MEMORIES OF WINTER.
MEMORIES THAT WEAVE LIFE TOGETHER IN HURLEY, WISCONSIN
AS TIGHTLY AS THE RUGS
THEY MAKE AT THE IRON COUNTY HISTORICAL SOCIETY.
WE'RE IN THE OLD COUNTY ADMINISTRATIVE BUILDING
NOW THE SOCIETY'S HEADQUARTERS.
I MET WITH SEVERAL MEMBERS TO ADMIRE THEIR HANDIWORK
AND TO HEAR THE TALES OF MEMORABLE WINTERS.
ONE STORM SEEMS TO STAND OUT ABOVE ALL THE REST--
THE BLIZZARD OF 1938.
Doris Morello: MY MOTHER AND I HAD GONE TO TOWN--
ONCE A WEEK.
WE WERE A BIG FAMILY, AND LIVED OUT IN THE COUNTRY.
HOW OLD WERE YOU ?
I WAS EIGHT. OKAY.
AND SO, WE HAD DONE THE GROCERY SHOPPING
AND RAN TO THE MOVIES, AND WE WERE DRIVING...
IT'S STARTING TO SNOW ? IT WAS SNOWING.
AND WHEN WE STARTED DOWN 51
WE GOT ON THAT CURVE PAST THAT BIG ROCK
AND WE DIDN'T KNOW WHERE WE WERE.
AND ALL OF THE SUDDEN
THE CAR JUST KIND OF "PHLUNKED" DOWN.
WE WERE ON THE WRONG SIDE OF THE ROAD
ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE SNOW BANK.
WE HAD DRIVEN RIGHT UP A DRIFT.
IT WAS HOURS LATER--
WE SAW VERY DIM LIGHTS WHERE THE ROAD SHOULD BE.
SO, I GOT OUT OF THE CAR
AND MY MOTHER STARTED FLASHING THE CAR LIGHTS.
AND I WAS STANDING ON THE SNOW BANK, HOLLERING.
AND IT'S STILL SNOWING ?
IT'S SNOWING TO BEAT THE BAND.
AND IT WAS MY FATHER AND MY UNCLE--
HAD GOTTEN THE TOWN SNOW PLOW, THE TOWN OF ALMA SNOW PLOW
AND THEY WERE COMING LOOKING FOR US.
WITH THE SNOW PLOW ?
YES, AND MY DAD HAD THE WINDOW ROLLED DOWN
AND HE HEARD ME HOLLERING.
Kmetz: WITH DRIFTS OF SNOW
BLOCKING EVERY ROAD AND RAIL LINE
EVEN THE HARDY FOLKS OF HURLEY HAD TO SUBMIT.
TRAINS STOPPED, BUSES WERE STRANDED.
MINERS WERE STUCK AT THE MINES.
KIDS SPENT THREE TO FOUR DAYS BLOCKED INTO SCHOOL BUILDINGS.
WELL, ACCORDING TO THE NEWSPAPER ARTICLE THAT THEY HAD
IT WAS LISTED AS THE WORST BLIZZARD WE EVER HAD.
Kmetz: DO YOU HAVE ANY PICTURES HERE OF THAT
OF THOSE STREETS ?
I HAVE A LOT OF PICTURES.
I DON'T KNOW IF WE CAN KEEP UP.
THEY HAD ABOUT 36 INCHES IN THAT STORM.
BUT THE REASON IT WAS SO BAD IS BECAUSE OF THE HIGH WIND.
AND ALL OF THE BUILDINGS ON THE NORTH SIDE OF THE STREET
WERE COMPLETELY BLOCKED IN.
HERE'S A PICTURE WHERE THEY HAD
JUST ABOUT MADE A PATH INTO THE DRUGSTORE.
( laughs ) WOW.
NOW, THIS IS TALLER THAN SOME VERY TALL MEN.
YES, IT IS.
HERE, IT SHOWS THE PRESIDENT OF THE BANK.
THE OPENING HAS BEEN SHOVELED INTO THE BANK
SO THEY CAN GET IN THERE.
News Reporter: OVER 200 INCHES OF SNOW HAS FALLEN SO FAR THIS SEASON.
THAT'S 60-70 INCHES MORE THAN LAST YEAR.
AND LAST YEAR TURNED OUT TO BE A RECORD.
