Cold Beer Day

The  winters in the 1930s were mild with the exception of 1935-36.  That February was the coldest month of all, so February 10, 1936 was one of the coldest days of the decade.  Ann said she and James were about 10 years old, and their dog, Puppy Dear, had puppies that day.  Pa (William Everett) needed to check on the cattle in the back pasture, so he sent Ras.  By the time Ras made it to the cattle, he and his horse were icicles hanging, toes numbing, freezing cold.  Back in that pasture was the little house where Everett, Fern and their six children had lived before they moved to the big house.  Pa and Ma let Sy and Vera Cogburn live there.  Sy made good, homemade beer, and Vera kept it in the water trough behind the house.  Possibly, this was a holdover from hiding it during prohibition or just a cool place to keep it.  As Ras rode by, Vera shouted out the door to him, “Come in, Rassy, we have cold beer!” 

That cold day in 1936 was the first of many Cold Beer Days.  Now every Feb 10, Fortenberrys gather to test the theory that beer left outside is indeed the way to have a nice cold beer!  So, next year before you choose your Valentine, gather with your fellow Fortenberrys for Cold Beer Day.