Die Schneefense (Snow Fences)
Mit em Schnee as mer den Winder ghat henn, hawwich gedenkt an eppes as mer nimmi meh in die Gegend viel sehne — die Schneefense. Yaahre zerick viel Zeide bis Nowember odder Diesember hot mer die uffgschtellt Fense sehne kenne net zu weit vun de Schtroosse. Fer was brauche mer Schneefense? Sie mache der Schnee as am Blose iss naegscht an de Schroosse bleiwe un net uff sie. Wann mer der Schnee schtoppe kann vun iwwer de Schroosse so schtarick blose, kenne die Dreiwer aa besser sehne.
(With the snow that we had this winter, I thought of something that we no longer see very much in this areasnow fences. Years ago many times by November or December we could see them erected not too far from the roads. Why do we need snow fences? They make snow that is blowing accumulate next to the roads and not in them. When you can stop the snow from blowing so hard over the roads, drivers can also see better.)
Die Schneefense in die Gegend waare aus Holz un Droht gemacht. Sie waare leicht fer ausrolle un widder nuffrolle. So fer was henn mer ken Schneefense in die Gegend Heitesdaags? Mit re besser Equipmentgrosse Drucks un Schneeblieg fer Schnee wecknemme- un Treatments uff de Schtroosse duh, waare die Schneefense net notwendich. Sie waare fer viele Yaahre net geyuust.
(Snow fences in this area were made from wood and wire. They were easy to unroll and roll up. So why don’t we have snow fences in this area today? With better equipment- large trucks and snowplows to remove snow- and treatment put on the roads, snow fences were not necessary. They were not used for many years.)
Die Schneefense gehne zerick zu de Ancient Zeide. Die Archaeologists henn ausgfunne was sie glaawe as en zwansich Fuuss Schtick vun re Schneefens waar.
Es waar net zu weit vum bekannde Stonehenge in England as circa 3000 BC gebaut waar. Deel Scientists glaawe as die Fens geyuust waar fer Schnee rumfiehre vielleicht fer Wasser hewe.
(Snow fences date back to ancient times. Archaeologists discovered what they believe was a twenty foot section of a snow fence. It was not too far from the famous Stonehenge in England which was built circa 3000 BC. Some scientists believe that the fence was used to channel snow perhaps for storing water.)
In annere Schtaade kannscht du Schneefense sehne. Vielleicht die bescht bekannd iss der Schtaat Wyoming wu iwwer fimf hunnert Meil vun sie naegscht zum Interstate 80 hot. Sie sin aus Holz gemacht un schtehne vatzeh Fuss hoch. Deel Wyoming Department of Transportation Amtsmenner denke as es waer yuscht baut ummieglich fer die doh Schtross im Winder uff bhalde wann sie die Schneefense net henn.
(In other states you can see snow fences. Perhaps the most well known is the state of Wyoming which has over five hundred miles of them next to Interstate 80. They are made out of wood and stand fourteen feet high. Some Wyoming Department of Transportation officials think it would be just about impossible for them to keep this road open in winter if they did not have the snow fences.)
Wann ich en Kind waar, hawwich die Schneefense net gegliche. Fer was net? Sie henn der Schnee vun de Schtroosse bhalde. So die Schulbusses henn faahre kenne un mer henn Schul hawwe kenne. Awwer mit ken Schneefense, deet der Schnee dief uff de Schtroosse geh. Dann henn mer ken Schul weil die Schulbusses henn net faahre kenne!
(When I was a child, I did not like snow fences. Why? They kept the snow off the roads. So the schoolbusses could travel and we would have school. But without snow fences, the snow would go deep into the roads. Then we would not have school because the schoolbusses could not travel!)
Vielleicht ee Daag kann ich noch Wyoming faahre. Wann ich des duh, will ich fer schur fer ihre Schneefense gucke!
(Perhaps one day I can travel to Wyoming. If I do this, I will certainly look for their snow fences!)
Bis schpeeder… (Until later)…
Yuscht es Bauereimaedel aus Kutzeschteddel, die Mary Laub (Just the farm girl from Kutztown, Mary Laub)
With the snow that we had this winter, I thought of something that we no longer see very much in this area- snow fences. Years ago many times by November or December we could see them erected not too far from the roads.
(On the Farm) series. She recently released the 5th book in the series called Uff der Bauerei: In em Baamgaarde (On the Farm: In the Orchard). She taught in the Kutztown Area School District and in the Kutztown University Elementary Education Department for over 40 years. She teaches Pennsylvania German (Dutch) at Shaynah Kinner Day Care Center. She can be reached at jmlaub@aol.com.