By now, many folks have begun to take down their Christmas decorations. While I was researching the history of Christmas trees, I found several references to a Dutch tradition that handily took care of discarded trees.

They would celebrate the new year by burning the trees in the street.

Between you and me, I'm guessing our local officials just might frown upon this in Carroll County.

It might be better to recycle it in one of the many Christmas tree recycling programs organized by the county and municipalities -- it's good for the environment and it is probably a lot less paperwork that could result from burning a tree in the street in front of your house.

Just an idea.

As much as I hate winter and cold weather, I really do not like the wind. Just so we don't feel alone, however, I found some references to residents suffering with the weather in years gone by. Yes, misery loves company.

Almost 90 years ago, the out-of-print Union Bridge Pilot reported a big storm of that era on Jan. 13, 1922:

"One of the worst snow storms for several years visited this section on Wednesday (Jan. 11) piling the snow quite deep in many places, notwithstanding the fact that it was very heavy and accompanied the rain at times ...

"The electric line between here and Hagerstown also shar(ed) in the trouble and we were without current during the afternoon."

The article goes on to explain that crews trying to reach the electric lines could not do so by motor vehicles, so, "they left in a sleigh drawn by a pair of mules."

The defunct Democratic Advocate reported more winter misery Jan. 14, 1899:

"The rain of last Friday ... froze as it fell and trees, fences, shrubbery, telegraph, telephone and electric light wires were heavily coated with ice...

"While the sleet and bright sun made a beautiful winter scene, the weight of the sleet played havoc with telegraph, telephone and electric light wires, which were borne down and broken all over the city."

Freezing rain and downed power lines are bad news, but the worst thing that can happen in a winter storm is running out of ice cream.

Once, when I was living in Westminster in the early 1970s, I called the Westminster City Police in the middle of a bad snowstorm and asked if they could make an emergency delivery of ice cream.

No, I'm not a "Jay Leno Show" 911 caller. I knew the dispatcher.

I laughed. The dispatcher laughed.

Of course, if I had a pair of mules ...

Nowadays, in consideration of the 911 abuse that occurs -- which is not funny -- I'm guessing dispatchers over at the Westminster City Police department would get a bit grouchy if you called for ice cream in the middle of a snowstorm.

It, too, would probably result in a lot of paperwork.

When he is not looking for ice cream in a snowstorm, Kevin Dayhoff may be reached at kevindayhoff@gmail.com, or visit him at www.westminstermarylandonline.net.

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