THIS IS THE WORST WINTER SO FAR.
Kmetz: WITH A TOTAL OF 277 INCHES OF SNOW
THE WINTER OF '96-'97 SET A RECORD.
AND STATEWIDE NEWSPAPERS
INCLUDED A STORY ABOUT RUTH
AND WALTER HOEPNER AND THEIR DISAPPEARING HOUSE.
"HURLEY RESIDENTS CRY 'ENOUGH!' BUT THE SNOW KEEPS ON FALLING."
Walter Hoepner: A COUPLE IN SUN PRAIRIE SENT IT TO US.
Ruth Hoepner: THEY FOUND IT IN THE WISCONSIN STATE JOURNAL
IN FEBRUARY.
THEY DECIDED THAT WE SHOULD KNOW THAT THERE WAS SNOW UP HERE.
WERE YOU SURPRISED ?
( all laugh )
WERE WE EVER SURPRISED.
NOW, THIS IS OUR HOUSE.
THAT'S YOUR HOUSE ?
WHAT YOU SEE THERE ARE THE WINDOWS ON THE PORCH.
BARELY.
THE SNOW WAS SO DEEP
WE COULDN'T LOOK OUT OF THOSE WINDOWS AT ALL.
Kmetz: THE HOEPNERS ARE ACTUALLY RECENT ARRIVALS IN HURLEY.
HAVING CHOSEN TO RETIRE THERE--
ON PURPOSE.
Walter Hoepner: I LIKE WHITE. Kmetz: YOU DO ?!
( all laugh )
Kmetz: I SEE WALTER IN THIS PICTURE
AND THERE'S YOUR DOG ON TOP OF THE SNOW.
Ruth Hoepner: HE'S LYING THERE, RESTING UP FROM THAT BIG CLIMB UP THERE.
( Debbie laughs )
HERE'S OUR SHOVEL.
YOU NEVER PUT YOUR SHOVEL AWAY; NOBODY STEALS IT.
( both laugh )
Carl Prosek: I ALWAYS HAD THE IDEA
TO MAKE THE BEST OF WHATEVER IT WAS.
IF YOU HAD SNOW, YOU ENJOYED IT.
YOU DID SKIING.
YOU DID SLEIGHING, ICE SKATING.
SO, IF YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE WINTER
YOU MAY AS WELL MAKE THE BEST OF IT AND ENJOY IT.
THAT WAS MY PHILOSOPHY FOR WORK OR EVERYTHING ELSE.
IF YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE IT ENJOY IT, MAKE THE BEST OF IT.
Kmetz: SO, THIS SNOW, IT'S BEEN WORTH IT ?
Doris Morello: OH, YEAH.
I'VE ALWAYS LIKED WINTER, FROM LITTLE ON.
I LIVED AWAY FROM HERE FOR SEVEN YEARS
AND I WAS JUST GLAD TO GET BACK.
Walter Hoepner: IF IT WOULDN'T BE FOR WINTER
YOU WOULDN'T ENJOY SPRING, SUMMER AND FALL.
SCOTTISH IMMIGRANTS STARTED THE FIRST CURLING CLUB
IN MILWAUKEE, IN 1845, THREE YEARS BEFORE STATEHOOD.
THE SPORT THEN SPREAD ACROSS THE STATE.
AND IN 1965, A TEAM FROM SUPERIOR
BECAME AMERICA'S FIRST INTERNATIONAL CHAMPIONS.
DEBBIE KMETZ TRAVELED TO SUPERIOR
AND TALKED TO BUD SOMERVILLE, AMERICA'S MOST FAMOUS CURLER.
Kmetz: CANADIANS AND EUROPEANS
DOMINATED THE SPORT OF CURLING UNTIL 1965
WHEN A TEAM FROM THIS CURLING CLUB
IN SUPERIOR, WISCONSIN
BECAME THE FIRST FROM AMERICA TO WIN
THE PRESTIGIOUS SCOTCH CUP
THE WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP OF CURLING.
THE MAN WHO LEAD THAT TEAM
AND THREW THE MATCH-WINNING CHAMPIONSHIP ROCK
WAS BUD SOMERVILLE
WHO BECAME KNOWN AS "THE BABE RUTH" OF CURLING.
BUD, CAN YOU TAKE US BACK TO THAT MOMENT ?
