I Remember Trenton: Twins Born In Middle Of 1937 Ice Storm

Editor’s Note: This story was submitted by Mary Foland Holt, who was inspired to write after reading Rick Neff’s story concerning her cousin, the late Max Oyler (June 18, 1918-Jan. 31, 2020) and the ice storm of 1937. Mrs. Holt’s story also focuses on the winter of 1937.
My story begins where Max Oyler’s left off. Max was my cousin and I loved him very much.
He spoke of the ice of the winter of 1937. That was the winter that my twin brother, Terry and I were born. The ice was so thick that my older brother, Duane, ice skated over fences to get to school.
My family lived east of Tindall, on what is now Route O. My dad had cattle down the hill from the house and had to pull himself back up the hill after feeding the cows.
My mother went into labor when Dad was down the hill. She began to yell for Daddy. Their dog heard her and began running around the house, barking. Dad heard the dog and pulled himself up with his rope.
After going in to see about Mom, he had to walk quite a way to the nearest neighbor who had a phone. He called Dr. Cullers at his office in Trenton. He said he would come as soon as he could get there.
Just as Dr. Cullers started out of his office, Max’s sister, Frances, came in with a badly cut hand. He went back to stitch it up. Then he started out to my folks again. There was a very big hill, about a mile from our house and Dr. Cullers had a lot of trouble getting up the hill because of the ice.
Meanwhile, my poor mother delivered my twin brother and me all by herself. She nearly bled to death. Dad tried to help, but fortunately, Dr. Cullers arrived in time to save her life.
Terry and I were healthy babies and Mom lived to raise my three older siblings, Terry and me, and a younger brother, too.
My parents were Ross and Allie (Oyler) Foland. They both lived to be in their 80s when God called them home.
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