This winter scene is peaceful, but other storms have wreaked havoc for area residents. file/SUZANNE CARR ROSSI/THE FREE LANCE-STAR Visit the Photo Place

View the Stafford County community page

Remembered Christmas tree in Greenland wasn't green at all

A unique sort of Christmas tree and a tough week keeping horses alive highlight winter stories

Date published: 11/20/2008

By Rob Hedelt

FROM a uniquely engi- neered Christmas tree in Iceland to hard work keeping horses alive in a blizzard, today I share another round of readers' stories about rough winter weather.

Jay Luther of Stafford County said his most vivid winter memory is from Thule, Greenland, where he was stationed as an Army engineer.

"Although the continent is glacier-covered, snow is scarce and driven by winds at up to 140 miles an hour," he said. "Add to that landscape the harshness of total darkness, because it's only 900 miles from the North Pole."

With no paved roads and houses looking like oversize refrigerators, it became a challenge to decorate with Christmas cheer.

The solution was anything but orthodox.

"First, erect a tall pipe outdoors, steadied with guy wires, then fasten horizontal pipes [branches] every foot or so, at different angles," he said. "Then, hang long strings of colored lights from the top to the ice beneath."

That alone wouldn't get it done.

"Then spray it with water until every metal branch and the trunk are totally covered with ice, generously provided by the mist and minus-35-degree temperatures." he said.

With the lights shining through the ice, it made for his most meaningful Christmas tree ever.

"Even at noon in the total Arctic blackness," he said, "it sent a message to everyone: Christ is born!"

Darlene Gallahan of Spotsylvania County said her toughest winter came with a blizzard in 1994 that put her and her husband through days of extreme efforts to care for 15 or so horses at a farm owned by Jo Ashton on State Route 3 West.

Four of the horses were theirs. To cover their animals' board and make a small profit, the couple cared for all the animals.

"So no matter what the weather, we had to feed them, water them and so on," she said. "As the blizzard and tremendous wind and ice hit us early that morning, we struggled to reach the farm from our home in Leavell's Crossing, leaving home at 4 a.m."

Follow us on

Date published: 11/20/2008