IT WAS QUITE A THRILL FOR THE FOUR OF US.
WE DIDN'T THINK, AT THAT TIME
THAT WE COULD HOLD A CANDLE TO THE EUROPEAN TEAMS.
AND FOUR GUYS FROM SUPERIOR, WISCONSIN
TRAVELING OVER TO PERTH, SCOTLAND--
I THINK WE KIND OF FELT THAT IF WE WON ONE GAME
WE'D BE MORE THAN SATISFIED.
BUT AS YOU KNOW, TO WIN THE WHOLE THING
IT WAS REALLY A THRILL.
SO, YOU WERE GOING WHERE CURLING WAS BORN
IN SCOTLAND ?
THE SCOTS ARE TREMENDOUS CURLING FANS.
AND I THINK THEY WERE AS THRILLED AT OUR VICTORY
AS WE WERE, TOO.
THE SCOTS WERE YOUR FANS AT THAT POINT ?
THEY CERTAINLY WERE.
THE GUYS FROM SUPERIOR, WISCONSIN. RIGHT.
THAT'S WONDERFUL.
WHAT WAS IT LIKE WHEN YOU CAME BACK TO SUPERIOR ?
THE TRAIN STATION IN SUPERIOR--
THERE MUST HAVE BEEN 1,000 OR 2,000 PEOPLE THERE
WAITING FOR US.
THEY HAD US UP ON THEIR SHOULDERS. REALLY ?
YEAH, IT WAS GREAT.
IT WAS A LOT OF FRIENDS AND A LOT OF PEOPLE.
I THINK THEY WERE AS HAPPY FOR US
AS WE WERE FOR OURSELVES.
SOMERVILLE AND THE SUPERIOR CURLING CLUB
WENT ON TO WIN ANOTHER WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP
AT BURN, SWITZERLAND, IN 1974.
THEY PLAYED IN THE OLYMPIC DEMONSTRATION GAMES
AT CALGARY, IN 1988.
AND IN 1992, AT THE AGE OF 55
SOMERVILLE SKIPPED HIS TEAM TO A BRONZE MEDAL
AT THE ALBERTVILLE OLYMPICS.
BUD SOMERVILLE
AN AMERICAN CURLING LEGEND FROM SUPERIOR.
AND FINALLY, A BAD STORM OR A WINTER EMERGENCY
CAN BRING OUT THE BEST IN SOME PEOPLE
LIKE DR. KATE NEWCOMB, FROM WOODRUFF.
AS DEBBIE KMETZ FOUND OUT, DR. KATE'S MEDICAL HEROICS
WERE ALREADY THE STUFF OF LEGEND UP NORTH
WHEN SHE APPEARED ON THE NATIONAL TELEVISION PROGRAM
THIS IS YOUR LIFE.
YOU'VE MINISTERED TO WOUNDED HUNTERS AND TRAPPERS
TREATED INJURED LUMBERJACKS AND INDIANS
REVIVED HALF-DROWNED VACATIONISTS
TRUDGED MILES ON SNOWSHOES THROUGH FROZEN WOODS
TO DELIVER BABIES BY THE LIGHT OF A KEROSENE LANTERN...
Kmetz: ALMOST HALF A CENTURY LATER, WE'RE IN SNOWY WOODRUFF
AT THE DR. KATE MUSEUM.
BY THE TIME SHE WAS ON THE NATIONAL TELEVISION SHOW
DR. KATE WAS TRULY A LEGEND IN THE NORTH.
PEOPLE CALLED HER THE "ANGEL ON SNOWSHOES"
BECAUSE IN THE 1930s AND '40s
THERE WERE FEW PAVED ROADS IN THE AREA
AND WHEN DR. KATE'S CAR GOT STUCK IN SNOWY DRIFTS
SHE STRAPPED ON SNOWSHOES TO GET TO PATIENTS IN NEED.
BUT THIS STORY REALLY HAS IT'S BEGINNINGS
IN UPSTATE NEW YORK
WHEN KATE PELHAM TOLD HER FAMILY
SHE WANTED TO BECOME A DOCTOR.
IN THE EARLY 1900s
WHEN WOMEN WERE EXPECTED TO MARRY AND RAISE A FAMILY
KATE'S FATHER REJECTED HER PLEA TO ATTEND MEDICAL SCHOOL.
