These stories can also be heard on Sunday mornings around 10 am on WILD 102’s “Look Back in Time” program. Each week’s radio story will be posted here on our website.
Weekly radio stories are researched, compiled, and read by Sheila Winstead, RCHS Board Member.
January 12, 2025
Today I’ll read a story written by Rudy Billberg, which he titled “Sleighride Party in December
1923” in Roseau.
The evening was perfect. Light fluffy snowflakes fell silently to earth. Nearly as silent was the
village of Roseau where automobiles were rarely seen in winter. Streets were unplowed. When
the snow became deeper, horse drawn wooden drags were pulled over main arteries of traffic.
Snow that is disturbed will harden in normal winter temperatures until even the hooves of horses
will not penetrate the surface. On highway number 11 in front of the school a group of children
gathered under a lone street light. We were hilariously delighted, and like the children we were,
we threw snow at each other. We stuffed snow down the girls’ necks; in retaliation they pulled
our caps off and filled them with snow. We were Miss Ruth Johnson’s fourth graders about to go
on our first sleigh ride party.
Great cheers went up when we heard sleigh bells and shortly a team of horses pulling a bobsled
came in sight. The driver called “whoa” and the lively team stopped before us. As we children
eagerly climbed aboard the flat platform on the sled, we stumbled and fell over each other while
the frisky horses pranced and tossed their heads.
When all were aboard, the driver guided his team east about a half a mile what is now 11 th
Avenue, then turned south. Here the road was not dragged, the snow was deep and soft except
for a single sled track down the middle. Now the real excitement began, the game was King of
the Castle, each person tried to push as many off the sled as possible. Screeching kids sailing
through the air landed harmlessly in deep fluffy snow. The horses were kept at a fast walk so
the kids could catch up and climb back on the sleigh.
We proceeded south past Center Street, that was the last street light, the team and its hilarious
cargo plunged into darkness, and drove as far as the park road. The clouds began to part and
the full moon came out as we turned around and headed back. Heading home, the horses ran
and the pushing stopped, we broke into song and in questionable harmony, many familiar tunes
pierced the night air. Turning back onto Number 11 the horses went at a fast trot with sleigh
bells ringing, children singing and a glow of happiness on every face. In front of the school, a
group of exhausted children disembarked. When all were clear, the driver made a sound much
like a loud kiss and the eager horses lunged forward, homeward bound. The last we heard was
the voice of the driver, “Easy boys, easy” and the ride was over.
We went into the school house where mothers and teachers served us with a welcome treat: hot
cocoa, cookies, cake and candy. We had come to the end of a perfect day and walked home
dreaming of next year’s sleigh ride.
Thank you to 
for letting us share our county’s history with your listeners by donating air time, studio time, and production staff every week.