I use to live with my grandparents in an old farmhouse in Maple Park IL for years. Harter Road curves up into the driveway just off of Prichard... Beyond this house Harter is a very rough dirty road known to attract 4x4 enthusiasts...
I miss the old place, but do not miss the winters out there. It was always a bit of a challenge and you have to stay on top of plowing snow (or you can see below what can happen with nothing to block the winds).
I feel for the young couple who are living there now. It is a lot of maintenance to keep that place going. I hope they might consider investing in a plow truck just to have around the farm for next season (if not before the end of this season). It is a rough go without it....
Reported by ABC 7 News Chicago:
January 7, 2014 (DEKALB COUNTY, Ill.) (WLS) -- A rural DeKalb County family received help from nearby farmers Tuesday night after drifting snow stranded them in their home.
A winter wonderland it was not for the Plumb family, who purchased the former polo horse farm last spring. They say they prepared for winter storms with food and activities for the children, but not for this week's massive snowfall and arctic blast.
The Plumb family says they have been buried under 6 feet of snow on their farm in DeKalb since New Year's Eve, and the snowfall over the weekend made it even more difficult for help to reach them.
Colton Plumb described what he could see when he looked out the window.
"It looked like if you were looking at the ocean and it froze, how wavy it is, the over the snow flying snow caps on the ocean," said Plumb.
Plumb says the house was built in the 1900s, so the insulation isn't great and the walls are made of plaster. He said it like living in the North Pole.
[gallery type="slideshow" columns="4" link="file" ids="1317,1318,1319,1320,1321,1322,1323,1324,1325,1326,1327,1328,1329" orderby="rand"]
"Touch ice on the walls and the carpet is frozen," said Plumb.
Plumb, who has been trapped in the house with his wife and two young children, says the scariest moment came when they lost power Monday night.
"Everything in our house is electric, so that didn't help us out at all," said Plumb.
Plumb says they have also been worried about their horses. They were fed on Sunday and couldn't get to them until Tuesday.
"It's been rough on them because they are not used to being trapped in a little stable. They have snow and ice built up in their hooves that we have to chisel off," said Plumb.
So on Tuesday night, four fellow farmers came by with heavy duty tractors and plowed a path to civilization. Through several feet of ice and snow, finally the Plumb family could see the road in front of them.
"Everyone sent prayers, it's very nice of everyone and we appreciate it," said Plumb.
Plumb says he and his family passed the time watching TV, movies and cooking. He said he's thankful they were rescued because he had only enough fuel in the propane tanks to heat the home through Wednesday. Plus, he said his 5-year-old daughter is ready to go back to school.