SHE SETTLED FOR THE MORE CONVENTIONAL JOB OF TEACHING.
BUT HER HEART WASN'T IN IT.
WHEN SHE TURNED 28, HER FATHER FINALLY RELENTED
AND KATE STARTED ON THE CAREER SHE ALWAYS WANTED.
TO THINK THAT SHE WAS 31 YEARS OLD
WHEN SHE GRADUATED FROM MEDICAL SCHOOL--
THAT HER FATHER WOULDN'T ALLOW HER TO GO TO MEDICAL SCHOOL
IS UNBELIEVABLE IN OUR TIME.
BUT SHE HAD A DREAM TO BE A DOCTOR.
Kmetz: AFTER PRACTICING MEDICINE IN DETROIT FOR A FEW YEARS
DOING WORK SHE TRULY LOVED
KATE DEVELOPED ANOTHER LOVE, BILL NEWCOMB.
INDIRECTLY, HE'S THE REASON
SHE LANDED IN NORTHERN WISCONSIN.
HIS LUNGS WERE DAMAGED WHILE WORKING IN A DEFENSE FACTORY
SO HE NEEDED TO RECUPERATE WHERE THE AIR WAS CLEAN.
IN ONE OF LIFE'S MOST BITTER IRONIES
DR. KATE WAS FORCED TO CHOOSE:
LIVE HUNDREDS OF MILES FROM HER HUSBAND
AND CONTINUE HER PRACTICE
OR JOIN HIM IN WISCONSIN, GIVING UP HER HARD-WON CAREER.
Margaret Gaulke: SHE WAS DIFFERENT.
FIRST OF ALL, SHE WAS A SHE.
I DON'T KNOW WHAT I THOUGHT A WOMAN DOCTOR SHOULD LOOK LIKE
BUT IT WASN'T LIKE DR. KATE.
Kmetz: AS YOU PROBABLY ALREADY GATHERED
DR. KATE DID PICK UP HER MEDICAL BAG AGAIN.
BUT IT TOOK A CRISIS TO BRING IT ABOUT.
IN 1931, DURING A BITTER SNOW STORM
SHE GOT A CALL FROM DR. TORPHY, THE LOCAL PHYSICIAN
DEMANDING THAT SHE GO TO THE AID OF ONE OF HIS PATIENTS.
Wanda Nelson: HE SAID, "I CAN NOT GET THERE."
AND, "YOU ARE GOING."
AND HE HAD SOME VERY STRONG WORDS
THAT HE USED AS PART OF HIS VOCABULARY.
Kmetz: FROM THAT POINT ON
DR. KATE HANDLED THE MEDICAL CALLS
IN THE 250 SQUARE MILES
SURROUNDING HER BOULDER JUNCTION HOME.
I HAD FIVE BABIES AND SHE DELIVERED ALL OF THEM.
SHE WAS SO COMPASSIONATE.
AND YET, SHE ALWAYS BROUGHT OUT SOME LITTLE THING
THAT WAS HUMOROUS
TO SORT OF, YOU KNOW, MAKE YOU FEEL COMFORTABLE.
SHE DID A TREMENDOUS AMOUNT OF FREE WORK.
I DON'T THINK MONEY MEANT ANYTHING TO HER
OTHER THAN TO BE ABLE TO GET HER AROUND
FROM PLACE TO PLACE.
Kmetz: DR. KATE HELPED OVER 3,000 MOTHERS GIVE BIRTH
SOME OF THEM IN HER CAR ON THE WAY TO THE NEAREST HOSPITAL
A GOOD DISTANCE AWAY IN TOMAHAWK.
NOR WAS SHE TOO SHY TO USHER A WOMAN IN LABOR
INTO A STRANGER'S HOUSE
IF THEY WEREN'T GOING TO MAKE IT TO THE HOSPITAL IN TIME.
HER LOVE, FOR WHAT SHE CALLED "HER" BABIES
COULD BE SEEN BY THE PICTURES ON HER OFFICE WALLS.
AND THE KIDS RETURNED HER LOVE.
Gaulke: THE PARENTS DIDN'T ALWAYS
BECAUSE IF THEY WEREN'T TAKING GOOD CARE OF THEIR CHILDREN
SHE LET THEM KNOW IN A HURRY.
IN A BIG HURRY.
