Wintertime Musings

 Most of Benton County woke on December 26, 2021 to a scene similar to this one of Philomath in 1917 from the Benton County Historical Museum's collection of photographs.

 I'm sure the snow sent many to look for a warm coats, boots (like these moon boots from the 1970s),

mittens (such as these in OSU colors), and a warm hat.

 When on one's head, this knit hat's square corners looked like cat ears, earning it the name “pussyhat.”  It was made for the 2017 women's march on Washington.

Thus attired, one could venture out to play in the snow just as these young women did in 1919.

 or to build a snowman like Martha and Gilman Keasey did in 1949.

As for myself, I preferred to follow the 1900 example of Mary Cuthbart Leadbetter, stay in and read a book.  

By Martha Fraundorf, Volunteer for Benton County Historical Society, Philomath, Oregon