Ice Storm 2008

The IHM School Bell

The IHM School Bell

In the early morning of December 12, 2008, southwestern New Hampshire and a large section of Massachusetts lost power due to a devastating ice storm. The tops of trees snapped off, branches broke, entire trees were uprooted (one narrowly missing two of the Brothers). We (the religious at Saint Benedict Center) are still without power, although we have regained most of our appliance use due to the generous loan of a large generator. IHM School was in session Monday morning, but there were too many surrounding pressures (and no lights!), so school is closed until further notice. Today we are in the middle of a snow storm that has turned to sleet.

I thought that you would like to see some pictures I took this weekend. In spite of the devastation, the ice is so very beautiful! (I wasn’t allowed to get pictures of the worst damage because it was too dangerous to go under the trees.)

Sister Maria Perpetua and Sister Marie Therese admire the sun shining through the ice (note the trees over the fire pond in the background).

Sister Maria Perpetua and Sister Marie Therese admire the sun shining through the ice (note the trees over the fire pond in the background).

Those white tips aren't pine cones! They are the bare wood where the tops snapped off.

Those white tips aren't pine cones! They are the bare wood where the tops snapped off.

Branches are stripped off by the weight of the ice

Branches are stripped off by the weight of the ice

A huge pine bough lands in our driveway

A huge pine bough lands in our driveway

Our Lady's shrine

Our Lady's shrine

Even the grass is iced!

Even the grass is iced!

War Zone! That pine on the ground was completely uprooted.

War Zone! That pine on the ground was completely uprooted.

A crystal fountain

A crystal fountain

Sunrise

Sunrise on Gaudete Sunday (this picture was taken by Sister Maria Perpetua)

By moonlight

By moonlight

Comments 4

  1. Mary Anne Sullivan wrote:

    I LOVE these pictures!! Y’all have some great photographers! Please keep posting these wonderful pictures.

    I love the new website. I look at it often.

    May you have a blessed Christmas!

    Posted 20 Dec 2008 at 6:59 pm
  2. Russell LaPlume wrote:

    Father Creator at times lets Mother Nature run amok – so beautiful to behold but so lethal as well. Please pray for the man who donated that generator, Jack, and his family for a return to the faith.

    Posted 22 Dec 2008 at 1:00 pm
  3. Larry Koralewski wrote:

    Despite the trials caused by the ice storm, I’m delighted that you captured the beauty in photographs. Like Father Feeney said, water has so many aspects for us to contemplate.

    Posted 26 Dec 2008 at 1:30 am
  4. Christina Schroth wrote:

    Wow! It must have been a bad one! knocked down the 2 trees next to Our Lady.

    Posted 02 Jan 2009 at 11:21 am

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