Kmetz: DR. KATE HAD BEEN KNOWN TO CANOE ACROSS AN ICE-FILLED LAKE
SUFFER FROSTBITE AFTER WALKING MILES ON SNOWSHOES
AND SET OUT IN 30-BELOW WEATHER
JUST TO HELP HER PATIENTS.
SHE SEEMED TO HAVE NO FEAR FOR HERSELF.
ON ONE MEDICAL MISSION, HER CAR GOT STUCK IN A SNOW BANK
WHICH GETS US BACK TO HER GUEST APPEARANCE
ON THE NATIONAL TELEVISION SHOW, THIS IS YOUR LIFE.
I COULDN'T GO AHEAD AND I STARTED TO BACK UP
AND EVIDENTLY, GAS GOT IN THE CAR.
AND EVIDENTLY, I GOT OUT.
THE FUMES, IT WAS CARBON MONOXIDE ?
CARBON MONOXIDE, SURE.
HOW DID YOU GET OUT OF THE CAR ? I DON'T KNOW.
THAT'S ALL I KNOW, WHEN SAM FOUND ME.
I WAS WANDERING.
SO, HAVING SAVED MANY LIVES YOURSELF
THIS TIME, ONE OF YOUR FRIENDS SAVES YOUR LIFE.
HE SAVED MINE.
DO YOU THINK SHE WOULD HAVE MADE IT, MR. WILLIAMS ?
I DON'T... NO. ( audience laughs )
SHE SAYS NO.
AND BOY, WHAT SHE SAYS GOES.
Kmetz: DR. KATE WAS INVITED TO APPEAR ON TELEVISION
NOT ONLY BECAUSE OF HER FAME AS AN INTREPID PHYSICIAN.
IT WAS ALSO BECAUSE
SHE WAS PUSHING FOR A DESPERATELY NEEDED HOSPITAL
FOR THE WOODRUFF AREA.
SHE WAS SO INSTRUMENTAL
IN GETTING THAT HOSPITAL BUILT IN WOODRUFF.
I MEAN, WITHOUT HER, WE NEVER WOULD HAVE HAD THAT.
Kmetz: THE MILLION-PENNY PARADE, ON MEMORIAL DAY IN 1953
WAS THE CROWNING GLORY
OF AN INSPIRATIONAL EFFORT
BY LOCAL HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS
TO RAISE A MILLION PENNIES FOR DR. KATE'S HOSPITAL.
THE PARADE PASSED THROUGH THE GYMNASIUM
WHERE PEOPLE THREW EVEN MORE PENNIES ON A HUGE PILE
WHICH, IN THE END, TOTALED $1,200,000.
THE FOLLOWING YEAR, TV HOST RALPH EDWARDS
ASKED VIEWERS TO HELP THEM REACH THEIR GOAL.
THE RESULTING AVALANCHE OF MAIL PUT A SMILE ON DR. KATE'S FACE
AND HELPED MAKE THE DREAM OF A HOSPITAL IN WOODRUFF A REALITY.
DR. KATE DIED AT THE AGE OF 70
JUST TWO YEARS AFTER THE HOSPITAL WAS COMPLETED.
BUT HER LEGACY LIVES ON IN NORTHERN WISCONSIN
AND IS CELEBRATED HERE
AT THE DR. KATE MUSEUM IN WOODRUFF.
AND JUST AROUND THE CORNER
VISITORS CAN SEE THE WORLD'S LARGEST PENNY
WHICH COMMEMORATES THE MILLION-PENNY PARADE.
FOR THE PEOPLE OF THE NORTHWOODS
DR. KATE WAS TRULY AN "ANGEL ON SNOWSHOES."
AND THAT'S TONIGHT'S NEWS
FROM WISCONSIN'S WINTER WEATHER PAST.
GOOD NIGHT, AND STAY WARM.
MAJOR FUNDING FOR WISCONSIN STORIES
IS PROVIDED BY THE MEAD WITTER FOUNDATION, INC.
WISCONSIN RAPIDS, WISCONSIN.
ADDITIONAL FUNDING IS PROVIDED BY
THE HALBERT AND ALICE KADISH FOUNDATION
PHILIP J. AND ELIZABETH B. HENDRICKSON
AND AN ADVISED FUND OF THE COMMUNITY FOUNDATION OF SOUTHERN WISCONSIN.