The photo shows the hand shoveling done from the New Glarus Township Line along what is now CTH W, all the way to Dayton; and then from CTH W along the old railroad track to Belleville. It took about three weeks plus, until the bulldozer was able to get up to the northern part of Green County after opening all the roads around Monroe.

The farmers were able to haul their milk to Belleville by going on top of the snow with their horses and sleds, as the snow was frozen solid on the top. The snow depth averaged three to four feet in depth, the sleds could go over the fences while going across the fields. The farmers that went to Belleville with the milk would bring back groceries for their neighbors.

A jug of wine was always placed at the electric poles, and no one could get a drink until we had shoveled the road up to that pole. Nobody complained, as there were others that helped us and all had a good time, as could not do anything else.

During the time that we were shoveling the road, my dad received a call from the Belleville Depot Agent that the Illinois Central Railroad was requesting that the agent secure a group of people to help clear out the snow which was around the steam locomotive that was stuck in an approximately 20 foot high snow bank at the south end of the tunnel. There was a group of 20 plus people shoveling for two days, during which time another steam locomotive came from Freeport, IL, and was able to pull the first locomotive out of the snow bank.

Editor's Note: This storm took place in January of 1936. Looking back at the archives, Highway 69 was closed for at least 17 days between Monticello and Monroe, several lives were lost and residents endured four weeks of sub-zero temperatures.